With Travis Kelce’s future hanging out there, the Chiefs are already being linked to a possible fallback plan - and it comes from Philadelphia.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell floated a trade that would send Dallas Goedert to Kansas City for a 2027 fifth-round pick, giving Patrick Mahomes another tight end option while the Chiefs wait to see what happens with Kelce. Barnwell pointed to how often Kansas City already leans on 12 or 13 personnel, noting the fit as more than just theoretical.
“K.C. already uses 12 or 13 personnel on nearly 40% of Patrick Mahomes' drop backs, so, what about adding another receiving tight end to the mix?” Barnwell stated. “Here, Chiefs coach Andy Reid goes back to his old employers to add a versatile playmaker in Goedert, who scored a career-high 11 touchdowns a season ago as one of the few players who seemed to thrive under offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.
“Goedert is most efficient as a receiver out of the slot, but he can also work inline as a blocker or pass catcher. He would give Kansas City some leverage against the possibility of Travis Kelce slowing down as the season goes along and work alongside the future Hall of Famer as a potential mismatch over the middle of the field.”
Kelce still hasn’t confirmed he’ll retire after the 2026 season, but plenty of people expect that to be the point where he steps away. His career resume explains why no true replacement exists: 11 Pro Bowls, seven All-Pro selections, three Super Bowl championships, No. 2 all-time in receiving yards among tight ends with 13,301, No. 3 all-time in receptions with 1,100, and No. 5 all-time in touchdowns with 84.
Goedert at least brings a strong track record of his own. The 31-year-old has put up 50 or more catches and 500 or more receiving yards in six of the last eight seasons.
There’s also a timing wrinkle here. With Jalen Hurts done for the rest of the year, Goedert’s production could dip with backup Tanner McKee at quarterback. That opens the door for Philadelphia to consider moving him, while Kansas City could benefit from another proven pass-catching tight end as its wide receiver group deals with injuries.
If Kelce does retire in the offseason, the Chiefs would already have a relatively affordable option waiting in the wings - though Goedert would still need a new contract.
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