If Travis Kelce is truly on his farewell tour around the National Football League in 2025, it makes sense that the Kansas City Chiefs would want to make sure he can mentor his main replacement. However, the latest rumors swirling around the 2025 NFL Draft are insinuating the Chiefs won’t even have the chance to set up such a succession plan.

This year’s draft class has two tight ends considered to be can’t-miss prospects: Tyler Warren of Penn State and Colston Loveland of Michigan. Both are expected to be out of reach by the time the Chiefs are on the clock in the first round on Thursday, April 24.

Warren has long been considered a long shot for the Chiefs, considering he’s a potential top-10 pick. It sounds nice on paper to have a talent like Warren on the roster for Patrick Mahomes, but the opportunity cost would prove too great for the positional value—no one trades up that far for a tight end).

Loveland, however, has always been in view for Chiefs general manager Brett Veach—at least in mock drafts—and it makes sense.

Kelce was undecided on his playing future following the Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s also been candid in interviews about his declining skill set, which makes it tougher on him to make opponents miss week after week. When Kelce announced his intent to return, it makes the most sense to expect it to be a final chapter given it’s also his last year under contract.

Loveland could be an ideal replacement atop the Chiefs’ depth chart at tight end, but unfortunately, Veach might have to trade up for him as well. The latest rumors from ESPN reporter Peter Schrager are that Loveland is likely beyond Veach’s range. He refers to Loveland and Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams when he writes, “Having spent the entire weekend on the phones, here are two names who’ll go higher than where the consensus mock drafts have them going right now.”

That’s not to say the Chiefs won’t be able to draft a tight end at a later point that could satisfy that need. And it’s also important to note that the perceived need is not that great, considering Noah Gray is locked in through 2026 and Jared Wiley was just drafted last season. Kelce could stick around longer than expected as well.

But for those Chiefs fans who were hoping that Kelce would be able to mentor one of the draft’s top two prospects at the same position, the first round is likely to play out unfavorably—at least according to the latest draft rumors.