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Chiefs Find Possible Travis Kelce Replacement in Pre-Super Bowl Mock Draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Feb 9, 2025 3:00 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs are aiming to make history on Sunday as they face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. If they win, the Chiefs will become the first team to secure three consecutive Super Bowl titles, having already won the last two.

A significant factor in their success has been the connection between quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. Since Mahomes became the starter in 2018, Kelce has amassed 8,251 receiving yards and scored 55 touchdowns in the regular season. He has also excelled in the postseason, recording eight 100-yard games during that span.

However, at 35 years old, Kelce just finished his worst season since his rookie year, in which he only played one game. This past season, he recorded 823 yards and three touchdowns, leading to speculation about whether his time in the NFL is nearing its end. Kelce addressed these concerns this week, dismissing them.

Despite that, there are questions about whether the Chiefs should start considering his eventual replacement. A recent mock draft by Pro Football Network suggests they might be thinking along those lines.

Pro Football Network's Jacob Infante predicts the Chiefs will select Michigan Wolverines tight end Colston Loveland as Kelce's eventual replacement.

"What do you get for the Evil Empire that’s seemingly able to overcome everything that gets thrown its way?" Infante wrote. "Well, an eventual replacement for their aging star tight end could be a good place to start.

Loveland had a successful career at Michigan, finishing with 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns over three years. His standout year was 2023, when Michigan won the national championship. During that season, he ranked second on the team with 649 yards and four touchdowns.

He is ranked as the No. 2 tight end in the draft class, trailing behind Tyler Warren of the Penn State Nittany Lions, according to Athlon Sports. Although it seems that Travis Kelce will not be retiring this offseason, it presents a great opportunity for the future Hall of Fame tight end to mentor his eventual replacement.

For now, Kelce and the Chiefs are focused on the Super Bowl on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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