List of Kansas City Chiefs first-round draft picks
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File:Patrick Mahomes II.JPG was drafted 10th overall in the 2017 NFL draft.{{cite web |title=Patrick Mahomes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MahoPa00.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618175458/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MahoPa00.htm |archive-date=June 18, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=March 1, 2024 |language=en }} Since becoming the team's starting quarterback in {{NFL year|2018}}, Mahomes has been the league's Most Valuable Player twice (2018 and 2022), the 2018 Offensive Player of the Year, a three-time All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowler, and the 2020 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.{{cite web |title=Patrick Mahomes (QB): Bio, News, Stats & more |url=https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/patrick-mahomes/ |website=Kansas City Chiefs |access-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226205223/https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/patrick-mahomes/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |title=The Choice Behind SI's 2020 Sportsperson of the Year |url=https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2020/12/06/sportsperson-2020-james-stewart-mahomes-osaka-duvernay-tardif |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=March 1, 2024 |language=en-us |date=December 6, 2020 |archive-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210205803/https://www.si.com/sportsperson/2020/12/06/sportsperson-2020-james-stewart-mahomes-osaka-duvernay-tardif |url-status=live }} Mahomes has also played in four Super Bowls, three of which the Chiefs won (LIV, LVII, LVIII), and earned Super Bowl MVP in each victory.{{cite web |title=Patrick Mahomes's Career Super Bowl Plays |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MahoPa00/super-bowl/ |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514165451/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MahoPa00/super-bowl/ |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=March 1, 2024 |language=en }}{{Cite web |last=Carroll |first=Rory |date=February 12, 2024 |title=Chiefs QB Mahomes wins Super Bowl MVP award for third time |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/nfl/chiefs-qb-mahomes-wins-super-bowl-mvp-award-third-time-2024-02-12 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=Reuters}}]]
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference West Division.{{cite web |title=How many teams are in the NFL? Who plays in which division? |url=https://www.dazn.com/en-CA/news/american-football/how-many-teams-are-in-the-nfl-who-plays-in-which-division/13wrouygqbx6i10bvjo1kz2ljj |website=DAZN |date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240628193920/https://www.dazn.com/en-CA/news/american-football/how-many-teams-are-in-the-nfl-who-plays-in-which-division/13wrouygqbx6i10bvjo1kz2ljj |archive-date=June 28, 2024 |url-status=live |last1=Astbury |first1=Matt |access-date=June 17, 2024 |language=en-CA }} The team was founded in 1959 as the Dallas Texans by businessman Lamar Hunt, and was a charter member of the American Football League (AFL).{{cite web |title=Team Facts |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/kansas-city-chiefs/team-facts/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=February 22, 2024 |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114034601/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/kansas-city-chiefs/team-facts/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Team History |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/kansas-city-chiefs/team-history/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=February 22, 2024 |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002034141/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/kansas-city-chiefs/team-history |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Lamar Hunt, 1932–2006 |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/lamar-hunt-tribute |website=Kansas City Chiefs |date=April 30, 2018 |access-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211191622/https://www.chiefs.com/news/lamar-hunt-tribute |url-status=live }} In spring 1963, the team relocated to Kansas City, and assumed its current name.{{cite web|title=American Indian Heritage Chiefs Name|url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/text-page-american-indian-heritage-chiefs-name|website=Kansas City Chiefs |date=January 1, 2020|access-date=April 1, 2022|archive-date=February 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214173940/https://www.chiefs.com/news/text-page-american-indian-heritage-chiefs-name|url-status=live}} The Chiefs joined the NFL prior to the 1970 season as a result of the AFL–NFL merger.{{cite web |title=Other football leagues of the past |url=https://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=3764806 |website=ESPN |language=en |date=December 12, 2008 |access-date=February 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410035024/http://www.espn.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=3764806 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Bob |title=Rozelle made NFL what it is today |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Rozelle_Pete.html |website=ESPN |access-date=February 22, 2024 |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402025947/https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/rozelle_pete.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=General History – Chronology (1960 to 1979) |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/general-history-chronology-1960-to-1979/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=February 22, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=November 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129180908/https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/general-history-chronology-1960-to-1979/ |url-status=live }}
