Since the AFL expansion of 1961, the Kansas City Chiefs have been a mainstay in the first round of the NFL Draft, and they have the picks to prove it. A similarly competitive team in the 1960s to the 2020s, how have the Chiefs’ selections in Round 1 helped them maintain relevance?
Kansas City Chiefs First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
It’s surprising that the Chiefs — a team that won three AFL Championships in the 1960s and won the 1970 Super Bowl — only has four Hall of Fame first-round picks across its team history. And one of those picks — running back Gale Sayers — never played for the Chiefs, choosing to sign with the Bears when the AFL and NFL were clashing.
In the modern NFL, Kansas City already has a Round 1 pick who may be an immediate Hall of Fame candidate when his career ends in Patrick Mahomes. After just six seasons in the league, Mahomes is already a two-time MVP, two-time Super Bowl champion, two-time All-Pro, and five-time Pro Bowler. It’s exciting to think about what else he can accomplish.
2023
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah | Round 1, Pick 31
EDGE, Kansas State
2022
- Trent McDuffie | Round 1, Pick 21
CB, Washington
- George Karlaftis | Round 1, Pick 30
EDGE, Purdue
2021
The Chiefs traded the 31st pick to the Baltimore Ravens.
2020
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire | Pick 32
RB, LSU
2019
The Chiefs traded the 29th pick to the Seattle Seahawks.
2018
The Chiefs traded the 22nd pick to the Buffalo Bills.
2017
- Patrick Mahomes | Pick 10
QB, Texas Tech
2016
The Chiefs traded the 28th pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
2015
- Marcus Peters | Pick 18
CB, Washington
2014
- Dee Ford | Pick 23
LB, Auburn
2013
- Eric Fisher | Pick 1
T, Central Michigan
2012
- Dontari Poe | Pick 11
DT, Memphis
2011
- Jonathan Baldwin | Pick 26
WR, Pittsburgh
2010
- Eric Berry | Pick 5
DB, Tennessee
2009
- Tyson Jackson | Pick 3
DE, LSU
2008
- Glenn Dorsey | Pick 5
DT, LSU - Branden Albert | Pick 15
G, Virginia
2007
- Dwayne Bowe | Pick 23
WR, LSU
2006
- Tamba Hali | Pick 20
DE, Penn State
2005
- Derrick Johnson | Pick 15
LB, Texas
2004
The Chiefs traded the 30th pick to the Detroit Lions.
2003
- Larry Johnson | Pick 27
RB, Penn State
2002
- Ryan Sims | Pick 6
DT, North Carolina
2001
The Chiefs traded the 12th pick to the St. Louis Rams.
2000
- Sylvester Morris | Pick 21
WR, Jackson State
1999
- John Tait | Pick 14
T, BYU
1998
- Victor Riley | Pick 27
T, Auburn
1997
- Tony Gonzalez* | Pick 13
TE, California
1996
- Jerome Woods | Pick 28
DB, Memphis
1995
- Trezelle Jenkins | Pick 31
T, Michigan
1994
- Greg Hill | Pick 25
RB, Texas A&M
1993
The Chiefs traded the 18th pick to the San Francisco 49ers.
1992
- Dale Carter | Pick 20
DB, Tennessee
1991
- Harvey Williams | Pick 21
RB, LSU
1990
- Percy Snow | Pick 13
LB, Michigan State
1989
- Derrick Thomas* | Pick 4
LB, Alabama
1988
- Neil Smith | Pick 2
DE, Nebraska
1987
- Paul Palmer | Pick 19
RB, Temple
1986
- Brian Jozwiak | Pick 7
G, West Virginia
1985
- Ethan Horton | Pick 15
TE, North Carolina
1984
- Bill Maas | Pick 5
NT, Pittsburgh - John Alt | Pick 21
T, Iowa
1983
- Todd Blackledge | Pick 7
QB, Penn State
1982
- Anthony Hancock | Pick 11
WR, Tennessee
1981
- Willie Scott | Pick 14
TE, South Carolina
1980
- Brad Budde | Pick 11
G, USC
1979
- Mike Bell | Pick 2
DE, Colorado State - Steve Fuller | Pick 23
QB, Clemson
1978
- Art Still | Pick 2
DE, Kentucky
1977
- Gary Green | Pick 10
DB, Baylor
1976
- Rod Walters | Pick 14
G, Iowa
1975
The Chiefs traded away their first-round selection in 1975.
1974
- Woody Green | Pick 16
RB, Arizona State
1973
The Chiefs traded away their first-round selection in 1973.
1972
- Jeff Kinney | Pick 23
RB, Nebraska
1971
- Elmo Wright | Pick 16
WR, Houston
1970
- Sid Smith | Pick 26
C, USC
1969
- Jim Marsalis | Pick 23
DB, Tennessee State
1968
- Mo Moorman | Pick 19
G, Texas A&M - George Daney | Pick 22
G, Texas-El Paso
1967
- Gene Trosch | Pick 24
DE, Miami (FL)
1966
- Aaron Brown | Pick 6
DE, Minnesota
1965
- Gale Sayers* | Pick 5
RB, Kansas
1964
- Pete Beathard | Pick 2
QB, USC
1963
- Buck Buchanan* | Pick 1
DT, Grambling State - Ed Budde | Pick 8
G, Michigan State
1962
- Ronnie Bull | Pick 3
RB, Baylor
1961
- E.J. Holub | Pick 6
LB, Texas Tech
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
