Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce's new contract isn't what you think

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Mar 23, 2026 4:58 PM ET

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce's new contract is longer than you'd expect, but that doesn't mean the team anticipates him playing for its entire duration.

On Monday, NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport reported Kelce — who turns 37 on Oct. 5 — has signed a three-year, $54.735M deal with the Chiefs that could be worth up to $57.735M. The first year of the deal is $12M plus $3M in incentives.

The Chiefs signing Kelce to a multiyear deal should be surprising. His last contract, which he signed before the 2024 season, was shorter (two years).

However, upon closer inspection, the contract differs from a typical extension. And it's a smart way for the Chiefs to manage their salary cap.

#Chiefs Pro Bowl TE Travis Kelce has signed his contract, officially locking him in for 2026.

It’s a 3-year, $54.735M deal that can be worth up to $57.735M ($18.245M average) done by agent Mike Simon (@mikevmgsports) of @milkhoneysport. Year 1 is $12M plus 3M in incentives. pic.twitter.com/2iYvstuMrC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 23, 2026

Why Travis Kelce's new contract is not what it appears

Per Over the Cap, Kelce's contract includes void years in 2027 and 2028. Void years are those in which the team does not expect the player to play and serve as placeholders for prorated signing bonus money. This allows teams to spread cap numbers over a longer period.

The Chiefs must do that after signing running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43.05M contract in free agency. Per Over the Cap, his 2026 cap number is $5.68M, but it increases to $18.68M in 2027 and 2028.

The Chiefs' salary cap situation becomes even trickier when factoring in quarterback Patrick Mahomes' contract. The QB, of course, signed a 10-year, $450M deal before the start of the 2020 season. His cap number in 2026 is $34.65M. It becomes a whopping $85.25M in 2027 and $53.01M in 2028.

Kelce's cap numbers, in comparison, are much smaller. Take a look below. Figures are provided by Over the Cap.

Year	Cap number
2026	$4.89M
2027	$4.89M
2028	$3.55M

Now the void years on Kelce's contract will count toward the Chiefs salary cap if he retires after the 2026 season. However, that's better than a bigger number up front.

If Kelce wants to keep playing after the 2026 season, he and the team will probably renegotiate his deal, but that looks unlikely. The TE is clearly nearing the end of his career after logging 851 receiving yards last season, his second-lowest mark since his rookie season in 2013.

The Chiefs will have a more challenging time managing their salary cap while also trying to field a championship-caliber roster over the next three seasons. Addressing the Kelce situation gives Kansas City one less thing to worry about.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

More must-reads: