Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is undoubtedly one of the team’s biggest stars, but there are valid reasons for the Chiefs to consider cutting him after their playoff run this season. During the offseason, Kelce signed a new contract that made him the highest-paid tight end in the league. However, his performance this season did not reflect that investment.
Kelce had the least productive statistical season of his career since becoming a starter, with receiving numbers down across nearly every metric. He recorded fewer yards per game, yards per reception, and yards after the catch, along with a shorter average depth of target and a decline in touchdowns scored.
Given this significant drop in production alongside his hefty salary and salary cap hit, it could benefit the team to release him. Recently, Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department identified Kelce as one of the likely “cap casualties” for the Chiefs this offseason, noting that parting ways with him could save substantial cap space.
“Cutting Travis Kelce is obviously a long shot. … However, the Chiefs would be able to create $17.3 million in cap space by releasing Kelce,” the report stated. While it’s not very probable given Kelce’s contributions over the years, the possibility increases if he opts to retire, which he has hinted at during media appearances.
“This is much more likely to come into play if Kelce decides to retire. The star tight end has wavered on his retirement stance in media appearances. If he chooses to walk away, the Chiefs have structured his contract in a way that’s advantageous for their cap space,” Bleacher Report commented. Kelce himself has acknowledged this possibility, saying, “I love everything that I’m doing … but at the end of the day, I’m not having that extreme success on the field.” He expressed excitement for the remaining games, stating he would “re-evaluate it like I always do.”
Despite this, Kelce hinted he would likely return for another season, mentioning, “I’ll probably tell myself how much I love this thing, and I’ll come back next year.” Given Kelce’s recent performance, his contract, the team’s cap situation, and his comments, there’s a real chance this playoff run could be his last with the Chiefs.
