Oregon star predicted to replace Chiefs' Travis Kelce in 2026

Oregon star predicted to replace Chiefs' Travis Kelce in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News

Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is in the twilight of his career.

The former University of Cincinnati product turns 36 this month, and we may be witnessing his final year in the NFL. A story from ESPN's Nate Taylor back in August indicated that Kansas City's management is bracing for a retirement announcement at the end of the 2025 season.

But what will the Chiefs do if Kelce does indeed retire? It's not like they have a replacement waiting in the wings currently on the roster, which means they may have to look to the draft to find the heir apparent to their future Hall of Famer.

Mock draft has the Chiefs selecting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq

In a new mock draft from USA Today, Ayrton Ostly has the Chiefs selecting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the 20th overall pick.

"Sadiq is exactly the kind of matchup nightmare NFL teams look for in tight ends. At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Sadiq is a more than capable blocker with elite speed for his size," wrote Ostly.

"Kansas City needs more athletic difference-makers on offense. Sadiq could be the heir to Travis Kelce as a versatile, dynamic threat inline or outside."

While Noah Gray and Robert Tonyan are valuable depth for Kansas City, neither can provide the star power Kelce brings to the table for the Chiefs.

Sadiq has a great blend of power and speed, and could slide into Kelce's role on offense out of the gate. Through five games, the Oregon standout has 15 catches for 204 yards and three touchdowns.

If the Chiefs want to keep their long line of star tight ends moving, this would be a great selection in next April's draft.

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