In the history of the franchise, the Kansas City Chiefs have taken part in 60 AFL/NFL Drafts. Which stand out as the best five classes of all time?
In 1961, the Dallas Texans (or pre-Kansas City Chiefs) participated in their first AFL draft. Over the course of the last 60 years, the team has made over 550 selections. They’ve drafted Hall of Famers, All-Pros, Pro Bowlers, key cogs in their rosters, below average NFL players and of course, colossal busts.
Each year the team is graded by “experts” based on the perceived quality of the sum total of the players they’ve selected, called the draft class. But the best analysis of a draft’s success is always made much later, long after the players from the team have retired, or at least established themselves as as NFL veterans.
Measuring a Chiefs draft class is hard. Some draft classes are bigger (30 rounds in 1961); some are much smaller (just five picks in 1993 and 2002). In other instances, some classes featured players who were highly productive—long, sustained careers—but never been the best in the business; others had flash-in-the-pan talents who, for a time, rose to the level of All-Pro at their positions.
Despite these difficulties, we’ll attempt to outline parameters and name the five best draft classes in Chiefs history. Metrics considered when evaluating classes include: contribution to overall team success (how successful did they make the team), years as an NFL starter, Pro Bowls, All-Pros and of course, members of the Hall of Fame.
The Chiefs did not draft a single Pro Bowler for six years: 1970-75 drafts. At the very least that explains some of the team’s records during the ’70s and ’80s.
The jury is still out on the 2019 draft class. The class already boasts Super Bowl rings for every player in it, however, and four of them were solid contributors for the Chiefs Super Bowl LIV Championship run. We’ll wait to add them to the list, but no one would be surprised to see the Class of 2019 make the Chiefs top five classes of all time if this list were recreated in ten years. That class included Mecole Hardman, Juan Thornhill, Khalen Saunders, Rashad Fenton, Darwin Thompson, and Nick Allegretti.
In the long run, the 2017 draft class will get a ton of attention, if only because of the selection of Patrick Mahomes. Couple that with a still budding Tanoh Kpassagnon and you’ve got a real shot to make some noise. If only third round pick Kareem Hunt had made better choices, this class would likely be shooting for a top five spot, even with only 2.5 contributors.
A couple of draft classes could merit consideration, if only we did not have to assume the travesty of the first round picks. In 1983 Kansas whiffed with quarterback Todd Blackledge but then hit home runs with defensive back Albert Lewis and offensive linemen Dave Lutz and Irv Eatman, not to mention punter Jim Arnold kicked for 12 years in the league.
The 2011 draft also fits in to this category. That draft featured a massive bust in wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin, but also included center Rodney Hudson, pass rusher Justin Houston and defensive end Allen Bailey in rounds two through four.
It would be fair to argue for the inclusion of other classes that don’t make our top ten, but here are the top classes that we’ve identified:
#10 – 2015
Notable Selections: Marcus Peters, Mitch Morse, Chris Conley, Steven Nelson, Ramik Wilson, ‘Nacho’ Rakeem Nunez-Roches.
This class likely places higher if any of the players stick on the team long term. But, all six of them started for Kansas City for at least a season. That’s an impressive feat.
#9 – 2013
Notable Selections: Eric Fisher, Travis Kelce, Knile Davis, Eric Kush
Not a deep class despite the Chiefs making eight selections in this one, but two players who were fundamental in helping secure the Super Bowl LIV Championship, and two more who earned substantial snaps in both KC and elsewhere, put this class on the map.
#8 – 2005
Notable Selections: Derrick Johnson, Dustin Colquitt
The team had far more misses than hits in this draft, landing on only two of its nine picks. But the team’s first two selections became a pair who played a combined (so far) 28 years in Kansas City. (Colquitt, of course, is still on the team.) Two surefire Ring of Honor members and two bubble future Hall of Famers put this class at number eight.
#7 – 2010
Notable Selections: Eric Berry, Dexter McCluster, Javier Arenas, Jon Asamoah, Kendrick Lewis, Tony Moeaki
Any general manager will tell you that if you come away from a draft with six solid contributors, including three starters and a borderline future Hall of Famer, that they’ve had a good draft. Most of these players didn’t stick around long in the red and gold, but all of them contributed while they were there. This was a strong draft for Scott Pioli.
#6 – 1967
Notable Selections: Jim Lynch, Willie Lanier
It seems asinine to argue that when a team hits on only two of 17 draft picks, it should be considered a success. However, when the two hits are as significant as a tandem of future Hall of Fame linebackers, the argument begins to crystallize.
