It’s been an ongoing discussion every year since around 2020. We’re in 2025, still having those conversations, which is a testament to Kelce’s longevity at the position.

However, we are now at the point of Kelce’s career where, instead of conversations about drafting a tight end early to have him developed three to four years later, the needs at tight end are more immediate. Kelce has gradually declined over the past two years and was contemplating retirement this offseason. Going into 2025, I still think Kelce and Noah Gray are a workable tight end room, but there is an argument to bring in a more talented tight end than Gray as a way to reduce Kelce’s snaps in the regular season. Also, the Chiefs will need a better tight end than Gray as early as 2026 if this is Kelce’s last season.

This class has got some hype for a deep class of tight ends, but as I’ve watched them over the past few months, I’ve come away low on the class. Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland are studs that the Chiefs won’t be in range to draft.

Regarding some of the Day 2 candidates (such as LSU’s Mason Taylor, Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans, Texas’ Gunnar Helm, Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. or Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson), I’ve come away lower on those players for separate reasons. In fact, there is only one tight end between Warren and Loveland in that group whom I would take with one of the top 75 picks.

Who is that player?

Miami’s Elijah Arroyo — and here’s what you need to know about him:

Background

Coming out of high school, Arroyo was a sought-after four-star recruit. Arroyo had offers from Georgia, Alabama, Michigan and LSU, among many others. Arroyo ended up enrolling at Miami, where he played four years.

Arroyo has had a difficult path to the draft. After not playing much as a freshman, Arroyo tore his ACL in his second season, which limited him to 11 games between his sophomore and junior years. Arroro finally had an opportunity as a senior to stay healthy and play an entire season, and he showed why he was a talented recruit.

In Arroyo’s senior season, he played all 13 games, putting up 35 catches, 590 yards and seven touchdowns. Arroyo made the All-ACC second team at tight end this past season.

Arroyo competed at the Senior Bowl and played well, but he sustained a minor knee injury that forced him to not work out at the NFL Combine. He also did not end up running the 40 at his Pro Day, but he did run routes. Undoubtedly, Arroyo has a questionable medical history that teams would need to clear.

Strengths and weaknesses

The thing that intrigues me about Arroyo is his downfield speed. When you watch Arroyo on film, many of his targets and best plays come downfield. His vertical speed is quite strong. He can pull away from linebackers and defenders with his long strides. If you’re looking for a big target to catch deep crossing routes or down the seam, Arroyo is already significantly developed on those routes.

Given Arroyo’s frame and his longer legs, he certainly lacks elite change of direction. You don’t want Arroyo cutting too much because he won’t create separation on pivot-type routes. He’s best on downfield routes but also a capable dump-off option. Miami would slide Arroyo across the line of scrimmage into the flat in their run-pass-option (RPO) scheme, allowing Arroyo to get quick passes and get north with his acceleration.

Now, if Arroyo were a lousy blocker, then his vertical-based tree would be harder to unlock split out wide. However, I think Arroyo did show good potential as a blocker. In my opinion, he has the frame and length to grow into a “Y” tight end. Miami didn’t always use him in-line, but there are reps of him on the backside of runs, cutting off defensive ends and climbing to linebackers. He would be attached as a sixth lineman in some formations.

Arroyo isn’t the strongest blocker in space, but he’s not deficient there either. With more reps, I think he could operate well in a split-zone scheme where he’s a threat to get in the flat or block. Arroyo hasn’t played enough football to be polished as a blocker yet, but for a guy without experience, he’s already solid for me and has the frame to get better.

How he fits with the Chiefs

If the Chiefs took Arroyo, I would hope that he’s developed as a “Y” tight end. His best trait is his vertical ability. If you put him in line, you can get him downfield targets in play-action situations where he’s leaking out. Arroyo would provide a different element to the offense that the Chiefs haven’t had in the Andy Reid era.

Arroyo would need to improve his blocking, but having a true “Y” tight end blocking would be big for the run game if he did. The Chiefs have to hide their tight ends in the run game now. With Arroyo, the hope is you wouldn’t. That could make him an immediate Day 1 impact player.

His fit with Kelce or Gray playing in the slot off the line of scrimmage would allow the Chiefs to consistently get to 12 personnel more, unlock more in their run game and give them a new element to their tight end room.

The bottom line

I don’t think Arroyo is the best receiver in the Day 2 class; I would say it is Taylor or Ferguson. However, I have Arroyo above other tight ends because I feel best about his floor. With his size, vertical speed and potential to block, I think his path to being a starter is clearer than any other option.

On top of this, his elite speed separates him from most big tight ends who block. Arroyo can be a feature in your passing game to create explosive plays. I would like this pick as he could help the team now and grow into the tight end of the future.