In the next installation of our series, we take a look at the tight ends that will be available for the Chiefs at every level of the draft. Who’s available? We discuss.
The Kansas City Chiefs are not in dire need of a tight end, with future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce still on the roster. However, it might be about time for the Chiefs to begin their succession plan. After all, Kelce is not going to be the best tight end forever and he is 33 years old.
So, who is a viable replacement plan in this draft class? We take a look at the tight ends that the Chiefs could draft in each round of the draft.
Round 1: Darnell Washington, Georgia
The Chiefs have invested several years of blocking tight end duties in Blake Bell. What if they could have the same blocking ability and a better receiving threat? That is exactly what Darnell Washington would bring to the Chiefs. At 6’7, 267 pounds Washington would be an enormous target in the red zone as well as a second safety blanket if a team doubles Travis Kelce.
The long-term may eventually be to replace Travis Kelce, but for the short term, he makes the offense better in the running and passing game. A three-tight end set that would feature Washington, Kelce, and Noah Gray would be among the best tight end trios in the NFL.
Round 2: Sam LaPorta, Iowa
In the second round of the draft, Sam LaPorta could be an option to be the heir to the tight end position after Travis Kelce retires. While LaPorta leaves a lot to be desired in his blocking ability, he is a talented receiver. With good quickness and a thick frame, he seems to always come down with the ball if he gets his hands on it.
With a good understanding of leverage and footwork, LaPorta is a very talented receiving threat. In an offense that already features Travis Kelce, adding LaPorta to the mix would make them even more difficult to stop on 3rd and short.
Round 3: Payne Durham, Purdue
Payne Durham of Purdue checks all of the boxes of being a productive NFL tight end. While he is not as explosive as many of the players expected to go in the first two rounds, he is a big target that has proven to be a very good in-line blocker. Durham may not be as athletic as Travis Kelce, but he does have strong hands and rarely drops a pass.
For the Chiefs, once again, this would be an investment in the future. Durham is not going to come in and make the offense better in any statistical way. He could be an excellent replacement for veteran Blake Bell that could eventually be a very good second tight end for red zone and short-yardage situations.
Round 4: Leonard Taylor, Cincinnati
Leonard Taylor is the opposite of Payne Durham. Taylor has tremendous raw athleticism. While he is a capable blocker as well, his greatest strength is his ability to adjust to the ball. His route running and technique are in serious need of some NFL coaching, but if he reaches his full potential, he could truly be a great tight end at the next level.
The Chiefs have their own Cincinnati alum at the tight end position in Travis Kelce. While Taylor is very likely not to be the next Travis Kelce, if he could learn from the best, he may just become a new favorite target for Patrick Mahomes.
Round 5: Cameron Latu, Alabama
Anyone that has spent time watching Alabama’s tape from last season, knows who Cameron Latu is. While not devastatingly imposing or overtly athletic, Latu was a favorite target of Bryce Young’s. It seemed as though he was the safety blanket for the passing offense and on many occasions, he came up big.
At the next level, Latu will need to improve on his route-running skills, but he has an advanced knowledge of leverage for a tight end. On several occasions last season, he looked like he was completely covered and was able to adjust to the defender’s coverage. While not a “hot” name in this class, Latu is capable of becoming a very good role player for the Chiefs’ offense.
Round 6: Will Mallory, Miami
Unlike Cameron Latu, Will Mallory has some learning to do in all facets of his game. He is a big-bodied player that could use some development in his blocking. With that in mind, Mallory is a very talented pass-catcher that is not afraid of contact or doing the “little things.”
Mallory projects to be a developmental project that could eventually become a good role player in the offense. In Kansas City, I would expect him to catch the attention of Dave Toub with the special teams as well.
Round 7: Travis Vokolek, Nebraska
As aforementioned, Nebraska’s woes do not indicate some of the talent that they have on the roster. In this case, Travis Vokolek was an underutilized piece of the equation. Vokolek is a big, strong player that showed an occasional flash of talent in the passing game. While he may never be an elite-level tight end, he could certainly make the roster for special teams and goal-line situations.