Travis Kelce loves having Drue Tranquill on the Chiefs

Back in the '23 offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs made a number of interesting lower-level free agent signings on the defensive side that failed to generate much in the way of national headlines. However, it did create some excitement among fans who knew what such depth would bring.

Few people, however, could have predicted just how impactful linebacker Drue Tranquill has been for the team.

Tranquill was a familiar face for Chiefs Kingdom as a longtime defender with the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished last season as their best overall linebacker and leading tackler, but they let him walk into free agency without any real fight or fanfare. As the Chiefs scoured free agent targets, Tranquill was made available to them for a fairly inexpensive single-season contract at $3.5 million.

There was excitement among fans for the deepest and most talented linebacking corps to grace the roster in years, but what no one saw coming would be the loss of captain and middle linebacker Nick Bolton to an injury. As he remains out on injured reserve due to a dislocated wrist that required surgery, Tranquill has become a leader in the heart of the Chiefs defense—one that has turned heads as an entire unit all season long.

Even as the offense has struggled at times to score points, the defense has helped the Chiefs remain in control of their own destiny.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has had plenty of great things to say about the team's defense throughout this season on his podcast, New Heights. However, he went in-depth about the addition of Tranquill on the latest episode.

"We had our middle linebacker, Nick Bolton, go down, who we’ll hopefully get back here. But my guy Drue Tranquill, who is an offseason addition, has just been playin’ ball, man.

"When you think of a football guy, this is who I’m talking about, man. He has every brace. he doesn’t give a fuck how he feels. He’s gonna go out there and play some f--king football and he’s gonna do it for the guy next to him. That’s my kind of football player right there, man.

"Tranq has brought the mentality. He’s brought the smarts. He’s brought the athleticism and just fits into this defensive mold, especially with a stud like Nick Bolton going down. it’s going to be awesome to have both of those guys on the field at the same time."

Check out everything Kelce had to say about the team's recent win over the Raiders and more on the latest episode of New Heights.