The Kansas City Chiefs are a tight end factory, but even the best factories have to clear out the inventory eventually. People think keeping talent is the only way to win. It's not. Sometimes, the hardest part of a dynasty is knowing exactly when to say goodbye to a player who has become a household name in Arrowhead Stadium.
When the Chiefs part ways with tight ends, it isn't usually about a lack of talent. It’s business. Cold, hard, salary-cap-driven business. You’ve seen it happen with guys like Jody Fortson or Blake Bell, and it’s a cycle that keeps repeating because Travis Kelce exists. When you have the greatest to ever do it taking up the lion's share of targets, everyone else is basically fighting for scraps and a spot on special teams.
Honestly, the roster churn at this position is fascinating. General Manager Brett Veach and Head Coach Andy Reid have a specific prototype they look for, and if a player stops fitting that mold—either because of a mounting injury history or a soaring price tag—they’re gone. No sentimentality. No hesitation.
The Brutal Reality of the Chiefs Tight End Room
Kansas City’s offensive scheme is famously complex. It’s not just "run a route and catch the ball." Reid’s system requires tight ends to be offensive linemen in the run game and wide receivers in the passing game. That’s a lot to ask. Most guys can do one or the other. Few can do both at an elite level.
When the Chiefs part ways with tight ends, it usually happens for one of three reasons. First, the "Salary Cap Casualty." This is the most common. In a world where Patrick Mahomes is making half a billion dollars, you can't pay a backup tight end $4 million a year. It just doesn’t work. Second is the "Injury Bug." We saw this with Jody Fortson. The guy had all the physical tools—6’6”, massive wingspan, incredible hands—but his body just couldn’t stay together. The Chiefs loved him, but you can’t use a roster spot on "what if."
The third reason is the most interesting: "Scheme Evolution." Andy Reid is a mad scientist. He changes his personnel groupings more than most people change their oil. If he decides he wants to run more 11 personnel (one RB, one TE) instead of 12 or 13 personnel, a couple of those extra tight ends are suddenly looking for work.
The Jody Fortson Case Study
Fortson is the perfect example of the emotional side of these transactions. He was a fan favorite. A former undrafted wide receiver from Valdosta State who converted to tight end. He spent years on the practice squad. When he finally made the active roster and started catching touchdowns in the red zone, the city went wild.
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But then came the Achilles injury. Then the shoulder. By the time the 2024 offseason rolled around, the Chiefs had to make a choice. They chose to let him walk to the Miami Dolphins. It felt wrong to fans, but from a front-office perspective, it was the only move. They replaced that "red zone threat" role with younger, cheaper options like Jared Wiley.
This is how dynasties stay young. You trade sentiment for potential.
How the Chiefs Part Ways With Tight Ends Without Losing Production
You might wonder how a team can just keep letting solid contributors go and still win Super Bowls. It’s the "Kelce Factor," sure, but it’s also about scouting. The Chiefs don’t just look for stars; they look for role players who can do one specific thing perfectly.
Take Blake Bell, the "Belldozer." He wasn't a great receiver. Everyone knew when he was on the field, he was probably blocking or taking a QB sneak. But he was elite at that one specific job. When the Chiefs decided to move on, they didn't look for another Blake Bell. They looked for the next evolution of that role.
- Scouting for Traits: They prioritize size and "basketball" athleticism.
- The Rookie Pipeline: Using mid-to-late round picks (like Noah Gray) to ensure there’s always a cheap backup who has had two years to learn the system before being asked to start.
- Veteran Minimums: Bringing in guys like Irv Smith Jr. on low-risk deals to see if they can catch lightning in a bottle.
The transition from the 2023 championship roster to the 2024 and 2025 iterations showed a clear shift. The team moved away from "specialist" tight ends and toward more versatile, "do-it-all" types. This makes the offense less predictable. If every tight end on the field can block and catch, the defense can’t cheat.
Dealing With the Post-Kelce Anxiety
Every time the Chiefs part ways with a tight end, the fan base has a minor existential crisis. "Is this the year Travis slows down?" "Who is going to replace him?"
Let's be real: Nobody replaces Travis Kelce. He’s a unicorn.
The strategy isn't to find a "New Kelce." The strategy is to have three "Good-Enoughs." By rotating through different bodies and seeing who sticks, the Chiefs are building a committee approach for the eventual day No. 87 hangs up the cleats. This is why you see so many names come and go. It’s an ongoing audition.
The Impact on the Rest of the League
Interestingly, when the Chiefs part ways with tight ends, the rest of the NFL usually pounces. Coaches from the Andy Reid coaching tree—like Doug Pederson in Jacksonville or Matt Nagy (when he was in Chicago)—are always looking for guys who have been "indoctrinated" into the KC system.
If a tight end can survive a training camp under Andy Reid and Travis Kelce, they’ve basically earned a Master’s degree in offensive football. That makes them valuable even if they weren’t "the guy" in Kansas City.
- Draft Value: The Chiefs have shown that you don't need to draft a tight end in the first round to get production.
- Market Inflation: Because the Chiefs have been so successful, their "scraps" are often overvalued by other teams.
- Scheme Mimicry: Other teams try to copy the 12-personnel looks KC uses, leading them to sign former Chiefs backups in hopes of stealing some of that "secret sauce."
Moving Forward: What to Expect Next Offseason
The cycle isn't stopping. As the Chiefs continue to navigate the most expensive years of Patrick Mahomes' career, the "middle class" of the roster will continue to be squeezed.
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Expect the Chiefs to keep taking swings in the fourth and fifth rounds of the draft. They’ve realized that a rookie contract for a tight end is one of the best values in sports. If that rookie can give you 80% of what a $6 million veteran can, the veteran is getting his walking papers every single time.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're trying to predict which tight end is the next to go, look at the snap counts and the contract structure.
- Watch the "Dead Cap" Number: If a player’s release saves the team more than $2 million with minimal "dead money," they are on the hot seat.
- Pay Attention to Special Teams: If a backup tight end isn't playing at least 40% of special teams snaps, he’s expendable. In KC, your value isn't just in the pass-catch game; it's in being a "four-phase" player.
- Check the Age Curve: Tight end is a punishing position. Once a guy hits 29 or 30 and isn't a superstar, the Chiefs are already looking for his replacement.
The reality is that seeing the Chiefs part ways with tight ends is a sign of a healthy organization. It means they aren't overpaying for past performance. It means they are constantly looking to get faster and more versatile. It’s not always fun for the fans who buy the jerseys, but it’s the reason there are so many banners hanging at Arrowhead.
Keep an eye on the practice squad. That’s where the next "shocking" roster move usually starts. The guys who are grinding there today are the ones who will make the veterans "redundant" tomorrow.
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The business of football is cold, but the results in Kansas City are undeniable. The roster will continue to churn, names will change, but the philosophy remains the same: evolve or get left behind.