The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for the unenviable task of attempting to replace franchise legend Travis Kelce as his potential retirement looms. Even at this late stage of the tight end's career, his production is solid, offering 839 receiving yards and five touchdowns as of Week 18. Given that fellow TEs Noah Gray and Jared Wiley haven't been stepping up as much as the Chiefs would like, it's easy to see why replacing Kelce won't be easy.
Regardless, the Chiefs are preparing for life without Kelce, and one potential replacement option will be available in the 2026 NFL draft.
"Michigan TE Marlin Klein is declaring for the NFL Draft, he tells ESPN," ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Friday. "He’s 6-6, 250 pounds and is viewed as a versatile player who can both block and be a threat in the pass game. He’s a 2025 team captain who earned All-Big Ten honors and had a year remaining."
Michigan's Marlin Klein Emerges as a Potential Travis Kelce Replacement
Not only are the Chiefs preparing for life without Kelce, but there is a strong case to be made that it is time to move on from Noah Gray as well. In no way can you replace Kelce 1-for-1, especially with a rookie, but that doesn't change the fact that drafting Klein must now be on general manager Brett Veach's radar.
Klein finished his quiet college career with 364 receiving yards and a lone touchdown on 38 catches across parts of four seasons. This isn't elite production, but turning on the tape, you can see the physicality and potential fit within Kansas City's offense. Klein blocks with a level of ferocity that would help set up the Chiefs' run game and buy quarterback Patrick Mahomes extra time in the pocket.
This last point is especially important, with Mahomes coming off an ACL tear, potentially forcing him to play more conservatively whenhe returns. Blocking is going to be more important than ever before in the Mahomes era, and Klein is a weapon in this department. The German-born TE didn't allow a single QB pressure across the 76 passing downs he played for Michigan in the last two seasons, per Pro Football Focus, proving his efficiency.
That's without mentioning Klein's versatility, which he mentioned to Thamel, seemingly as a way to drum up more NFL attention.
"The NFL is getting an explosive player that can do whatever is asked of him — play special teams, run block, and catch the ball and someone who is not going to complain about his usage. They are getting a player that’s willing to die for his teammates"Marlin Klein, per Pete Thamel
On track to be a project pick, Klein might not get drafted until after Round 1. That could work out for the Chiefs, who are on track to have three selections between No. 40 and 109, according to Tankathon.
While some fans want to see a free agent like Isaiah Likely or Kyle Pitts replace Kelce as the Chiefs' TE1, drafting a project like Klein deserves consideration, too. He won't be as good as Kelce right away (and he may never be ), but the Michigan product has all the tools to become an elite playmaker in Kansas City for years to come.
And if drafting him makes Chiefs fans look past Kelce potentially riding off into the sunset, even better.