Arrowhead Addict
FanSided

Tyreek Hill is among the KC Chiefs best fifth round picks ever

By Kelly Thompson

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Wide receiver Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs makes a first-down catch against cornerback Buster Skrine #24 of the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of the game at Soldier Field on December 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Wide receiver Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs makes a first-down catch against cornerback Buster Skrine #24 of the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of the game at Soldier Field on December 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
BUFFALO, NY – JANUARY 1, 1967: (L to R) Linebacker E.J. Holub #55, defensive lineman Jerry Mays #75 and center Wayne Frazier #66 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate the final moments of the AFL Championship Game on January 1, 1967 against the Buffalo Bills at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York. JV00297 (Photo by: John Vawter Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – JANUARY 1, 1967: (L to R) Linebacker E.J. Holub #55, defensive lineman Jerry Mays #75 and center Wayne Frazier #66 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate the final moments of the AFL Championship Game on January 1, 1967 against the Buffalo Bills at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York. JV00297 (Photo by: John Vawter Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

#1 – Jerry Mays, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle

Some may argue that Hill should already be number one on this list. And if one were making that argument, they may start with the fact that the number one 5th round pick in Chiefs history was the 38th overall selection (despite being in the 5th round) of the 1961 AFL draft. Still, Mays was a fifth round pick so by definition, is worthy of inclusion here.

Jerry Mays was a product of SMU who was also born and raised in Dallas. When he was drafted by Lamar Hunt’s Dallas Texans, despite having also been drafted (in the 11th round) by the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, Mays couldn’t help but choose to play in the only place he’d ever called home.

Mays is not a Pro Football Hall of Famer but he is by far the closest to being one that any fifth round pick (thus far) has been.

In 10 seasons with the Chiefs, Mays was named to the NFL’s Pro Bowl seven times, and was a two time 1st Team All-Pro. He played in 140 regular season games—in other words he did not miss a single game during his career due to injury. (Remember the season was only 14 games in the 1960s.) He was a true iron man.

During those ten seasons, Kansas City won three AFL Championships, appeared in Super Bowl I, and were the World Champions after winning Super Bowl IV against (ironically) the Minnesota Vikings. Mays’ play along the defensive front help create one of the fiercest defensive lines in the history of the NFL and was certainly integral in the success of the franchise during that time.

Home/Chiefs All-Time Lists