Travis Kelce's next move could force a complicated call from the Chiefs

Most people think this is going to be Travis Kelce's final year, and it makes sense. Kelce has put in 13 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and built a Hall of Fame résumé. At 35 years old, he's not getting any younger, and the last two seasons have shown drops in productivity.

Oh, and he only has one year left on his deal. Which means that if he chooses not to retire, he's still slated to be a free agent for the first time in his career. The idea of Kelce playing for anyone but the Chiefs seems far-fetched to both fans and Kelce himself.

The Chiefs could face a complex scenario if Travis Kelce decides to play longer than expected.

But when speaking at the end of minicamp, Kelce didn’t sound interested in retiring after this year. By all accounts, he seems highly motivated and excited to continue playing. Which brings up an interesting question: if he doesn’t want to retire, do the Chiefs bring him back?

It’s hard to imagine the Chiefs allowing their Hall of Fame tight end to walk after his contract is up, assuming he still wants to play. But the Chiefs do have to consider team needs, finances, and reality. If Kelce absolutely tanks this season, it’ll likely be an easy decision for both sides.

But what if Kelce puts up 1,000 yards again in historic fashion and shows he’s still highly productive? Do you let go of Patrick Mahomes’ safety blanket? Surely not.

Then again, teams too often hold on to players longer than they should, often to their detriment. That was part of what made the Patriots' dynasty both successful and controversial. Bill Belichick routinely moved on from players still in their prime rather than wait for the inevitable decline.

Even a great season by Kelce could be viewed as a one-off, ride-off-into-the-sunset moment. The harsh reality is that next year he’ll be 36 and unlikely to repeat it. The Chiefs might not be able to justify a new contract, even for just another year.

The best-case scenario would be for the Chiefs to win another Super Bowl, setting the stage for Kelce to go out on top. Even if he feels like he could keep playing, it just seems like the perfect storm: Super Bowl win, contract up, Canton in five years.