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The worst 1st round picks in KC Chiefs history

By Kelly Thompson

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin #89 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by cornerback Phillip Adams #35 of the Seattle Seahawks in a game at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Seahawks defeated the Chiefs 44-14. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/TUSP/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin #89 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by cornerback Phillip Adams #35 of the Seattle Seahawks in a game at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Seahawks defeated the Chiefs 44-14. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/TUSP/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, UNITED STATES: Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino fires a pass in the second quarter against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, 02 January 2000. The Redskins went on to win 21-10. AFP PHOTO/Mario TAMA (Photo credit should read MARIO TAMA/AFP via Getty Images)
LANDOVER, UNITED STATES: Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino fires a pass in the second quarter against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, 02 January 2000. The Redskins went on to win 21-10. AFP PHOTO/Mario TAMA (Photo credit should read MARIO TAMA/AFP via Getty Images) /

#1 – Todd Blackledge, Quarterback

The 1983 NFL Draft will always be remembered as the year of the quarterback, with six signal callers being selected in the 1st round that year. It will also always be remembered as one of the greatest draft classes in NFL history, with no less than six and as many as nine current or future NFL Hall of Famers taken in the selection process.

Unfortunately for Kansas City, they did not select a future Hall of Famer and also selected the worst of the six quarterbacks.

Todd Blackledge was the 7th overall selection in the ’83 draft. Coming out of Penn State, Blackledge was one of the most heralded prospects that year. He did manage to stick around the league for seven years, including five with the Chiefs, but was never even an average NFL quarterback. He had a career completion percentage under 50%, and had a 29-38 career touchdown to interception ratio.

As bad as he was, Blackledge is most often remembered for who Kansas City passed up to take him. In addition to Hall of Fame quarterbacks Jim Kelly and Dan Mario, other first round Hall of Famers taken after Blackledge that year included offensive lineman Bruce Matthews and defensive back Darrell Green.

Its fair to say the Chiefs, and many other teams, missed on their first round pick that year.

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