The worst 1st round picks in KC Chiefs history

#2 – Jonathan Baldwin, Wide Receiver

The target of innumerable Chiefs memes since the conclusion of Super Bowl LIV, and in the wake of the coronavirus, we suspect Kansas City fans would not have been so quick to jump on former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman had their team drafted him in the 1st round of the 2011 draft.

Instead, one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history fell all the way to the 5th, and the Chiefs used the 26th overall selection on Pittsburgh wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin.

Baldwin was a train wreck of a selection from the minute he entered the pros, and after a mere two seasons in the league, the Chiefs traded Baldwin to the 49ers for their failed 1st round receiver AJ Jenkins. The next year Baldwin was cut from San Francisco and never played again. (Jenkins, too, lasted only one season with his new team and left the NFL.)

Unfortunately for Baldwin, his rookie year began with a locker room fight with Thomas Jones that kept him out for the first five games and he never developed thereafter. In three seasons, Baldwin played in 33 games, had only 44 receptions for 607 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In addition to Sherman, the Chiefs also passed on All-Pro stars like: Cameron Heyward, Demarco Murray, or Jason Kelce.

The only saving grace of this selection is that the Chiefs traded down from 21st, picked up an extra 3rd round selection and took All-Pro pass rusher Justin Houston with the pick.