Top 10 all-time draft picks by Kansas City Chiefs
7. Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce is one of my favorite current Chiefs. Not only is he one of the most dynamic players at the tight end position in the last several years, he has a hilarious personality that makes him even more fun to watch.
The Chiefs got a major bargain when they drafted Kelce in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. It’s possible that Kelce would have gone much higher in the draft, but he had some brief off the field issues during his time at Cincinnati. Luckily for Chiefs’ Kingdom, Kelce has been a model citizen since he entered the league. Everyone makes mistakes and it looks like Kelce has learned from his.
Kelce missed his rookie year with a knee injury, but following that he has been a game changer. He’s one of the biggest mismatches in the league at his size and speed. From his third year on, he’s been in the conversation for the best tight end in the NFL. All he’s done since is make four straight Pro Bowls and be named First Team All Pro in 2016 and 2018. He’s also been voted by his peers to the NFL Top 100 players’ list from 2016 to 2018, being voted as highly as 24th in 2018.
Speaking of 2018, this past season was Kelce’s best of his career. He very briefly held the NFL record for receiving yards in a season with 1,336 yards. If it weren’t for the fact that George Kittle was basically the only receiving threat in the San Francisco 49ers offense, a situation far from Kelce’s, it’s likely Kelce would have maintained that record. Even so, it was an incredible season to remember.
A former third round draft pick, Kelce checks in at number seven on the Chiefs’ list of top draft picks. He’s been a unique weapon for Andy Reid and company since he entered the league, and with Patrick Mahomes at the helm it’s probable that his best years are in front of him.
ANNUAL IMPACT SCORE: 28.3