Chiefs offseason checklist: Is it time to replace TE Travis Kelce?

With the new league year kicking off March 12, NFL teams are already deep into planning for the offseason. 

Here are five moves the Kansas City Chiefs should make in the coming months. 

1. Find a successor for TE Travis Kelce

Per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said he expects Kelce to return in 2025. The future Hall of Famer, who is entering the last year of his deal in 2025, is owed an $11.5M roster bonus by March 15. 

The Chiefs should still target a replacement for Kelce this offseason. In 16 regular-season games in 2024, the 35-year-old had 97 receptions for 823 yards and three touchdown catches, his lowest TD total since his rookie season in 2013.

The 2025 NFL Draft looks deep at TE. The class includes Michigan's Colston Loveland (6-foot-5, 245 pounds), Miami's Elijah Arroyo (6-foot-4, 251 pounds) and Penn State's Tyler Warren (6-foot-6, 261 pounds). 

Warren falling to K.C. at pick No. 31 in the first round seems unlikely, but Loveland and Arroyo could be available there. Loveland had five touchdown catches in 10 games in 2024, while Arroyo had seven touchdown catches in 13 games.

2. Restructure QB Patrick Mahomes' contract 

Per Over the Cap, Mahomes will have the team's highest cap number ($66.25M) in 2025. K.C. must lower it to create more cap space.

"The simplest path to reducing Mahomes' cap number comes from a simple restructuring," Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio recently wrote. "His total compensation of $49M (plus a $1M workout bonus) could be shifted to a guaranteed payment, with his base salary dropped to the minimum of $1.255M." 

According to Over the Cap, restructuring Mahomes' contract would yield $38.99M in cap savings, which would give the Chiefs more spending room in free agency. 

3. Retain guard Trey Smith

On the "Scoop City" podcast on Tuesday, The Athletic's Dianna Russini said the Chiefs are prioritizing re-signing Smith, a pending free agent. The Athletic's Nate Taylor has reported they're not expected to use the franchise tag on the 25-year-old. 

Spotrac estimates Smith's market value is a four-year deal worth $19.7M annually. Teams may be willing to offer more to Smith, who allowed zero sacks in 17 games in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.

Regardless, the Chiefs should find a way to pay Smith, especially after Mahomes was sacked a career-high 36 times in 16 regular-season games in 2024.

4. Draft a left tackle 

Kansas City's inability to find a viable starting left tackle contributed to their poor O-line play in 2024. 

K.C. moved Joe Thuney from left guard to left tackle after Wanya Morris and Kingsley Suamataia struggled to protect Mahomes. Morris and Suamataia collectively posted a below-average 42.9 PFF pass-block grade in 2024. 

In Tankathon's latest mock draft, K.C. takes Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery, which would be a wise choice. Ersery (6-foot-5, 339 pounds) earned a third-team All-American nod in 2024.

5. Shore up D-line 

Chris Jones, Siaki Ika and Fabien Lovett are the only defensive tackles under contract for the Chiefs in 2025, so Kansas City should pursue options at the position in free agency and draft. 

Tankathon has K.C. selecting Kentucky DT Deone Walker (6-foot-7, 340 pounds), who had 23 tackles for loss in three seasons with the Wildcats. 

They should also consider signing free-agent DT B.J. Hill. In 15 games with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, Hill had a career-high seven tackles for loss. He also logged an above-average 69.2 PFF run-defense grade.