For years, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs could rely on Travis Kelce to get the job done. His ability to go off the script, improvise, and find gaps in all levels of the defense was second to none among tight ends, and he cemented his name among the best of the best.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and his legendary career won't be the exception to that rule. Barring a shocking turn of events, this will be Kelce's last dance, and he'll ride into the sunset at the end of the season.
Considering that, perhaps the Chiefs would be wise to start thinking about his replacement. With that in mind, Bleacher Report's Alex Kay argued they should send a 2027 first-and-third-round draft picks to the Detroit Lions to get their hands on Sam LaPorta.
Should the Chiefs explore trading for Sam LaPorta?
"LaPorta is gearing up for the final year of his rookie deal, one set to pay him a modest $5.8 million in 2026. Despite his immense contributions when healthy, the Lions have yet to reach a long-term extension with the tight end," Kay wrote.
Let's break this down for a while. First and foremost, there's simply no way the Chiefs would give up a first and a third or LaPorta, as great a player as he is. He's coming off a season-ending back injury, and the Chiefs would have to pay him big bucks in an extension, with Spotrac projecting his new deal at four years and $73 million.
Now that we've gotten out of the way, the Chiefs should definitely consider getting him at a reasonable price if he's available. Given that he's still working his way back from injury and that he still hasn't gotten a new deal, that might be on the table.
LaPorta would certainly be a seamless replacement for Kelce. Like Travis, he's a swift and athletic pass-catcher who doesn't rely only on his size and strength; he can make defenders miss and pile up yards after the catch in the open field. He'd also be a perennial mismatch in the end zone.
The Lions just gave Jack Campbell a lofty contract extension, and they still have to pay Brian Branch and Jahmyr Gibbs. Someone will have to be the odd man out, and general manager Brett Veach should make the most of that opportunity.
The Chiefs have been tied to Kyle Pitts for a while now, but it doesn't seem that the Atlanta Falcons intend to part ways with him. And while there's no such thing as replacing Travis Kelce, LaPorta is one of the few guys in the league who can actually give it a shot.
Add us as a preferred source on Google