Kansas City Chiefs TE Tre Watson spills the beans on the practice squad grind, Kelce's mentorship, and earning Mahomes' trust

Kansas City Chiefs second-year TE Tre Watson joined NFL Network’s GMFB to discuss the practice squad grind, Travis Kelce’s mentorship, and what it’s like to earn Patrick Mahomes’ trust as a pass-catcher.

Kansas City Chiefs TE Tre Watson is hitting the media tour before his second NFL training camp.

Watson recently joined our friends Marcus Dash and Jason Dunn at Chief Concerns. Now he’s joined Jamie Erdahl and the “Good Morning Football” crew on NFL Network for a bit of national media attention. There, he revealed exactly how he joined the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft.

“Yeah, so the Chiefs called in about round four and said that they wanted to sign me,” Watson explained. “And obviously the phone was ringing from other teams. But as we looked at kind of depth charts, development, and obviously like who can take my career to the next level, we thought K.C. was the best place for me to be. And here we are going into year two.”

What being on the practice squad actually means for players like Watson

Asked about playing on the Chiefs’ practice squad by former NFL LB Manti Te’o, Watson dove into the mindset that you have to have. It’s a constant, ever-present evaluation by the coaching staff.

“So when I think about practice squad player, I would say it’s a guy who’s fighting for his job every day, and every time you walk in that building, you’re being evaluated,” Watson explained. “You might not have as long of a leash as you know the guys on the 53. When you’re at practice, they’re looking for a reason to cut you, and that’s just kind of how I moved all year. And I feel like that’s the way you kind of have to, even if you are on the 53; you’re always being evaluated. And I think this is a great mindset for me to have going forward.”

Your job as a practice squad player isn’t just about you. It’s about preparing the starters to play on Sunday. It’s a job the Chiefs take very seriously because a good week of practice by the scout team can be the difference between a win and a loss.

“So, I mean, we’re in the building at 7:00 a.m.,” Watson said. “Guys in the 53 probably don’t get in till 8:45. We probably have a lift, a run, then we’re going to a meeting so we can go over practice and the different things that we need to do to help the defense or obviously help the offense, your own defense. And yeah, man, got a couple more meetings in with everybody, a couple more lifts in with everybody, but it’s all worth it. It’s all worth it.”

How Travis Kelce became a big brother to Tre Watson

Watson went to Tight End University in Nashville, Tennessee this offseason to learn from the best of the best around the league. Thankfully, he’s got the G.O.A.T. tight end to learn from in Kansas City. Travis Kelce understands the role he plays as a mentor in that tight end room and accepts it wholeheartedly. It’s for that reason that Watson considers Kelce as a big brother.

“Yeah, first and foremost, I’d have to say that Trav (Travis Kelce), he really, he had open arms,” Watson said. “He’s kind of became like a big brother to me. (He) looks out for me, and I greatly appreciate that because he has every right to, you know, just kind of do his own thing and just kind of be in his own space. But he takes the time day in and day out to make sure I’m doing good and making sure I’m still on my toes, and he’s always looking out. He’s a good guy.”

As Watson says, Kelce has earned the right, entering his age-37 season, to do things as he pleases. He could act differently when it comes to mentoring the young guys and pay them little attention. That’s just not who he is, though. It’s part of what makes him such a special player.

How has Watson earned Patrick Mahomes’ trust as a pass-catcher?

Watson has been one of the players who got work with the first-team offense during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. The one thing he’s learned throughout his rookie season up until now is that consistency is king when it comes to building on-field rapport with Patrick Mahomes.

“Yeah, so the biggest thing would be, I would have to say, it’s consistency,” Watson said. “He’s big on, ‘Hey, I think you’re going to be here. Here’s where the ball is going to be at,’ and when he can see that consistently in practice, he’s going to gain confidence in you. And I mean, the ball is going to come your way. I mean, look at him and 87 (Travis Kelce) right now. As you see, they’re one of the best duos probably to do it, and they’re always on the same page. And that comes in practice and consistency.”

Watson has a long way to go to follow in Kelce’s footsteps in terms of being on the same page with Mahomes. Those two might as well have some sort of hivemind situation going on. However, recognizing how you can get into the good graces of the star quarterback certainly won’t hurt.

What’s next for Chiefs TE Tre Watson?

With his second NFL training camp just around the corner, Watson has the right mentality. He’s aiming to prove that he has the talent and ability to make the 53-man roster in 2026. Part of that is showing that he has chemistry in the passing game with Mahomes. The other part of it? Showing that he can do the dirty work as a blocker in the running game and the passing game.

“My favorite (phrase) to say is, ‘Bite down at your mouthpiece and go hit somebody,'” Watson said. “I learned that early in college, and I learned that you can’t go to the next level if you can’t block. So, I believe that that’s just kind of mentality you have to have, and that’s kind of how I’m going into camp.”

This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Kansas City Chiefs TE Tre Watson spills the beans on the practice squad grind, Kelce's mentorship, and earning Mahomes' trust

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