Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s new contract is longer than you’d expect, but that doesn’t mean the team anticipates him playing for its entire duration.
On Monday, NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport reported Kelce — who turns 37 on Oct. 5 — has signed a three-year, $54.735M deal with the Chiefs that could be worth up to $57.735M. The first year of the deal is $12M plus $3M in incentives.
The Chiefs signing Kelce to a multiyear deal should be surprising. His last contract, which he signed before the 2024 season, was shorter (two years).
However, upon closer inspection, the contract differs from a typical extension. And it’s a smart way for the Chiefs to manage their salary cap.
Why Travis Kelce’s new contract is not what it appears
Per Over the Cap, Kelce’s contract includes void years in 2027 and 2028. Void years are those in which the team does not expect the player to play and serve as placeholders for prorated signing bonus money. This allows teams to spread cap numbers over a longer period.
The Chiefs must do that after signing running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43.05M contract in free agency. Per Over the Cap, his 2026 cap number is $5.68M, but it increases to $18.68M in 2027 and 2028.
The Chiefs’ salary cap situation becomes even trickier when factoring in quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract. The QB, of course, signed a 10-year, $450M deal before the start of the 2020 season. His cap number in 2026 is $34.65M. It becomes a whopping $85.25M in 2027 and $53.01M in 2028.
Kelce’s cap numbers, in comparison, are much smaller. Take a look below. Figures are provided by Over the Cap.
| Year | Cap number |
| 2026 | $4.89M |
| 2027 | $4.89M |
| 2028 | $3.55M |
Now the void years on Kelce’s contract will count toward the Chiefs salary cap if he retires after the 2026 season. However, that’s better than a bigger number up front.
If Kelce wants to keep playing after the 2026 season, he and the team will probably renegotiate his deal, but that looks unlikely. The TE is clearly nearing the end of his career after logging 851 receiving yards last season, his second-lowest mark since his rookie season in 2013.
The Chiefs will have a more challenging time managing their salary cap while also trying to field a championship-caliber roster over the next three seasons. Addressing the Kelce situation gives Kansas City one less thing to worry about.
