The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2025 offseason with the opportunity to improve their roster and make up for their Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Of course, one of the biggest questions the team had was whether or not tight end Travis Kelce would return amid retirement rumors, but the veteran himself has already confirmed he’ll be back.

 

However, considering Kelce is coming off a down year, accumulating 97 receptions, 823 yards, and three touchdowns, it’s clear the 35-year-old has seen some regression.

In an attempt to add more depth to the position, the Chiefs have agreed to a one-year deal with tight end Robert Tonyan, who’s set to enter his eighth year in the NFL.

Tonyan started his NFL career in 2017, when he signed as an undrafted agent with the Detroit Lions. However, he was released before the regular season even began.

The Green Bay Packers then signed him in the latter part of the season. The Packers re-signed him for the 2018 season and would spend five years there. Tonyan proved he could become a reliable every-game target in 2020, putting up solid numbers with 52 receptions, 586 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In 2023, Tonyan signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears, where he started six of 17 games. He then started the 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings, which means he has had stint with every team in the NFC North Division.

The Vikings released Tonyan before the 2024 season ended. He spent the rest of the season as part of the Chiefs’ practice squad.

Tonyan will be 31 years old by the start of the 2025 season, and his career production has been limited, accumulating 148 receptions, 1,549 yards, and 17 touchdowns on 193 targets.

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It’s unlikely Tonyan will come in and start taking away too many snaps from Kelce, but he could try to jump Noah Gray, the Chiefs’ second-most efficient tight end from 2024, who had career highs in receptions (40), yards (437) and touchdowns (5).