Top 10 all-time draft picks by Kansas City Chiefs

9. Neil Smith

The Chiefs selected defensive end Neil Smith from the Nebraska Cornhuskers with the second overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft. Smith was dominant while at Nebraska playing under legendary coach Tom Osborne. As a senior he was fourth in the Big 8 with 7.5 sacks, was named a Second Team All American, and was the 1988 Fiesta Bowl Defensive Player of the Game.

The NFL level did nothing to slow Smith down. In nine seasons with the Chiefs, Smith averaged 59 tackles and nearly 10 sacks per season. His best season, 1993, he set a career high and led the NFL with 15 sacks. He eventually developed a trademark sack celebration, swinging an imaginary bat, which he publicly alleged was in tribute to Kansas City icon and Royal’s Hall of famer George Brett. Currently, he only trails Chiefs’ legend Derrick Thomas and fan favorite Tamba Hali in total sacks in team history at 85.5 total.

Adding to his list of career accomplishments, Smith was voted into six Pro Bowls in seven years from 1991 to 1997, was named to the list of 1993 First Team All Pros, was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Second Team All 1990s and was eventually inducted into the Chiefs’ Hall of fame in 1996.

Much to the chagrin of Chiefs fans, Smith’s career highlights also includes two Super Bowl wins with our hated division rival, the Denver Broncos, in Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII.

Smith checks in at number nine on this list of top draft picks. He was impactful from day one and one of the league’s best defenders for nearly a decade.

ANNUAL IMPACT SCORE: 25.1