No one is ready to move on from Travis Kelce just yet as the legend returns for his 14th NFL season, but it's impossible to dismiss the forecasts for where the Kansas City Chiefs might find someone worthy of replacing him as TE1 after he calls it a career. On Tuesday, one of the most exciting ideas was taken off the board—if he was ever on it.
The Atlanta Falcons have reached a long-term contract extension with former first-round pick Kyle Pitts. Per ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, the Falcons have agreed to a 3-year deal worth up to $54 million to keep Pitts from leaving anytime soon.
Pitts was billed as a generational talent at his position upon his arrival in Atlanta, and he immediately backed it up with a 68-catch, 1,026-yard rookie season. That made him just the second rookie tight end in NFL history to clear 1,000 yards. However, the production cratered from that point—partly due to injury—as he failed to top 53 receptions, 667 receiving yards, or 4 touchdowns in any of the next three seasons.
That whole Kyle Pitts to K.C. idea sounded good for a while, but such dreams aren't going to come true.
In 2025, Pitts turned in a banner year with 88 receptions on 118 targets for 928 yards and a career-high 5 touchdowns across 17 starts. He was named All-Pro in the process and received the franchise tag from the Falcons to keep him around. That short-term control has now turned into a long-term relationship.
Pitts has been a common name thrown around for a post-Kelce reality by Chiefs Kingdom over the years. During Pitts' leaner years, he was mentioned as a potential trade deadline target in case the Chiefs wanted to ensure a clear line of succession (and to seize a buy-low opportunity for general manager Brett Veach). Upon the termination of his rookie deal, it made sense to wonder if he'd eventually make his way to K.C. at the moment Kelce retires. Now, however, that option is off the board and fans will have to dream of other ideas.
The Chiefs also face the likelihood of losing Noah Gray after the '26 season, which means that only Jared Wiley is under contract beyond this year. Wholesale changes are likely coming if Kelce retires at season's end, unless a developmental prospect like John Michael Gyllenborg or Jake Briningstool can offer something substantive.
Of course, Chiefs Kingdom looks forward to another tour of duty for Kelce in 2026 for an offense looking to turn things around with the addition of a legitimate ground game for the first time in several seasons. But beyond this year, one of the sexiest ideas to help ease the potential loss of Kelce in 2027 is not available.
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