While Jim Lynch is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (yet), many argue that he should be. Fellow 1967 second round selection Willie Lanier already has a bust in Canton. It is difficult to argue that their combined 22 years in Kansas City were not foundational in building the franchise; and they were integral in winning Super Bowl IV.
The Chiefs did receive (albeit very limited) contributions from fellow ’67 draftees Gene Trosch and Noland Smith, too.
#5 – 2016
Notable Selections: Chris Jones, Eric Murray, Demarcus Robinson, Tyreek Hill
It may be a hot take to put this class this high on the all-time list already. Eric Murray is already gone, traded to the Browns in 2019 for Emmanuel Ogbah and now signed with Houston. Chris Jones is on the franchise tag and apparently has not received a contract offer from the team. Demarcus Robinson has re-signed with the team, but only for one more year and is likely to depart in 2021.
It’s possible, then, we’re left with only Tyreek Hill five years after the draft.
Despite all of that, I would argue that this draft class should go down as one of the best in Chiefs history. The Chiefs do not win Super Bowl LIV without both Jones and Hill on the field. Jones was a absolute monster in the 2020 playoff games he participated in. The second half of the AFC Championship game was one of the single best halves of football I’ve ever seen from a defensive lineman.
Hill is also a game-changer and that was on display through all of 2019 including the Super Bowl run. It wasn’t just “Wasp“; the now-legendary play was a microcosm of the impact Hill has on the Chiefs offense. In addition he’s the best returner man in the game when the Chiefs put him back to field punts.
Robinson is obviously the third option in the passing game, but still had over 400 yards receiving including a breakout performance 172-yard, 2 touchdown performance in Week 2. That, perhaps, is just a glimpse in to his overall potential when given the opportunity.
#4 – 2008
Notable Selections: Glenn Dorsey, Brandon Albert, Brandon Flowers, Jamaal Charles, Brandon Carr, Barry Richardson
The 2008 Chiefs draft class is probably undervalued relative to their on-field abilities simply because they played in a pretty bad era of Kansas City football. Regardless, six players in the class became full-time starters for the team and/or for other franchises. In fact, Jamaal Charles is the only of these six notables who did not become a starter for a second franchise.
There is no doubt that the first round selection of Glenn Dorsey was far too high relative to his on-field production. Dorsey only recorded seven sacks in his nine year NFL career and he was never a disruptive presence for whom offenses had to account. Even still, Dorsey was an NFL starter for nine years with K.C. and the San Francisco 49ers.
Despite the relative poor value of the No. 5 pick, the Chiefs hit on five other selections in the draft. All five of the others listed were drafted below where their value would be in a re-draft. Branden Albert was a nine year NFL starter at left tackle who made two Pro Bowls. Brandon Flowers was a nine year starter, too, and made a Pro Bowl roster.
Brandon Carr is one of the more remarkable fifth round picks in NFL history. He was an unheralded college prospect from tiny Grand Valley State, yet he earned three separate contracts in the NFL with three different prominent franchises. Most remarkably, he started all 192 regular season games in his 12-year NFL career. Sixth round pick Barry Richardson also started for three years in Kansas City and St. Louis.
By far, however, the crown jewel of this class is the third round selection of Texas running back Jamaal Charles. Charles put together a borderline Hall of Fame career, while also becoming the team’s all-time leading rusher. In a re-draft for 2008, Jamaal Charles is a top ten pick. If injuries hadn’t derailed his career, he’d be a definite Hall of Famer.
#3 – 1969
Notable Selections: Jim Marsalis, Ed Podolak, Jack Rudnay
Jack Steadman is the best general manager in the history of Chiefs football. Someday, Brett Veach could surpass him on that list, but right now, it’s not even close. Steadman was so good that he is the engineer behind the Chiefs’ three best draft classes of all time.
In 1969 the Chiefs, poised to make another run at the Super Bowl, made 18 draft selections. Two of the first four would go on to be key contributors to the Super Bowl IV World Championship the Chiefs would win that season.
Defensive back Jim Marsalis was the Chiefs’ first round selection that year. All he would do as a rookie is start 17 out of 17 games (including the playoffs and Super Bowl) and make the Pro Bowl. He made the Pro Bowl and was a 1st Team All-Pro selection the following season, and played five more seasons with the Chiefs and one with the Saints.
The team’s second round pick that was running back Ed Podolak from the University of Iowa. Podolak, more a fullback in today’s NFL, played for Kansas City for nine seasons for a total of 104 games. While his numbers don’t stand out (the whole FB thing), he was an excellent addition to the team and is in the Chiefs Ring of Honor.
