The Kansas City Chiefs are checking candidates before the 2024 NFL draft. Besides addressing urgent needs, they are also thinking about future backup possibilities.
The Chiefs welcomed Kansas State's tight end Ben Sinnott on April 8 for a pre-draft assessment. Sinnott proudly shared a photo of the Chiefs’ practice facility on his Instagram Stories during the visit.
AtoZ Sports’ Charles Goldman mentioned, “The Chiefs have done a lot of work on this tight end class so far, which shows they’re starting to plan for after Travis Kelce. At the very least, they need to find a young and cost-effective option to occasionally replace Kelce during the 2024 NFL season.
“This could help prolong Kelce’s career and also prepare the team for future success with a genuine apprentice in place.”
With the No. 32 overall pick, the Chiefs won’t be able to get Georgia’s Brock Bowers, who’s universally considered the top tight end in the draft. But Sinnott, predicted to be a Day 2 pick, is widely seen as the second-best prospect after an impressive showing at the combine.
The versatile pass-catching tight end completed the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds, with a 40-inch vertical, and 126-inch broad jump. He finished the shuttles in 4.23 seconds and the three-cone in 6.82 seconds. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder’s burst score, 97.4%, surpassed every tight end in the 2024 class.
Goldman suggested, “Given his skill set, there is little doubt in my mind that Chiefs HC Andy Reid can find a way to utilize Sinnott effectively in this offense, even with Kelce, Noah Gray, and Irv Smith Jr. already in the mix.”
Ben Sinnott Began His Career as a Fullback Before Switching to TE
One of Sinnott’s main attractions is his versatility. The 21-year-old initially started his college career as a fullback before transitioning to tight end. At Kansas State, the two-time, First-Team All-Big 12 selection recorded 82 catches and 10 touchdowns in 38 games. 1,138 yards Pro Football Focus
also gave Sinnott an overall 82.0 grade for his 2023 season, with a run-blocking grade of 76.1. NBC Sports' Kyle Dvorchack
stated, “Sinnott is also a proficient blocker. He may not be the top blocker in the class, but he could be the best blocker among the pass-catching tight ends who we expect to have an impact on the fantasy landscape. “His time as a fullback also adds to his flexibility. Sinnott ticks many boxes, including an emphatic endorsement of his athleticism. He was productive in college and can also handle the gritty work of blocking. In a weak class, he’s an easy choice as the TE2.”
Travis Kelce Receives Unsolicited Praise For Mentoring Younger Teammates
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce with former teammate Jody Fortson (L) at SoFi Stadium on November 20, 2022.
GettyKelce is contracted until 2025, and finding a potential tight end to join the team while the future Hall of Famer is still on the roster will be beneficial. During this offseason alone, several players have given Kelce unprompted recognition for contributing to their success.
After former Chiefs tight end
Jody Fortson agreed to a deal with the Miami Dolphins , he gave Kelcethe highest praise he could give “Being in a room with Kelce, it definitely helped me improve significantly, thanks to having arguably the greatest of all time in that room,” Fortson.
informed reporters . “Learning from him and understanding how he approaches different routes, and why he interprets coverage like this… you can't get that kind of insight unless you're with someone who understands it.”Chiefs running back
Clyde Edwards-Helaire wasn’t expected to return after Kansas City declined his fifth-year option last offseason. After Edwards-Helaire renewed his contract for one year , the 25-year-old cited Kelce as a reason for his return.“On a personal and football level, he’s someone who has supported me and lifted me up from my lowest points,” Edwards-Helaire
informed reporters of Kelce on April 8. “And when I was at my best, he was there, supporting me enthusiastically. So we have that sense of unity.” Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott meets with the Chiefs before the 2024 NFL draft, a prospect seen as capable of succeeding Travis Kelce.
