Travis Kelce is sharing what he wants to see from the next wave of Kansas City Chiefs players ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The veteran tight end spoke candidly about his expectations for rookies during an episode of the “New Heights” podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce. As the Chiefs entered the draft with two first-round picks at No. 9 and No. 29, Kelce outlined the traits he believes are most important for players joining the team.
Kelce emphasized that while he does not make personnel decisions, he values certain qualities that can impact the locker room and on-field performance as the team looks to rebound from a challenging season.
Travis Kelce Emphasizes Passion and Energy for Chiefs Draft Picks
Kelce made it clear that passion for the game is at the top of his list when evaluating potential additions to the roster.
“I’m just hoping for a guy that loves ball, man,” Kelce said on the podcast. “I think one of the things that you just want to have when you get back into the building after a season like last year, man, you just want guys that love what they’re (expletive) doing. I think it’s one of the things that I look for in these young guys when they come in, is just how infectious is your energy? I need that out of these young guys.”
Kelce added that energy and personality can take time to develop, but he trusts head coach Andy Reid to help players reach their potential.
“Sometimes, it takes a little bit for a guy to get comfortable in his shoes and to really show his personality, but Coach Andy Reid says it best: We want you to show that personality. We want you to be yourself and bring the energy to the building,” Kelce said.
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Kelce also broke down how he evaluates players by watching game film, focusing on competitiveness and football IQ over pure athletic traits.
“You have to be a competitor. You have to show your love for the game — your competitiveness, how much you want to compete on every single play. That’s one of the things that I think needs to be higher than a lot of the other attributes. Does your love for the game show up on the field?” Kelce said.
He pointed to route running and understanding defensive schemes as key indicators of a player’s readiness for the next level.
“And then on top of that, it’s defensive understanding. You can tell by how guys — depending on what route they have — how they stem, how they attack players, how they attack leverage, if it’s man-to-man coverage,” Kelce continued.
Kelce added that creativity within structure also stands out when evaluating receivers.
“I want to see how much of an artist are you. Are you creating a route within the concept? I’m not saying doing your own (expletive) thing. All I’m saying is that, if it’s a slant, I’m not just running three steps forward and hitting a 45-degree angle. I know the basic concepts of the slant — how do I take it to another level?”
Kelce noted that awareness and precision often outweigh raw speed when he studies prospects.
“When I’m looking at a receiver, I’m looking at, okay, how well does he know the defense that’s in front of him? You can tell that by how fast his eyes get back to the ball, how fast he gets in and out of routes, how fast and how precise he gets to a certain point, depending on what route’s called,” he said.
“I’m looking at those kind of things more than I’m really looking at how fast he is. Yeah, I want to know how fast he is. A part of football is understanding somebody’s speed and what their top-end speed is. But guys that understand defenses and have a good feel for it — I think I’m going to lean towards that more than I’m just going to lean towards the guy that just ran a 4-3 and it’s like, ‘holy (expletive).’ And yeah, you can tell that just by watching tape. 100%.”
Chiefs Prospect Kenyon Sadiq Shares Travis Kelce Encounter
“He’s a super down-to-earth person… I think that’s pretty rare, especially being the celebrity or caliber that he’s at.”
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One player who recently connected with Kelce is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who visited the Chiefs during the pre-draft process.
Sadiq described meeting Kelce as a memorable moment during an interview with Sports Illustrated Oregon Ducks reporter Bri Amaranthus.
“It was awesome, just kind of a moment of realization, like, this is the NFL,” Sadiq said. “He’s a super down-to-earth person. He’s not going to try to ego you by any means. I think that’s pretty rare, especially being the celebrity or caliber that he’s at. It was really cool. He’s a cool guy.”
Sadiq enters the draft after an impressive 2025 season, finishing with 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. He earned First-team All-Big Ten honors and was named Big Ten Tight End of the Year.
He also stood out at the NFL Combine, posting a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, a 43.5-inch vertical jump, and an 11-foot-1-inch broad jump.
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