The Kansas City Chiefs' decision to extend tight end Travis Kelce's contract two more years, making him the highest-paid tight end in the league, was a rather intriguing move by the Super Bowl champions. At 34 years old and entering his 12th season in the NFL, the unbridled question of whether Kelce is worth the investment, citing concerns about his age and the toll of playing a physically demanding position are valid. However, a closer look at Kelce's career and recent performances reveals why the Chiefs made the right choice in securing his future with the team.

Travis Kelce has been consistent throughout his whole career

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When you think about the highest paid tight end in the league, most may forget that it's Darren Waller of the New York Giants. That doesn't exactly ease anyone's doubts on Kelce's extension, however, who will surpass Waller's annual $17 million. Waller was a 1,000-plus yard pass catcher from 2019-2020. But since then, his numbers have hit a steady decline due to health issues. Now, at just 31, he's contemplating retirement.

Since joining the Chiefs in 2013, Kelce has been a model of consistency and durability. Aside from missing his entire rookie season due to knee surgery, he has missed just four other games in his entire career, one of which was last year's opener. This level of durability is rare in the NFL, especially for a player at a physically demanding position like tight end. Kelce's ability to stay healthy and productive — and NFL record seven straight 1,000 yard-plus seasons from 2016-2022 — speaks volumes about his work ethic and commitment to the game.

Last season wasn't a drop off season for Travis Kelce

Last season, despite a perceived decline in production, Kelce still managed to put up impressive numbers, finishing with 93 receptions for 984 yards and seven total touchdowns. While his yardage total was his lowest since 2015, it was still second-best in the NFL for tight ends, with only a 36-yard difference between him and the leader, George Kittle. While going for an eighth season with 1,000 yards receiving would have been impressive, it wasn't paramount to his success.

Furthermore, Kelce's postseason performance demonstrates his value to the Chiefs. In 22 postseason games in his career, including four Super Bowl appearances, Kelce has been a key contributor the Chiefs successes, extending their seasons by making deep playoff runs, including last year. Kelce started to dominate once the playoffs began, having 32 catches for 355 yards and three total touchdowns, per StatMuse. After last year's postseason run, the Chiefs tight end now owns the record for most postseason catches (165), surpassing the great Jerry Rice.

Look at the history of the greats

While concerns about Kelce's age are valid, history shows that some of the league's best tight ends, including Jason Witten, Shannon Sharpe, Tony Gonzalez, and Antonio Gates, were highly productive well into their thirties. And that may be how Chiefs general manager categorizes his prized tight end after calling him an “outlier”.

“Every now and then, you have one of these guys that are outliers — and certainly Travis is one of those players,” Veach said during a news conference, per NFL.com. “It's funny, it's not even May yet and today we had a chance to get out there in phase two and guys were out there running around. Travis was the first guy in line, and he looked like he was 28 years old.”

Kelce also benefits from playing with one of the greatest quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and being coached by Andy Reid, one of the greatest coaches of all time. Plus, the combination of talent around him and his own skill set makes Kelce, even at 34 and beyond, a valuable asset to the Chiefs' offense as they continue on this dynasty.

Additionally, the Chiefs have made moves to support Kelce and the team alike to ensure each other's continued success. The addition of weapons like free agent wide receiver pickup Hollywood Brown and first-round 2024 NFL Draft pick wide receiver Xavier Worthy out of Texas provides Mahomes with additional targets, relieving some of the workload for Kelce. This strategic approach to roster building demonstrates the Chiefs' commitment to maintaining a competitive team and maximizing Kelce's potential on the field.