Chiefs' Kelce Replacement May Already Be on Roster

Undrafted rookie tight end Jake Briningstool could be the heir apparent to Travis Kelce in Kansas City.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:52am

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The Kansas City Chiefs signed undrafted rookie tight end Jake Briningstool out of Clemson in 2025. Despite a preseason hamstring injury that sidelined him for the entire year, the Chiefs kept Briningstool on injured reserve, paying him for the full season. Some believe the Chiefs should draft Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq to eventually replace Travis Kelce, but Briningstool may already be that player, with his impressive college production and the Chiefs' commitment to developing him.

Why it matters

The Chiefs have had success finding and developing undrafted free agent tight ends in the past, and Briningstool's potential could make him an even better value than a high draft pick. If he can stay healthy and produce like he did at Clemson, he could be the long-term successor to future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce.

The details

In 48 games over four years at Clemson, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Briningstool registered 1,380 yards and 17 touchdowns on 127 receptions, the most career catches by a tight end in Clemson history. Despite his impressive college production, no NFL team saw him as worthy of a draft pick. The Chiefs signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2025, and even though he suffered a preseason hamstring injury that sidelined him for the entire year, the team kept him on injured reserve and paid him for the full season, a rare move for an undrafted rookie.

  • Briningstool signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2025.
  • Briningstool suffered a preseason hamstring injury in August 2025 that sidelined him for the entire season.
  • The Chiefs kept Briningstool on injured reserve and paid him for the full 2025 season.

The players

Jake Briningstool

A 6-foot-6, 240-pound tight end who went undrafted out of Clemson in 2025 but was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. He had an impressive college career, registering 1,380 yards and 17 touchdowns on 127 receptions, the most career catches by a tight end in Clemson history.

Travis Kelce

The star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, considered a future Hall of Famer.

Kenyon Sadiq

A tight end prospect from Oregon who some believe the Chiefs should draft to eventually replace Travis Kelce.

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What’s next

If Briningstool can stay healthy and produce like he did at Clemson, he could emerge as the long-term successor to Travis Kelce in Kansas City.

The takeaway

The Chiefs' commitment to developing Briningstool, even after he suffered a season-ending injury as an undrafted rookie, shows their belief in his potential to be a valuable tight end. If he can live up to that potential, he could be an even better value than a high draft pick.