Now that Travis Kelce has made an official decision on his future, it’s clear that the Kansas City Chiefs must make these three key moves this offseason.

As football’s offseason continues, the Kansas City Chiefs received some massive news on Thursday’s edition of “The Pat McAfee Show.” During the show, Pat McAfee revealed that Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will be returning for the 2025 NFL season.

“I’m coming back for sure,” Kelce sent in a text, according to McAffee. “I’m gonna get in the best shape of my life this offseason and get back to the mountaintop. (I’ve) got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and with how I got the guys ready for battle.”

“I can’t go out like that!”

I reached out to source(s) on the future of @tkelce..

Source(s) said I’M COMING BACK FOR SURE..

I’m gonna get in the best shape of my life this offseason..

I’ve got a real bad taste in my mouth with how I played in that last game and I can’t go out like that!!!! #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/HqfpdqEjqa

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 27, 2025

The fact that the Chiefs already know Kelce will be back next season is huge news. Not only does it guarantee his 13th NFL campaign, but early confirmation means that Kansas City has extra time to plan its offseason, considering how the superstar TE wasn’t expected to make his retirement decision until next month.

With the extra time that Kelce has given him, the Chiefs must make these three no-brainer moves following his retirement decision.

1. Extend Trey Smith With a Long-Term Contract

The Chiefs have several players hitting free agency next month, including starting offensive guard Trey Smith. At least, that was until Kansas City franchise tagged the veteran blocker shortly after Kelce’s announcement, keeping Smith in town for at least one more year on a deal that’s worth $23.4 million, fully guaranteed.

Still, just because Smith will be on next season’s contract doesn’t mean the saga is over. He’ll be a free agent again next offseason, meaning it’s time to start thinking about a long-term deal if the Chiefs want to avoid a similar experience. After all, they can’t exactly afford to lose a guard of his caliber.

Smith has cemented himself as one of the best players at his position since being drafted 226th overall in 2021. The former Tennessee Volunteer has only improved with each passing year, culminating in a 2024 performance that saw him finish as one of the top guards on Pro Football Focus in terms of run blocking (77.9, 10th) and overall offense (75.1, 14th).

Now that Kelce isn’t retiring and Smith has been franchise tagged, the Chiefs can work on a lengthier contract for the latter. Getting the future Hall-of-Fame TE’s retirement situation out of the way gives Kansas City a better idea of its future finances, making a new contract for Smith more feasible going forward.

With how fast the NFL offseason can move, the Chiefs would be wise to extend Smith sooner rather than later.

2. Find a Potential Travis Kelce Replacement in NFL Draft

Assuming that the 2025 season will be Kelce’s final NFL campaign, it’s time for the Chiefs to find a legitimate successor for him.

Noah Gray and Jared Wiley are both under contract through 2027; however, neither consistently showed TE1 qualities last season. Gray had a brief heater midway through the 2024 season but couldn’t consistently maintain that level of play, finishing with 40 catches for 437 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games. Meanwhile, Wiley only made one catch in seven appearances as he was used more as a blocker.

As neither Grey nor Wiley appears to have TE1 upside, the Chiefs would be wise to turn to the draft to find his eventual replacement.

With the 31st overall pick in April, Michigan’s Colston Loveland and LSU’s Mason Taylor are names that Kansas City could target at the end of Round 1. Even TEs like Miami’s Elijah Arroyo and Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson could be potential Day 2 targets with the 63rd and 66th overall selections.

The last thing the Chiefs need is for Kelce to retire at the end of the 2025 campaign, leaving them without a proper successor. If general manager Brett Veach wants to avoid headaches next offseason, finding Kelce’s potential replacement in April is a must.

3. Sign More Receiving Weapons for Patrick Mahomes

While Kelce is expected to be one of Patrick Mahomes’ top weapons again next season, it’s time for the Chiefs to invest in more offensive talent. The 35-year-old TE’s production has been declining, and last season was the least productive effort of his career, highlighting Kansas City’s obvious need to upgrade Mahomes’ arsenal.

Wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Marquise Brown are heading toward free agency next month, leaving Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice as the Chiefs’ only other legitimate wideouts under contract in 2025. As great as the up-and-coming duo can be, Kansas City can’t rely on just them and the Kelce-Gray tandem all season.

Fortunately, this year’s free-agent WR class is filled with names that can help the Chiefs. Big-name playmakers like Keenan Allen, Chris Godwin, and Stefon Diggs will be hitting the open market on March 12, and even though each will command a pretty penny, the allure of going on a potential Super Bowl run with the Chiefs could lower their asking price.

Even if Kansas City steers away from the bigger names, there are plenty of veteran wideouts who can be signed for depth roles at a cheaper price. Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid are two of the best to ever hold their respective positions, meaning they could potentially turn an underwhelming signing into an offseason steal.

With how prevalent WR-related injuries were for the Chiefs last season, improving the position’s depth is a must this NFL offseason.