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Kansas City Chiefs fourth round pick history is pretty unimpressive

By Kelly Thompson

Otis Taylor #89 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Otis Taylor #89 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 11: Len Dawson #16 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands under center and calls out the signals against the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl IV on January 11, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl 23-7. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 11: Len Dawson #16 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands under center and calls out the signals against the Minnesota Vikings during Super Bowl IV on January 11, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl 23-7. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

#4 – Frank Pitts, Wide Receiver

In the 4th round of the 1965 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs changed the course of the franchise by taking a pair of wide receivers with the 29th and 32nd overall selections.

The 32nd pick was a wide receiver from Southern College named Frank Pitts. The small school product would play the next six seasons with the Chiefs and be a part of both the Super Bowl I and Super Bowl IV teams.

Receiving little fanfare due to his draftmate and contemporary (discussed later), Pitts was an excellent complementary piece for Hank Stram’s offense. He was not the best player on the field, but he also did not need to be.

In his time in Kansas City, Pitts hauled in 78 catches for 1450 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 1968 he became a starter for the team, and Stram introduced the end around reverse which netted more than 10 yards per carry for the team over the next four years. Pitts also returned kickoffs for the squad, and his speed and will made him an effective tool.

In Super Bowl IV, Stram accurately predicted that the reverse would be wide open, and Pitts took off for a huge 20 yard gain that set up a field goal for the team. It was a huge play for the Chiefs.

He finished his ten year NFL career with four seasons in Cleveland and by the time it ended, he amassed 27 touchdown receptions. He was, in many respects, the ’60s version of DeMarcus Robinson in terms of a contemporary comparison.

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