Chiefs’ Travis Kelce saw his draft stock drop in 2013, and he’s now grateful it did

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was on the interview circuit Monday, promoting a partnership with Lowe’s.

During a visit on the NFL Network, Kelce talked about his small role in helping the workers building the draft stage at Union Station.

“I’m teaming up with the Lowe’s Home Team yet again this year, and with the draft coming to Kansas City where we sent a few extra tools and equipment to the real-life pros that are making that stage as beautiful and memorable for the draftees and the city of Kansas City and everybody coming in,” Kelce said.

“It’s an awesome experience to be able to shake the hands of everybody. It’s going to be such an amazing, amazing evening, and I can’t wait to see the stage when it’s all said and done with, and how awesome it is for the city to be able to witness it.”

The Chiefs hold the last pick in the first round, and their draft needs are at the offensive and defensive lines and receiver. Two wideouts worked with the Chiefs’ pass catchers and quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Texas.

Boston College’s Zay Flowers and TCU’s Quentin Johnston. Kelce was impressed with them.

“Both of them could help us out right now,” Kelce said. “That’s how special those guys are, man, and it was just fun to see them having a blast running routes in the offseason getting better.

“That’s what you really want to see out of young guys is just the love for the game and the love to go to work and get better at your craft, and both those guys seemed very genuine, great guys off the field and sure enough, man, when they were running routes that was pretty electric. All eyes were on those dudes.”

Kelce, who was taken by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, has advice for players who made be chosen later than they expected or hoped.

A bad pre-draft meeting with the Cowboys likely hurt Kelce’s draft stock, but he now sees being chosen 63rd overall as a blessing.

“The biggest thing is just taking advantage of those opportunities, it doesn’t matter what team you go to,” Kelce said. “You’re gonna have to mesh, you’re gonna have to kind of mold your game to whatever role you need to have in that team’s offense or defense, whoever’s getting drafted.

“It’s just, take advantage of that opportunity because I was so darn fortunate that I went No. 63 to the Kansas City Chiefs. I don’t know if it’d be the same career if I didn’t drop that far.”