Chiefs free agent profile: Blake Bell is a good bet to return

Recommendation

Here’s the truth about the tight end spot right now. Travis Kelce is in his prime and should be good for another 1,000 yard season at least in 2022 and perhaps beyond. From there, however, nothing is quite certain.

It’s possible to say that Noah Gray looked promising but nothin more considering how little he played and how few his opportunities were. And as a blocker, the Chiefs should not let Bell go to lean on whatever progress Gray makes from there. As for Fortson, he was an eye-opener in the preseason and even hauled in some incredible catches early on, but coming off of a serious injury makes him a question as well.

If Bell is interested in playing another season in the NFL, the Chiefs would do well to sign him to the 90-man offseason roster and have him stick around through training camp as the safety net for tight ends. Throughout the offseason, the team could monitor just how ready Gray and Fortson are for larger roles as potential No. 2 and 3 tight ends, allowing them to gauge how they might fare with and without Bell’s reliable presence.

However, that deal would likely have to be very team-friendly which means something close to last year. This sounds reasonable and realistic.

Prediction

The Chiefs re-sign Blake Bell after the first couple of weeks in free agency to a 1-year, $1.4 million contract.