Next week, the Kansas City Chiefs will be picking inside the top 10 of the NFL Draft for the first time since selecting Patrick Mahomes at No. 10 overall in 2017, and one analyst believes they should use that opportunity to find a successor to Travis Kelce rather than address more immediate positional needs.
The Chiefs are coming off a 6-11 season, their worst in over a decade, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. They have since made notable offseason moves, including signing Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III.
Kansas City enters the draft with two first-round picks and clear needs at wide receiver, cornerback and edge. Some have suggested the team could trade up for a pass rusher like David Bailey, but Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano sees a different ideal scenario.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Manzano believes the Chiefs should wait to address cornerback and instead use the No. 9 pick on Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in what he called a dream scenario.
"The Chiefs have a massive need at corner after losing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson," Manzano wrote. "But there’s depth at cornerback in this year’s class, and a few intriguing prospects could be available in the later rounds.
"Kansas City should look ahead and add Sadiq to eventually replace Travis Kelce. He can learn from one of the best ever at the position while offensive mastermind Andy Reid builds a unique set of plays for the athletically gifted Oregon tight end. (Sadiq ran a 4.39 at the scouting combine.)"
Kelce will turn 37 in October, and while his production remains strong, his future has been a topic of speculation in recent years. He recently signed a three-year extension, though the structure suggests functions more like a one-year deal.
That uncertainty makes tight end a legitimate long-term priority. Investing in a potential successor to one of the cornerstones of their offense makes strategic sense.
Sadiq easily stands out as one of the top tight ends in this year’s class. While he is not yet a strong in-line blocker in the run game, his hands and explosiveness give him significant upside as a receiving threat.
Over three seasons at Oregon, Sadiq recorded 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns. That modest production may raise some concerns for a first-round investment, but with the chance to develop under Kelce and Andy Reid, the long-term payoff could be well worth it.
