Chiefs and Lions trade proposal would send 20-TD young playmaker to Kansas City for Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs will be getting back tight end Travis Kelce for a 14th season in 2026, but one NFL analyst believes the team should still begin preparing for life after the future Hall of Famer.

FOX Sports' Ralph Vacchiano proposes a trade that would land the Chiefs tight end Sam LaPorta from the Detroit Lions in a draft-day deal.

Kansas City would acquire LaPorta and the No. 17 overall pick in the 2026 draft, while Detroit would add the Chiefs' pick in Round 1 at ninth overall.  A 2027 conditional fourth-round pick would also be involved in the hypothetical trade later down the line.

Why would Lions trade for LaPorta?

LaPorta had a productive first two seasons in the NFL with 17 total touchdowns. The Michigan product had 86 receptions during his rookie campaign in 2024, and added another 60 in 2025.

However, back surgery limited LaPorta to just nine games and 489 receiving yards in 2026.

With LaPorta set to hit free agency next offseason and coming off an injury-riddled season, the Lions could look to move off the 25-year-old a bit early if they don't want to sign him to a long-term extension.

Would Chiefs be a possible fit for LaPorta?

Kansas City has a ton of draft capital over the next two years, primarily due to trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams for a massive haul of picks earlier this offseason.

General manager Brett Veach could flip some of those selections to Detroit for LaPorta and form the best tight end duo in football.

LaPorta and Kelce would be an electric tandem in the tight end room, and could play on the field at the same time together as reliable receivers for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and blockers in the rushing attack.

Trading for LaPorta would also give Kansas City a young and promising replacement for Kelce, who could hang up the cleats as soon as next offseason.

Tight end isn't a pressing need for the Chiefs, but if the franchise wants to add an exciting playmaker for Mahomes and plan for the future after Kelce retires, acquiring LaPorta would be a logical move.

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