Jake Briningstool isn’t the only rookie tight end the Chiefs are planning around

The lion's share of the spotlight on the Kansas City Chiefs at tight end concerns one of two topics going into the 2025 season: the return of Travis Kelce and the potential of Jake Briningstool. Anything other than that has been relegated to the margins.

That's too bad for Tre Watson.

Watson is, by definition, a roster longshot as an undrafted free agent signing for the Chiefs. Yet Briningstool has the same official standing and yet he's the topic du jour on the offensive side of the ball. Some members of Chiefs Kingdom have already handed one a roster spot while most fans couldn't even name Tre Watson if you filled in most of the letters in his name.

On the surface, the lack of attention makes sense. Watson's career numbers over four seasons look rather pedestrian: 77 catches for 872 yards and 5 touchdowns over four full seasons of playing time, the first three of which were at Fresno State. Even in his final season at Texas A&M, Watson had 21 catches for 280 yards and 1 score. As we said: pedestrian.

Despite being overlooked, the Chiefs have a long-term vision for Tre Watson's potential.

However, some prospects profile better as a pro player than the production put up in college. (Say that three times fast.) In this way, the Chiefs seem to have a vision for Watson that transcends the lackluster stat sheet coming into the NFL Draft.

While the Chiefs and 31 other teams passed him over through seven full rounds, the Chiefs did commit $249K guaranteed to Watson to get him to sign following April's draft. In an interview with KRQE, Watson shared what the Chiefs saw in him, as he understood it.

“They really enjoy that I am a hybrid tight end, my body size fits to where I can hold my own in the blocking game, and as well as I can run fast enough to run routes and get open," said Watson.

That the Chiefs view Watson as a potential well-rounded prospect to mold going forward is intriguing, given the potential need at tight end in years to come. Travis Kelce might be on his farewell tour in 2025 after flirting with retirement last winter. Noah Gray is signed through 2026 and provides short-term stability, but even retaining him will take him into his third contract.

Beyond those two, the tight end position lacks obvious upside, with only former fourth-rounder Jared Wiley in-house as any major investment. Yet Wiley is coming off a rookie season cut short by major injury, and he's been slower to return to the field for offseason training activities or minicamp.

Speaking of injuries, however, Watson himself has been slowed this spring, which only further informs the lack of any attention or spotlight in his direction.

The truth is that any play for Watson is likely as a roster stash (perhaps injured reserve, depending on his health) for 2026 and beyond. But the future roster need is clear and a vision for Watson has been established. He's being overlooked now, for good reason, but it's possible that a seed of something good has been planted.