Kansas City Chiefs Connected to Trade for 1,000-Yard Tight End

Six teams head into Thursday night’s first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with two selections in the opening round. That includes the Kansas City Chiefs, who own the ninth and 29th picks in the first round. Yet, that doesn’t mean all six teams will end the night with two new prospects on the team, including the Chiefs.

Recently, John Breech of CBS Sports suggested the Chiefs could use one of those picks to trade for a long-term replacement for Travis Kelce. Specifically, Breech evaluated why the Chiefs should offer the 29th overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Kyle Pitts.

“On the Chiefs’ end, if they were to acquire Pitts, he would serve as the heir apparent to Travis Kelce,” Breech wrote. “The Chiefs’ star tight end recently signed on for his 14th season in Kansas City, but at 36, it’s hard to see him playing past the 2026 season. If the Chiefs add Pitts, that would give Patrick Mahomes an almost unfair advantage in the passing game. “

Pitts is set to play out the season on the franchise tag, which many players aren’t fond of. If the Falcons aren’t willing to commit to a long-term extension to the fourth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, then perhaps Pitts would prefer a change of scenery. Plus, who wouldn’t want to catch passes from a future Hall of Famer like Patrick Mahomes?

The Falcons don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and no selections until No. 48. Perhaps they would be open to a trade involving the former 1,000-yard tight end, especially if it fetched them a first-round pick. Meanwhile, the Chiefs may feel like Pitts, who is coming off a 928-yard, five-touchdown season, and is still just 25, is better than anyone they could find at 29.

Related: Final 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting Round 1 With Trades