As training camp gets closer, Travis Kelce remains the one certainty in the Chiefs' tight end room, but it is still unclear who can provide the support the team needs behind him. 

As Kansas City's training camp approaches, questions remain over who can provide reliable depth behind Travis Kelce, with longtime Chiefs insider Matt Derrick unconvinced the current room has enough proven options.

"I'm not sure," Derrick said, "I can find three tight ends on this team." 

Derrick's comment reflected his concern over the lack of proven depth behind Kelce, with few players separating themselves during offseason workouts.

During a Locked On Chiefs' episode (YouTube @LockedOnChiefs), Ryan Tracy asked whether any of the tight ends behind Travis Kelce could earn a roster spot, noting that if the Chiefs keep four players at the position, the third and fourth tight ends would also need to help the team. 

Derrick said Noah Gray's spot looks safe because there is very little experience behind Travis Kelce. Still, he felt Gray had a tough season last year and did not show much during the OTA practices they watched. 

That also showed in Gray's numbers from last season, as he played 16 games and finished with 21 catches for 178 yards without a touchdown.

Derrick also spoke about the other tight ends, saying Jared Wiley is back after an injury kept him out for most of last season, while Jake Briningstool also missed time because of an injury. 

As for Trey Watson, Derrick said he looked good during some offseason workouts but could not do the same throughout, leaving the Chiefs with more to think about ahead of training camp. 

Kelce remains the Chiefs' top option at tight end, but the players behind him will have to prove themselves during training camp. With the backup spots still open, the Chiefs have questions to answer about the rest of the group. 

As his role continues to evolve, Kansas City needs another tight end to emerge as a dependable contributor, making the battle behind him one of the biggest storylines entering training camp.

Why the Chiefs need another tight end to step up

The competition behind Kelce carries added importance because Kansas City's offense no longer leans on him the way it did during its most explosive years. If the veteran continues taking on a different role, the Chiefs will need another tight end.

That idea came up during a July 1 episode of The Athletic Football Show (YouTube @TAFootballShow), where the hosts discussed how Kansas City's offense has evolved since its dominant 2022 season and why it has struggled to recreate that same level.

“The problem… it used to be Travis Kelce being your intermediate, middle player,” Klassen said. “...That has been gone for two years.” 

Although Kansas City's offense remained productive in 2025, it lacked the explosive plays that defined its 2022 Super Bowl season.

Plus, the numbers reflect that change. Kelce totaled 577 receiving yards on throws traveling between 11 and 20 air yards during the 2022 season, but that figure dropped to 223 yards in 2025.

That is what makes the battle behind Kelce worth watching. Whether it is Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Jake Briningstool or Trey Watson, the Chiefs need another tight end to establish himself during training camp if they hope to restore some of the balance their offense once enjoyed.

Do you think the Chiefs can find the right players to support Travis Kelce this season? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Divyanshi Raj

Edited by

Rudra Dubey