Travis Kelce praised the Kansas City Chiefs' 2026 rookie class during a recent podcast appearance. The tight end believes the new rookie class picks of the 2026 NFL Draft will fix the issues from last year's 6-11 season.

During his appearance on the New Heights podcast, Kelce said, “I’m pumped on just seeing these young guys get in the building," per X post of Sports Reporter Matt Foster,

He added, “I thought we had a great team last year. We got a lot of those pieces back, and the ones that we have lost, we filled those needs ASAP.”

“So I think once they get into the building, they feel the culture, they feel how we do things here, it's an exciting time, man,” Kelce said. “Shout out to Brett Veach [GM of the Chiefs] and the crew for doing the hard work and getting the guys we need into the building. “

Kelce has played a total of 13 years with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing over 192 games. He recorded 1,080 receptions for 13,002 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns. In the 2025 season, he played for 17 games, recording 76 receptions for 851 receiving yards. 

The Chiefs had one of the worst seasons in 2025, recording 6-11, missing the first playoffs since 2014. Kelce believes the 2026 draft picks will meet all the gaps necessary for the 2026 season.

Kansas City Chiefs Focuses on Defense

The Kansas City Chiefs prioritized their defense needs in the 2026 NFL draft, using four of seven selections on defensive players. Major outlets like FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated gave the team an A grade for their draft performance.

The Chiefs traded up from No. 9 to No. 6 to secure LSU Cornerback Mansoor Delane, along with giving up their No. 74 and No. 148 overall picks, to the Cleveland Browns.

The Chiefs later secured Clemson Tigers DT Peter Woods at No. 29 overall pick, as an interior defender to complement Chris Jones under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, according to Ed Easton Jr. of Chiefs Wire. 

Oklahoma Edge rusher R Mason Thomas was a No.40 pick overall and considered an ‘explosive athlete that ‘treats blockers like practice sleds with leveraged speed to power,’ per The Athletic's Dane Brugler.

And the Chiefs secured Oregon Ducks safety Jadon Canady as the No. 109 overall pick. He brings versatility in having played at nickel cornerback, safety, and special teams, according to Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com.

Ultimately, the Kansas City Chiefs took a clear, defense-first approach to build long-term depth.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Rudra Dubey