Chiefs News: Travis Kelce leaning towards one more year

The latest

Final 2024 grades for all 32 NFL teams: Eagles, Commanders ace season-long test; Cowboys receive failing mark | CBS Sports

Kansas City Chiefs: A-

The Chiefs’ season ended with a thud in the Super Bowl, but the 40-22 loss to the Eagles shouldn’t completely overshadow the things Kansas City achieved in 2024. The Chiefs came up short in their quest in becoming the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, but they are the first repeat champion to make it back to the Super Bowl. The Chiefs also became the first team to play in five Super Bowls over a six-year span.

Kansas City made it back to the Super Bowl despite wideout Rashee Rice suffering a season-ending injury in Week 4 and running back Isiah Pacheco missing a large chunk of the year after getting injured in Week 2. Pacheco was not the same player when he returned from his injury, which was one of the reasons why the Chiefs’ season ended the way that it did.

NFL Rumors: Chiefs’ Travis Kelce ‘Leaning’ Toward 2025 Return amid Retirement Buzz | Bleacher Report

Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is “leaning more toward” returning in 2025 rather than retiring.

“There’s definitely a sense that Travis is going to try to play more,” Russini said on The Rich Eisen Show (2:00 mark). “I haven’t heard anyone saying ‘Yeah, he’s really struggling with what he wants to do.’ It’s definitely leaning more towards that. That can of course change… But for this Chiefs operation looking to move forward here, I think they feel pretty good that Travis has a little more left in him.”

Kelce, 35, is likely past his prime, but he can still be productive for the Chiefs as they look to get back to the Super Bowl. He’s coming off a season in which he recorded 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 97 receptions.

NFL beat writer mock draft 2025: Giants, Raiders secure their futures at QB | The Athletic

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Donovan Jackson, LT, Ohio State

Even without trading up or forcing the pick, the Chiefs address their biggest roster need. Jackson has exceptional strength and appears to have the fluid footwork necessary to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. After switching to left tackle late last season, he produced an impeccable playoff run that helped Ohio State win the national championship. Jackson’s punch against edge rushers was noticeable, a trait the Chiefs need to help elevate their passing attack. — Nate Taylor

2025 NFL Mock Draft: All skill player edition | PFF

31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: RB DEVIN NEAL, KANSAS

The Chiefs run game was ineffective throughout the playoffs and non-existent during the Super Bowl. While many top running back options from this draft are off the board, this class is deep at the position, so Neal should improve them instantly. Neal can fill Isiah Pacheco‘s role if Pacheco doesn’t rebound from his down 2024 season.

2025 NFL mock draft: Cam Ward to Titans, Travis Hunter falls out of top four | FOX Sports

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

While offensive line seems like the obvious choice here after their performance in the Super Bowl, Patrick Mahomes needs another weapon with Travis Kelce aging and Xavier Worthy still learning the nuisances of being a complete receiver at the next level. Egbuka is the Buckeyes’ all-time leader in receptions and had double-digit touchdown catches in two of his last three seasons in Columbus. He’s a possession receiver who serves as a great compliment to Worthy’s deep-threat ability.

Around the NFL

Source – Saints expected to hire Eagles’ Doug Nussmeier as OC | ESPN

Nussmeier has worked alongside new Saints head coach Kellen Moore at a number of stops, most recently in Philadelphia where he served as quarterbacks coach for Jalen Hurts and the Super Bowl champion Eagles.

Nussmeier was the quarterbacks coach during Moore’s stints as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys (2019-22) and Los Angeles Chargers (2023) as well.

Nussmeier, 54, is a former QB himself with ties to the area. He was selected by the Saints in the fourth round of the 1994 draft out of Idaho and spent four seasons in New Orleans, followed by brief stints with the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears.

Cowboys OL Zack Martin to retire after 11 seasons in NFL | NFL.com

Martin’s impact on the Cowboys cannot be measured by traditional statistics, but those who followed the team during his career know how valuable he was to the organization. He started in every game in which he appeared (162, plus nine playoff contests), protected quarterback Dak Prescott as the Mississippi State product rose from afterthought to star signal-caller, and cleared running lanes for Ezekiel Elliott, who led the NFL in rushing twice in his first three seasons.

As faces changed both on the field and the sideline, Martin remained a constant. He was one of the most reliably excellent players in the NFL — regardless of position — reaching a Pro Bowl and earning an All-Pro nod in every season but one during his career. He even commanded a pay raise at 32 years old.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs Roster: Ranking Kansas City’s top 5 positions of need in 2025

2. Wide receiver

The Chiefs have successfully invested in the wide receiver position over the last two drafts, forming a strong duo in Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy to lead the receiving corps into the future.

It leaves plenty of work to do to surround them for 2025, especially with Rice’s early-season availability in question. The final parts of Super Bowl LIX showed off Worthy’s downfield speed, and the Chiefs need to find a way to unleash that next season. That means surrounding him with other playmakers that garner attention from coverage.

The handful of receivers set to leave the Chiefs in free agency features Hollywood Brown, a strong re-sign candidate, but the rest are role players due to be replaced by younger, higher-ceiling prospects.

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