If you want to win in the NFL, you simply have to have a quarterback. This is common knowledge, and I don’t think any fan of the NFL could argue that any other position is anywhere close to as valuable. However, since that much bemoaned pick of Blackledge in 1983, no other NFL team has invested less in the most important position on the field when it comes to the NFL draft than our beloved Kansas City Chiefs. Just in case any of you think I’m exaggerating for dramatic effect, let’s take a second to look at just how little the Chiefs have invested in the quarterback position through the draft.
In the past 33 years, the Chiefs have only drafted 12 quarterbacks. Those players were:
- Kevin Hogan – 5th round – 2016
- Aaron Murray – 5th round – 2014
- Ricky Stanzi – 5th round – 2011
- Brodie Croyle – 3rd round – 2006
- James Kilian – 7th round – 2005
- Pat Barnes – 4th round – 1997
- Steve Stenstrom – 4th round – 1995
- Steve Matthews – 7th round – 1994
- Matt Blundin – 2nd round – 1992
- Mike Elkins – 2nd round – 1989
- Danny McManus – 11th round – 1988
- Doug Hudson – 7th round – 1987
First off, did anyone else notice some of those huge year gaps without drafting a quarterback? At one point they went eight years without drafting one. EIGHT. YEARS. Not only that, but only three of those 12 players that were drafted were taken in the third round or higher and none of them turned into (or have yet to turn into) even competent NFL quarterbacks. In fact, if you add up the career statistics of those twelve quarterbacks you get this depressing stat line:
403 completions, 714 attempts, 56.4% completions, 3,987 yards, 5.58 YPA, 12 touchdowns, 26 interceptions
That is the combined career stats of every quarterback drafted by the Chiefs over the past THIRTY-THREE YEARS!
For a point of comparison, here are Blake Bortles stats from his disappointing 2016 season:
368 completions, 625 attempts, 58.8% completions, 3,905 yards, 6.59 YPA, 23 touchdowns, 16 interceptions
So basically, in 33 years, the Chiefs quarterback draft picks can’t even muster up the numbers of one disappointing season of Blake Bortles. That is pathetic and inexcusable that a team invest so poorly over such a long period of time at a position so essential to success in the NFL.
The Chiefs HAVE to invest in the quarterback position this offseason. So what will it cost them?