It has become increasingly clear that the Kansas City Chiefs are seeking to understand tight end Travis Kelce’s future decisions without delay. In fact, our earlier insights turned out to be accurate.

According to a recent report from The Athletic, the Chiefs are anticipating an answer from Kelce around the significant date of March 14.

This date marks the beginning of the new league year and is crucial because it is the deadline for the team to release him from the roster before he qualifies for an $11.5 million roster bonus.

Recent remarks made by Kelce on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast indicate that he may be considering moving on. The urgency tied to his decision-making process could potentially serve as motivation, though it may not be the team’s direct aim.

Ultimately, the Chiefs need clarity on whether they should target free agents, including Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki. Delaying the roster bonus deadline might offer a temporary solution, but the Chiefs would still face a hefty $19.8 million salary cap hit for Kelce, which would significantly decrease to $2.5 million if he chooses to retire or is released.

Even if there’s room in their salary cap to acquire a player like Mike Gesicki, Tyler Conklin, or Zach Ertz, the Chiefs likely won’t want to sign a replacement if Kelce ultimately decides to continue his career with the team.