Top 10 all-time draft picks by Kansas City Chiefs
3. Derrick Thomas
Derrick Thomas, simply known as “DT” by the fans, is one of the most beloved Chiefs’ players of all time. The Chiefs were lucky enough to draft the All-American pass rushing phenom from the Crimson Tide in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft.
In the illustrious history of Alabama defenses, Thomas is arguably the greatest individual talent that the school has ever produced. Thomas was an absolute wrecking ball on the defensive line, setting the nation’s and Alabama’s current record with a jaw dropping 27 sacks in 1988. He would finish his college career with 52, which is also the current record for sacks in a college career. Technically, the NCAA didn’t begin officially charting sacks until the 2000 season, so Thomas holds these records unofficially. Thomas wrapped up his career with the Tide by winning the Dick Butkus Award for the nation’s most outstanding linebacker.
Unsurprisingly, Thomas hit the NFL ground running. In his rookie season, he started all 16 games and had 10 sacks and three forced fumbles en route to his first Pro Bowl. He was rewarded with the 1989 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, and it was clear he was a star in the making. All he did was follow that up with two straight First Team All Pro selections and eight more Pro Bowls. He was eventually inducted into the Chiefs’ Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a part of the 2009 class.
Two years in particular stick out for Thomas. In the first, his second season for the Chiefs, Thomas had 63 tackles, racked up 20 sacks and six forced fumbles. It took 25 years and another player on this list for that franchise sack record to fall. The other year, 1993, Thomas had 67 tackles, 14.5 sacks, and a whopping eight forced fumbles. Thomas had this incredible penchant for forced fumbles, something that really hasn’t been duplicated on such a consistent level since.
All in all, Thomas finished his 11-year career with the Chiefs playing in 169 games, racking up 642 combined tackles,126.5 career sacks, and 45 forced fumbles. He currently ranks number one in team history in career sacks, outpacing the number two player Neil Smith by 41 sacks, and ranks number 17 in NFL history in career sacks.
Unfortunately, Derrick Thomas died unexpectedly in 2000 due to complications from a car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. He was only 33 years old at the time. He checks in at number three on the list of Chiefs’ top draft picks, but if he had been able to continue his playing career he’d be higher on this list. He’d even have a good chance at being in the conversation for best defensive player of all time. Even so, he’s considered one of the greatest pass rushers ever and will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of Chiefs’ fans and football fans alike.
ANNUAL IMPACT SCORE: 31