Trending Now: 07/12/2025 - Jake Briningstool Emerging as Chiefs’ Next TE Project?

Jake Briningstool: The Latest Chiefs UDFA Generating Buzz at Tight End

The Kansas City Chiefs have made a habit of turning unheralded young players into meaningful contributors, and it seems they might have another gem on their hands in undrafted rookie tight end Jake Briningstool.

On a recent episode of The Ryen Russillo Podcast, NFL insider Albert Breer singled out Briningstool as a name to watch:

“There is an undrafted rookie in Kansas City, Jake Briningstool. They’ve been able to develop tight ends there. It’s not just Kelce; Noah Gray has become a really good player. I remember the way they were talking about Isiah Pacheco a couple years ago… When the Chiefs talk about some of these young offensive guys that they bring in, they generally become something.”

That’s high praise for the former Clemson standout, who enters a crowded but unsettled tight end room behind Travis Kelce.

A Clear Opportunity

The Chiefs still lean heavily on the future Hall of Famer Kelce, but at 35, the team has wisely started looking ahead. Noah Gray has emerged as a dependable backup and heir apparent, but beyond him, the depth chart is thin.

Second-year tight end Jared Wiley remains sidelined while recovering from injury and has yet to make much of a mark. Robert Tonyan, a veteran addition, looks more like depth insurance than a true long-term solution.

That leaves a clear path for Briningstool if he can turn heads during camp. And in Kansas City, undrafted doesn’t mean overlooked — just ask Isiah Pacheco, who went from seventh-round flier to Super Bowl starter seemingly overnight.

Why the Hype?

Briningstool flashed at Clemson as a tall, athletic pass-catcher with soft hands and red zone potential. Though his production and blocking needed refinement, his traits fit the mold of a modern NFL receiving tight end. In an offense with Patrick Mahomes, a good tight end can be more than just a role player — he can be a difference-maker.

If Briningstool was a seventh-round pick, the buzz would likely be even louder. But even as an UDFA, his landing spot, opportunity, and natural ability have him rising up the deep dynasty and sleeper watchlists.

Fantasy and Dynasty Outlook

For now, Briningstool is firmly a stash in deep formats. He sits on par with rookies like Moliki Matavao (Saints) and Gavin Bartholomew (Vikings), and just behind Luke Lachey (Texans) in dynasty rookie rankings.

The Chiefs’ tight end room after this season is an open question, and Briningstool has a chance to carve out a role in 2025 and beyond.

Final Word

With a strong training camp and preseason, Jake Briningstool could position himself as the latest Chiefs developmental success story at tight end. Keep an eye on him this summer — history suggests that when Kansas City talks up one of its young offensive players, they usually “become something.”