Chiefs rumors: 3 veterans who could be cut after 2023 NFL Draft
By Kristen Wong
Chiefs rumors: Trim the fat at tight end and cut Kendall Blanton
The Chiefs chose not to dip into this year’s talented tight end class, which means the current tight ends on the roster should be safe, right?
Wrong. Only Travis Kelce gets the immunity stick.
Take a look at the horde of tight ends currently on the Chiefs depth chart: Noah Gray, Jody Fortson, Blake Bell, Matt Bushman, and Kendall Blanton. Kansas City loves its multi-tight-end sets, but one of these guys will have to go.
It was a tough call between Bushman and Blanton, but we’re going with Blanton since Bushman put together some quality preseason tape in the Chiefs vs. Packers game last August.
Blanton was actually the Los Angeles Rams’ starting tight end in Super Bowl LVI against the Bengals, but in three years at LA, he only has two regular season starts. Whereas Gray was a former draft pick, Fortson feasts in the end zone, and Bell is easily the best blocking tight end, Blanton just doesn’t have much to offer the Chiefs.
The former Rams veteran isn’t much more than a body in the tight end unit, and when push comes to shove, fringe roster players like him will be the first to get released.