The Kansas City Chiefs are hoping to hear any day now that Travis Kelce is returning for another year in red and gold. The moment that news breaks (maybe even by the time some of you are reading this), the Chiefs' top priority will become trying to re-sign him to a deal despite their lack of available salary cap space. However, bringing back Travis Kelce doesn't answer all of KC's questions at tight end this offseason.
The Chiefs tried to crown Noah Gray as Travis Kelce's heir at the position by giving him a sizable contract extension. Unfortunately, in his first year of that extension, Gray had his worst season since becoming Kansas City's No. 2 tight end, and now it is fair to question his long-term role in KC. Recent draft pick Jared Wylie has also not shown any real reason to believe in him as a solution. So on a team that at one point was one of the league leaders in multi-tight end sets, you now have to wonder if they have serious questions at the position up and down the depth chart.
Bringing Kelce back would certainly solidify their starting tight end position. If Kelce were to shock most fans and experts and walk away from the game, the Chiefs might have to look at a big-name free agent like the Atlanta Falcons' Kyle Pitts, or even a one-year solution like reuniting with Andy Reid and Zach Ertz while they groom another young tight end as a long-term solution. The Chiefs could naturally turn to the draft for help at the position, but outside the first three rounds any pick becomes more of a dart throw, and Brett Veach may be targeting higher-profile positions with his Day 1 and Day 2 picks.
So if the Chiefs want to upgrade their tight end room this offseason, they may have to look for some free-agent bargains that could be flying under the radar. If that is the case, here are three names that fans may want to keep an eye on.
These three cheap free agent options could help KC solidify the position.
1. Charlie Kolar - Baltimore Ravens - 6'6" - 265 pounds - 27 years old
The one potential free-agent tight end who could be signed for a reasonable deal this offseason with more upside than the rest is Charlie Kolar. Kolar was a fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2022. He has just finished his rookie deal and is still just 27 years old. Kolar has never really had a chance to prove himself as a receiver, playing behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely. However, Kolar did cement himself as a regular part of the offense as a blocking tight end.
In fact, Kolar was credited with 275 run-blocking snaps last season. That was the 22nd-most among tight ends last year, and of the 21 tight ends who logged more run-blocking snaps, only two had a better Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade. Basically, Kolar has established himself as one of the most reliable run-blocking tight ends in the NFL.
Kolar may only have 30 career receptions through four seasons, but in college he was more of a receiver than a blocker, with over 2,000 career receiving yards and 23 receiving touchdowns. The Ravens turned him into a top blocking tight end because they already had talented receiving tight ends, but there still could be pass-catching upside if Kolar is given a chance.
If another team sees that combination of age, run blocking, and untapped receiving upside and offers him starting tight end money, the Chiefs will have to pass. However, if teams see a blocking tight end who has never had more than 10 receptions in a season, he may be able to be signed to a cheap deal that could turn into a huge bargain if KC can develop his pass-catching potential. He could help jump-start KC's run game right away and then potentially compete with Noah Gray for the starting job after Kelce hangs things up for good.
2. Mo Alie-Cox - Indianapolis Colts - 6'5" - 267 pounds - 32 years old
If Charlie Kolar ends up costing a little more than the cap-space-needy Chiefs can afford, another cheap option that could really add some quality depth to KC's tight end room would be Mo Alie-Cox of the Indianapolis Colts. Alie-Cox is a proven eight-year NFL veteran who is a strong blocker and a proven red-zone threat. While he doesn't have No. 1 tight end upside, he would help solidify the depth of the room behind Kelce (assuming he's back) and could offer some strengths that Gray doesn't have.
While Alie-Cox isn't a prolific pass catcher, he does have 127 career receptions for 1,550 yards and 16 career receiving touchdowns. His 7-foot wingspan and sure hands (only a 4 percent career drop rate) make him an excellent red-zone target. He's also 2 inches taller and 25 pounds heavier than Noah Gray, which makes him a better blocker in short-yardage situations where he has to take on defensive front-seven players head-on.
Last season the Colts were able to re-sign Alie-Cox to a one-year deal with a $1.4 million cap hit. That's only about $400K more than what KC paid Robert Tonyan in 2025. If the Chiefs could get Alie-Cox on a similar deal to be a blocking tight end and goal-line threat, it would definitely add some depth and security to the tight end room.
3. Chris Manhertz - New York Giants - 6'6" - 235 pounds - 33 years old
If there is anyone who is thinking that Charlie Kolar and Mo Alie-Cox aren't "under the radar" enough, this last option is for you. Chris Manhertz is likely a player that most KC fans have never heard of. After all, Manhertz only has 30 career receptions over a 10-year NFL career with five different teams. That's an average of just three receptions per season.
So why on Earth would the Chiefs want to sign a 33-year-old tight end with 30 career receptions? Simple. The reason Manhertz has stayed in the league for 10 years is because he's a very good blocker and a regular on special teams. If the Chiefs don't want to use Travis Kelce in short-yardage running situations, they simply don't have another good blocking tight end to put on the field with Noah Gray.
Manhertz signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal last season with the Giants. That's just $200K more than KC's cap hit for Robert Tonyan in 2025. So if KC wanted some blocking help and someone who could handle special teams duties for as cheap as you can find on the free-agent market, Manhertz is as under the radar as you can get and could still help KC from a depth perspective. He certainly doesn't offer as much as the first two options on this list, but nobody can argue that he isn't a realistic signing.
So there you have it, Chiefs fans: three under-the-radar potential free-agent tight end signings that could help the Chiefs this offseason. Do you like any of these options? Is there anyone else you think is realistic for them to sign if they bring Kelce back? Feel free to comment below.