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Tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Kansas City Chiefs are facing an important decision that could set the stage for Travis Kelce’s potential return for the 2026 season.
The Chiefs had until Wednesday afternoon to decide whether they would use the franchise tag to keep any of their pending free agents, which would have been an expensive decision.
The Chiefs have already made some moves to free up cap space — making room for Kelce’s potential return, pending his retirement decision — and utilizing the franchise tag could have put a serious wrinkle on those plans.
Chiefs Had Been Urged to Hold Pat
Pro Football Focus identified the top candidates to receive the franchise tag on all 32 NFL teams, suggesting the Chiefs should not use it on anyone. The report instead suggested that Kansas City would be better served keeping cap money aside for other future moves.
“Although a number of key Chiefs are on expiring contracts, none of them are truly targets for the franchise tag. Cornerback Jaylen Watson (74.1 overall PFF grade) could fetch a deal worth $15 million or more per year, but Kansas City needing to pay corner Trent McDuffie looms,” the report noted. “Safety Bryan Cook (83.5) could become a top-10 safety by AAV, but that would be closer to $15 million than the $20.8 million tag. Finally, linebacker Leo Chenal (75.1) has developed into a nice piece, but his limited snap share and position render the tag moot.”
The Chiefs would also need money to bring back Kelce if he opts against retirement. He reached the end of a two-year, $32.45 million contract that he signed in 2024, after the team won its second straight Super Bowl title.
The team appears poised to bring Kelce back, if that’s what he chooses. The Chiefs restructured the contract of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and parted ways with veteran offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor, which itself cleared up $20 million in cap space.
Though the Chiefs had been tight against the salary cap going into the offseason, they now have some breathing room and the ability to sign Kelce. The future Hall of Fame tight end could also come in at a lower rate than his previous contract, which would make it easier for the Chiefs to find room for him.
Travis Kelce’s Retirement Decision Coming Soon
Though he balked at putting an exact timeline to his decision as the team’s season wound to a conclusion, Kelce is reportedly close to making a call for 2026. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported this week that the Chiefs badly want him to come back, but didn’t want to rush his decision.
“There has been some discussion about a potential contract,” Rapoport said, noting that Kelce would only return to the Chiefs. “But they want to make sure when there is a decision, he is 1,000% all in. This week, we should have some answers from Kansas City. What we know is they for sure want him back, especially considering how he played last year.”