When Travis Kelce decided to return for another season with the Kansas City Chiefs, he had one clear goal in mind: no repeat of the 2025 campaign. And the veteran tight end believes this year's draft class could be the key to a swift turnaround in Arrowhead.

On his "New Heights" podcast, Kelce acknowledged that teams picking in the top 10 of the NFL Draft are usually "really not too good." But he made it clear the Chiefs are the exception to that rule, pointing to the franchise's championship pedigree. He's confident that first-round picks—cornerback Mansoor Delane and defensive tackle Peter Woods—can contribute immediately. But it's the second-round selection that has Kelce especially fired up.

"The guy is a f—king freak of nature in terms of athleticism and explosiveness," Kelce said of edge rusher R Mason Thomas. "I can't wait to see how this guy gets after the quarterback, man. It's been kinda something that the Chiefs have been looking at to get better at. That's getting after the QB and really putting quarterbacks under duress."

Kelce was quick to credit the team's existing defensive stars—Chris Jones and George Karlaftis—calling Karlaftis "a f—king workhorse." But he sees Thomas as a potential game-changer on the edge, a missing piece that could elevate the entire defense.

While Kelce won't be lining up alongside Thomas or the two first-rounders, he knows that if this trio makes the immediate impact he expects, the entire offense will benefit from shorter fields and more favorable matchups this fall. For Chiefs fans—and anyone who loves seeing a team reload with young, explosive talent—this could be a season to remember.