The Kansas City Chiefs are set to meet with at least one potential Travis Kelce understudy ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. The news first surfaced on March 20, as the Chiefs were listed among Georgia tight end Oscar Delp’s interested parties.
SI NFL reporter Arye Pulli shared the pre-draft update on X, relaying the following.
“Source: Georgia TE Oscar Delp will have seven top-30 visits, including one with the [Cleveland] Browns today,” Pulli posted on March 20. “The other upcoming visits: [Tampa Bay] Bucs, Chiefs, [Los Angeles] Chargers, [Carolina] Panthers, [New England] Patriots, [and Minnesota] Vikings.”
Pulli concluded that “Delp was clocked as low as 4.44 on his Pro Day 40-yard dash” and is “an intriguing prospect.”
Oscar Delp Fits the NFL Draft Mold of a Typical Chiefs Tight End
Delp is indeed the type of dual-threat tight end that might “intrigue” Kansas City.
NFL Network draft expert Lance Zierlein described him as a “fluid athlete with the forward lean, short-area quickness and pure speed to beat linebackers on intermediate routes.”
This is reminiscent of pass-catching TEs like Kelce, Noah Gray, and Jared Wiley.
“[Delp’s] soft hands and smooth catch skills show up on the move, though his short arms and inconsistent finish through contact limit his reliability,” Zierlein continued in his pre-draft evaluation. “He has enough toughness and technique to help in the run game as he improves his strength. Delp projects as a Day 3 prospect with three-down potential and untapped upside as a pass catcher.”
Standing at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, Delp has the size to make it in the NFL.
Per NFL Draft Buzz’s Wyatt Brooks, he’s a “move tight end” at his core and does his best work lined up in the slot or out wide, rather than in-line next to the offensive tackle. Delp has upside in this regard.
“When he gets a clean release and works up the seam, [Delp] can separate in a way that very few players at his position can,” Brooks wrote within his pre-draft analysis. “The 43-yard catch against Texas showed what that looks like when everything clicks, and the Tennessee game in 2024 gave you a glimpse of his red zone upside with two scores. The speed translates. The question is how often he will get those clean looks at the NFL level.”
Later, Brooks added that “for an offense that wants to spread the formation and attack the middle of the field, Delp gives you a weapon with a genuine speed advantage over most tight ends in this class. He just needs time and reps to round out the rest of his game.”
He’d be a definite scheme fit for the Chiefs.
Travis Kelce Is Officially Locked in With the Chiefs for 2026 & Beyond
GettyKansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is officially back for another season.
Kelce signed a new three-year contract on March 23.
No, this doesn’t guarantee that the future Hall of Fame tight end will suit up for another three seasons. But it does pretty much confirm that Kelce will not play for another NFL franchise.
This was always the assumption, but the Chiefs’ new three-year commitment puts considerable action behind both parties’ words.
Kelce’s March 23 deal should help KC maneuver the salary cap, too. However, if Kelce does elect to return for the 2027 season, he won’t need another new contract to do so.
The superstar is locked in with the Chiefs, both in 2026 and beyond. Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Kansas City adds another draft pick at the position.
Chiefs Looking Into New Travis Kelce Understudy Ahead of NFL Draft: Report