Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has been left off PFN’s Top-100 list for 2026, a notable omission for a player who has spent years near the top of every major ranking in the sport.
The tight end turns 37 in October and put up quietly diminished numbers in 2025, which appears to have been enough for analysts to draw the line. For the first time in years, Kelce is not in the conversation.
Declining Regular Season Production Costs Travis Kelce Placement on Top-100 List
Pro Football Network officially released its comprehensive NFL Top-100 list for the 2026 season, with some deserved inclusions and surprise exclusions.
The decision to exclude Kelce from the Top-100 comes down to cold, hard analytics. While casual observers still view Kelce as an elite offensive weapon because of his postseason heroics, his regular-season production tells a completely different story.
In 17 games during the 2025 campaign, Kelce caught 76 passes on 108 targets for 851 yards. While those numbers are respectable for an average tight end, they fall well short of the gold standard Kelce established over his legendary career.
He averaged just 11.2 yards per reception and managed to score only a handful of touchdowns, failing to cross the 1,000-yard threshold for the third consecutive season.
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According to the PFSN TE Impact Metric, Kelce was still the fifth-highest rated tight end in the league, but the drop-off was driven primarily by lower yards after catch and a decreased ability to separate against modern defensive schemes.
With Kelce sliding down the analytical ladder, a new generation of tight ends has officially taken over the league rankings. Younger stars like Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals and Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders have surpassed the veteran in both raw volume and advanced efficiency scores.
McBride put together a historic campaign with 126 receptions, while Bowers proved to be an elite offensive chess piece. Even older veterans like George Kittle managed to maintain higher per-route efficiency despite battling late-season injuries.
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Only four tight ends made PFN’s Top-100 list for this year, and they were: McBride (21st overall), Kittle (31st overall), Bowers (73rd overall), and Sam LaPorta (87th overall).
Despite the regular-season regression that fueled his drop in the national media rankings, personnel executives around the league still recognize his unique attributes.
His understanding of opposing defensive coverage schemes and his long-standing chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes ensure he remains a vital piece of the Kansas City passing game when game situations dictate.
“He’s still the ageless wonder at the position,” one NFC personnel evaluator told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “His elite route savvy, body control and instincts allow him to still compete at a high level, despite him getting up in age.”
While critics focus on his diminishing regular-season stats, Kelce remains focused on team success after signing a new multi-year contract extension that keeps him in Kansas City for the 2026 season.
With training camps scheduled to open in late July, the future Hall of Famer will have an immediate opportunity to answer his critics on the field.
