Grading the KC Chiefs offense prior to the 2021 NFL Draft

Tight End: A

For whatever reason, the Chiefs tend to have a penchant for drafting and developing the NFL’s premier talent at tight end. Tony Gonzalez is perhaps the greatest tight end of all time. His rare blend of speed and quickness at his size made him a matchup nightmare for nearly two decades in the sport. There was a brief gap at the position, and then the Chiefs front office inserted Travis Kelce.

Despite what some may think, Kelce has been the best tight end in the NFL for some time. When answering this question, you usually look at raw talent, production, and consistency. Since entering the league, there are few with as much raw talent as Kelce. What’s more, Kelce consistently lands among the top tight ends in receiving yards and touchdowns on a yearly basis. He was the first tight end to log four straight 1,000 yard receiving seasons, and backed that up with his fifth straight in 2020 nearly leading receivers of all types. Simply put, he is and has been the best for years.

Behind him, there isn’t much. The Chiefs re-signed Blake Bell, affectionately known by fans as the “Belldozer,” but he won’t ever light up the stat sheet. The front office also brought back Nick Keizer, but I’d argue expectations as a passing threat are low.

Still, this is one of the most solid positions on the entire Chiefs roster. Most teams don’t have one elite tight end, let alone a number of players who can contribute at the position. There’s a chance the Chiefs front office may want to start preparing for life after Kelce, but if 2020 is any indication, Kelce is still ascending.