He sat in the far corner of the locker room, scrolling through draft picks that didn’t include his name. The notifications had gone silent hours ago, but he kept refreshing anyway—half-hoping, half-dreading. No cameras, no family watch party. Just a quiet room, a missed call, and the growing weight of unrealized potential. For a moment, the dream of joining his half-brother Patrick Mahomes felt further away than ever—until a different kind of call finally came.

This January, Mahomes’ lesser-known half-brother, Graham Walker, made headlines by declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft. Fans were curious—did he have even a fraction of that Mahomes magic? But by the time the draft weekend ended, Walker’s name was never called. Not in seven rounds. Not even as an undrafted free agent. The silence was deafening—until now.

After spending days in disappointment, Walker has a new shot at the NFL dream. Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs have invited him to participate in their rookie minicamp. The Rice University alum is among 87 players attending the camp this weekend at the Truman Sports Complex, running through Monday.

Graham’s collegiate journey began at Brown University, where he played wide receiver and posted solid numbers—125 receptions, 1,465 yards, and 15 touchdowns over three seasons. After transferring to Rice, he switched to tight end, logging 24 catches for 252 yards in his lone season with the Owls. Though his production at Rice wasn’t eye-popping, his versatility and work ethic caught Kansas City’s attention.

Patrick Mahomes and Graham share the same father, Pat Mahomes Sr., who had Graham with his former partner, Jessamyn Walker. Graham grew up with his mother and stepfather, Gerry Howatt. Despite being Patrick’s half-brother, Walker has mostly chosen not to ride his famous brother’s coattails.

“He’s a little bit more laid back than the others. Stays away from the spotlight and goes out and grinds and works. But a very impressive young man. His manners are intact, his stepdad did a great job with him, his mom did a great job with him, and now I’m getting the chance to put my hands on him a little more,” Pat Mahomes Sr. said in an interview last year. 

Now, the question is whether Walker can defy the odds and earn a spot on the Chiefs’ final roster—or face another heartbreak. With veteran tight end Travis Kelce nearing the twilight of his career, there may be an opening for a young TE to step in. But can Graham seize the moment?

Travis Kelce loves what the Chiefs did in the draft

Travis Kelce is heading into his 13th NFL season and the final year of his current contract with the Chiefs. Drafted by Andy Reid in 2013, Kelce has been a cornerstone of Kansas City’s offense for over a decade. But after falling short of a three-peat, critics began questioning whether the 35-year-old should hang up his cleats. Initially silent on the matter, Kelce eventually confirmed in February that he’d return for another year.

With retirement looming, Kelce is clearly eyeing one last deep postseason run—and he’s thrilled about the roster being built around him. On the New Heights podcast with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis gave his seal of approval on the Chiefs’ 2025 draft picks. “I love what we did in the draft. Got a big ol’ tackle to protect Pat and move some bodies in the run game. And then on top of that, just added pieces left and right in the secondary and on the offensive weapons side.”

The veteran tight end also expressed excitement about the group headed to rookie minicamp—including the undrafted prospects. “I’m pumped to get these guys in the building. And who knows what else [GM Brett] Veach is cooking up with all the undrafted free agents that we’re going to see in rookie minicamp next week.” With the 2025 draft class in the fold, the Chiefs are now focused on rounding out their 90-man roster. Whether that includes Graham Walker remains to be seen.

Still, with Kelce’s retirement on the horizon and Kansas City’s offense always looking to evolve, the door is slightly open. And if Walker can flash just enough of that Mahomes DNA—both in skill and composure—he might just stick around.