In the fourth round, the Chiefs took center Jack Rudnay from Northwestern. He started 171 games over 13 seasons in the NFL. He missed his entire rookie season with injury, but was a critical part of the team for 13 years after that. He made four Pro Bowls in his time.
Kansas City also got contributions in the draft, though minimal, from tight end Morris Stroud and Bob Stein.
It was difficult making decisions in drafts three through six, but this draft added key contributors to a Super Bowl Championship, which pushed it over the top. A re-evaluation of Chiefs draft in 10 years may put 2016 above it, but for now, this is where we’re at.
#2 – 1961
Notable Selections: EJ Holub, Jim Tyrer, Jerry Mays, Fred Arbanas, Curtis McClinton, Frank Jackson
The franchise’s second draft was undoubtedly also one of its very best. (There was an AFL draft in 1960 prior to the start of the first season.) The team drafted six players who contributed greatly to the team’s dominance of the ’60s—including three AFL Championships, two Super Bowl appearances, and the Super Bowl IV World Championship.
Collectively this six-pack played for the Chiefs’ franchise for 55 seasons. Five of the six played in all three championship seasons (sans Jackson) and four the six started in both Super Bowls (sans McClinton). Combined they had 30 Pro Bowl appearances (more than half of all seasons played), and also had 13 different 1st Team All-Pro selections.
There is a case to be made that four of these players should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (though none are). Linebacker EJ Holub and defensive end Jerry Mays were both two time 1st Team All-Pro selections and tight end Fred Arbanas made the squad three times. The biggest snub of the whole lot is tackle Jim Tyrer, who was a nine time Pro Bowler and was named a 1st Team All-Pro six times.
Perhaps what is even more remarkable is the fact that the best player the team drafted, in terms of their NFL resume, never played a down for the franchise. Bob Lilly was selected by the team in the second round, but was also taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the NFL Draft. Lilly went to the Cowboys and all the star defensive tackle did there was make 11 Pro Bowls and be named a 1st Team All-Pro seven times.
As you might have guessed, “Mr. Cowboy” (Lilly’s nickname) is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
#1 – 1963
Notable Selections: Buck Buchanan, Ed Budde, Bobby Bell, Jerrel Wilson
It is interesting to think that, had Bob Lilly joined Lamar Hunt’s squad instead of the crosstown (at the time) Cowboys, the franchise may never have drafted one of its’ true legends: Hall of Fame defensive tackle Buck Buchanan.
The Chiefs kicked off the 1963 Draft with the number one overall selection. It would be the first top overall pick for the team, and the only one until 2013. The team used the selection to pick Grambling State star Junious “Buck” Buchanan. Buchanan was bafflingly not chosen until the 19th round of the NFL draft, so coming to the Chiefs was not really a tough choice.
Buchanan played for Kansas City for 13 seasons, and made the Pro Bowl in eight consecutive seasons from 1964 through 1971. He was also a 1st Team All-Pro defensive tackle in four consecutive seasons, including both of the franchise’s first two Super Bowl appearances, in 1966 through 1969.
If you draft a Hall of Famer, the draft class will be referenced as outstanding, but if you draft two, that’s the stuff legends are made of. The Chiefs solidified their defensive identity with the eighth round selection of Minnesota linebacker Bobby Bell. Bell would go on to be one of the franchise’s great draft steals, playing for 12 years with the team.
In those seasons, Bell was a nine-time Pro Bowler and six-time 1st Team All-Pro selection. Like Buchanan, his selections to both were consecutive (1964-1972 Pro Bowler, 1965-1970 All-Pro). He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1983. Bell formed one of the best linebacking corps in football history with 1967 second round selections Lynch and Lanier (aforementioned).
The team had other successful selections in the draft, too. In the second round they drafted Hall of Fame snub, Ed Budde. The guard played 14 seasons for the Chiefs and seven Pro Bowls and two 1st Team All-Pro squads. He is one of the best offensive lineman in team history.
The team also selected punter Jerrel Wilson in the 11th round. He punted for the team in 203 games over 15 years, missing only seven games his the entire career, including both Super Bowl I and IV. He finished with three Pro Bowl nods and a career average of 43 yards per punt, that places him the top 60 all time in NFL history. Fun fact: Wilson also moonlighted as a running back for the Chiefs, notching 27 career touches. He also returned a punt once in his career.
The draft was the most incredible of all of general manager Jack Steadman’s classes while with the Chiefs franchise, and the only time the team has drafted two Hall of Famers in the same year.