ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is continuing to reveal the results of his survey
of NFL executives, coaches and scouts that formed top-10 position rankings around the league.Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has obviously been a mainstay in this annual exercise when talking about his position. This year, he nearly missed out on making the list.
10. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 36 | Last year’s ranking: 5Kelce is utilizing the same skills other great
tight ends — Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez — did while prolonging their careers: Use route savvy to wiggle your way for first downs, hopefully with room to run.
Kelce is far from a burner at age 36, but it’s hard to argue with his production last season. His 429 yards after the catch ranked third among this year’s tight end candidate pool. Kelce was in better shape than the previous year and it showed, though nine drops were not ideal.
“He’s still the ageless wonder at the position,” an NFC personnel evaluator said. “His elite route savvy, body control and instincts allow him to still compete at a high level, despite him getting up in age.”
Last season, Kelce finished fourth among tight ends in receiving yards (851) and tied for sixth in receptions (76) while carrying the load for the Chiefs’ pass catchers. He ran the second-most routes among tight ends, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Still one of the most productive in the league at 36, Kelce does have a lot of talented young competition at his position. Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride topped the list, deservedly so, while 32-year-old George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers came in at No. 3.
Kelce’s reputation couldn’t keep him in the fifth position he held last offseason. Instead, another veteran, like Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, ranked ahead of him at No. 9.
It’s understandable to value young playmakers over Kelce when ranking the position, but, similar to the submission on Jones in this series, this feels like a disrespectful note for Kelce, who is the only player on the list looking forward to induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day.
Kelce may not have the speed he once had, but he is still one of the best at the position when it comes to getting open and moving the chains. He had untimely drop issues in 2025, but with a more competent offense around him, this ranking could seem foolish once the 2026 season is in full swing.
