Top 5 draft classes in Kansas City Chiefs history
By Grant Tuttle
Class in its entirety:
- R1 Buck Buchanan, DT, Grambling State
- R1 Ed Budde, G, Michigan State
- R2 Walt Rock, OT, Maryland
- R3 Don Brumm, DE, Purdue
- R4 Daryl Sanders, T, Ohio State
- R5 John Campbell, LB, Minnesota
- R6 George Saimes, DB, Michigan State
- R7 Bobby Bell, LB, Minnesota
- R8 John Sklopan, DB, Southern Miss
- R9 Jan Barrett, TE, Fresno State
- R10 Curt Farrier, DT, Montana State
- R11 Lindy Infante, RB, Florida
- R11 Jerrel Wilson, RB/P, Southern Miss
- R13 Dennis Ward, G, Oklahoma
- R14 Stone Johnson, RB, Grambling State
- R14 Jim Pilot, RB, New Mexico State
- R15 John Auer, RB, Georgia Tech
- R16 Mel Profit, TE, UCLA
- R17 Billy Moore, QB, Arkansas
- R18 Bill Freeman, OT, Southern Miss
- R19 Bruce Starling, DB, Florida
- R20 Lowell Vaught, OT, Louisiana
- R21 Ernie Borghetti, OT, Pittsburgh
- R22 John Maczuzak, DT, Pittsburgh
- R23 Dave Adams, G, Arkansas
- R24 Dave Hill, OT, Auburn
- R25 John Hughes, G, SMU
- R26 Tumley Todd, C, Virginia
- R27 Billy Clay, TE, Arkansas
- R28 Gordon Scarborough, TE, Texas A&M-Commerce
- R29 John Sisk, DB, Miami
Most notable players :
When you look at this massive list of guys drafted in 1963, you notice a couple of things. One, there were a lot of players in this draft that never did anything at all. Two, there are two Hall of Famers and one other member of the Chiefs’ Ring of Honor from this class alone.
Buck Buchanan, the first pick in this class is in the Hall of Fame. As a six-time All-Pro and eight-time pro bowler, Buchanan is not only one of the most decorated players in Chiefs history, but he is also one of the best defensive tackles to play in the National Football League.
The 2nd first-rounder in this class was Ed Budde, who was inducted into the Chiefs Ring of Honor in 1984 due to the impact he had on the offensive line that protected Len Dawson en route to the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl. Budde spent 14 seasons with the Chiefs and finished his career with seven pro bowl appearances and was voted an All-Pro four times.
Skipping down to the seventh round, you will find Bobby Bell. Bell spent his entire career with the Chiefs. Over the course of 12 years, Bell became one of the most decorated players in franchise history by winning rookie of the year, being a nine-time Pro Bowler, and being an All-Pro seven times. By many metrics, between Bell, Buchanan, and Budde, you have three of the best players in Chiefs history taken in one draft.
If you skip down to the 11th round, you will also find Jerrel Wilson, who was a running back and punter. He spent 15 years with the Chiefs. He was not just a nice piece of the puzzle. Wilson was a very good punter that earned pro bowl honors three times from 1970 to 1972.
Finally, in round 24, the Chiefs selected Dave Hill who was a long-time right tackle for the team. While never a great player, he was durable and talented enough to last 12 seasons.
Impact on Chiefs History:
It may truly be impossible to find a draft class much better than this one in NFL history. This draft class propelled the Chiefs to being one of the best teams in the league at the time and ultimately winning the Super Bowl in 1970.
There is no draft that has ever had the same impact that the 1963 draft class has had on this franchise. If the Chiefs ever have another draft class with four perennial pro bowlers two of which end up in the Hall of Fame, it will be by some kind of miracle. These players will live in Chiefs’ lore forever and a draft class this good will likely never be seen again.
AA writers grade the Chiefs draft class. dark. Next