The top 15 greatest draft picks in Kansas City Chiefs history

2. Patrick Mahomes

Draft Details: 1st round, 2017

Key Stat: 151 passing touchdowns in four seasons

It’s hard to pick out what specific points to make in a short space like this because the achievements are already overwhelming for Patrick Mahomes even after four short seasons as the starting quarterback for the Chiefs.

For a tea that searched for decades for a true franchise quarterback—and for the longest time refused to even take a chance in the first round due to fear of swinging and missing—the trade up for Mahomes in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft was the sort of front office masterstroke that will be retold for decades to come.

Mahomes played the part well as an understudy behind Alex Smith for a full year, but when he finally took over in 2018, there was never a question about whether or not the Chiefs made the right call. He won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award in his first year with a miraculous season with 50 touchdowns and over 5,000 passing yards. He followed that up with a Super Bowl MVP award in 2019 and brought the Chiefs back for another championship appearance in 2020.

Through four seasons, Mahomes has just as many Pro Bowl appearances, 151 passing touchdowns, and 50 regular-season wins. He’s a civic hero, a franchise icon, a household name, and the NFL’s best young quarterback. He’s also an easy selection as the best offensive draft pick the Chiefs have ever made.