Chiefs' Travis Kelce Drops to No. 5 from No. 1 in NFL TE Rankings by Coaches, Execs

Coming off the least productive full season of his storied career, Travis Kelce is no longer regarded among the NFL's elite tight ends.

In a survey of NFL coaches, scouts and executives conducted by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Kelce checked in as the fifth-best player at the position going into the 2025 season.

This marks a four-spot drop from last year, when Kelce was ranked as the top tight end in the NFL in the same poll from Fowler.

Kelce's highest ranking on any of the ballots cast was No. 4, and he was unranked by some voters. Fowler noted the two biggest reasons cited for the drop were Kelce's age (36) and that he "played heavier" during the 2024 season.

"For sure [he showed] signs of physical decline, but you still have to worry about him because he's such a smart player with a great connection with the QB," a veteran pro personnel evaluator told Fowler. "Just doesn't get open like he used to."

Last year saw Kelce have the fewest receiving yards of his career in a full season (832). That doesn't include his rookie year in 2013 when he only played one game due to a knee injury.

Kelce's 8.5 yards per reception was by far the worst of his career. He had never had a season averaging fewer than 10 yards per catch prior to 2024.

The age cliff is something that's virtually impossible to avoid, but improving his body has been a point of emphasis for Kelce this offseason. Even though he denied a report about losing 25 pounds, he is going to enter this season slimmer than he was in 2024.

Kelce was the second-oldest tight end in the NFL last season, behind Marcedes Lewis. He is set to be the oldest player at the position in 2025, unless Lewis signs with a team at some point.

Even with some decline in his performance, Kelce is still capable of putting up big games. He had a season-high 117 yards on seven receptions in the Chiefs' 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round.