The NFL draft, officially known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting",{{cite web |title=NFL Draft Profile – NFL Draft |url=http://www.espn.com/nfldraft/research/event/profile?eventId=0 |website=ESPN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217031316/http://www.espn.com/nfldraft/research/event/profile?eventId=0 |archive-date=December 17, 2023 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 7, 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Farmer |first=Sam |date=April 26, 2008 |title=What makes them tick |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-26-sp-nfl26-story.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207135240/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-26-sp-nfl26-story.html |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |access-date=February 7, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web |first=Chad |last=Reuter |title=Who will be the best pro RB? Martin vs. Miller vs. Wilson |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/who-will-be-the-best-pro-rb-martin-vs-miller-vs-wilson-09000d5d8284a7d0 |website=National Football League |access-date=February 7, 2024 |date=April 13, 2012 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610122157/https://www.nfl.com/news/who-will-be-the-best-pro-rb-martin-vs-miller-vs-wilson-09000d5d8284a7d0 |url-status=live }} is an annual event which serves as the league's most common source of player recruitment.{{cite web |title=NFL 2021 Draft date: when and where is it taking place? |url=https://en.as.com/en/2021/02/18/nfl/1613653757_815367.html |website=Diario AS |language=en-us |date=February 18, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129070037/https://en.as.com/en/2021/02/18/nfl/1613653757_815367.html |url-status=live }} The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings; the teams with the worst win–loss records receive the earliest picks. Teams that qualified for the NFL playoffs select after non-qualifiers, and their order depends on how far they advanced, using their regular season record as a tie-breaker. The final two selections in the first round are reserved for the Super Bowl runner-up and champion. Draft picks are tradable and players or other picks can be acquired with them.{{cite web |title=The rules of the NFL Draft |url=https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/ |website=National Football League |access-date=November 14, 2023 |archive-date=November 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101040705/https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/the-rules-of-the-draft/ |url-status=live }}
Before the merger agreements in 1966, the AFL directly competed with the NFL and held a separate draft. This led to a bidding war over top prospects between the two leagues, along with the subsequent drafting of the same player in each draft. As part of the merger agreement on June 8, 1966, the two leagues began holding a multiple round "common draft". Once the AFL officially merged with the NFL in 1970, the "common draft" simply became the NFL draft.{{cite news |title=The AFL: A Football Legacy |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2001/01/22/afl_history_2/ |date=January 22, 2001 |access-date=June 9, 2010 |work=CNN/SI |author=Cross, B. Duane |archive-date=December 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217064300/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2001/01/22/afl_history_2/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1961-1970 |title=NFL History by Decade: 1961–1970 |access-date=June 9, 2010 |website=National Football League |archive-date=February 5, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205052436/http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1961-1970 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d807e6d6a&template=with-video&confirm=true |title=Time Changes for 2008 NFL Draft |date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=June 9, 2010 |website=National Football League |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026144408/http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d807e6d6a&template=with-video&confirm=true |archive-date=October 26, 2012 }} The first AFL draft was held prior to the start of the 1960 season. The first round of the 1960 AFL draft was territorial selections. Each team received a "territorial pick" which allowed them to select a single player within a pre-agreed upon designated region (the team's "territory"). Teams then agreed on the top eight players at each position, who were subsequently assigned to teams by random draw, with each of the eight teams receiving one of those players. This process was repeated until all 53 roster spots were filled.{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2009 |title=The AFL's first draft |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2009/10/news-the-afl-s-first-draft/ |access-date=December 14, 2023 |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |language=en |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803001231/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2009/10/news-the-afl-s-first-draft/ |url-status=live }} Beginning in the 1961 draft, the AFL, using the same system as the NFL, began to assign picks based on the previous season's standings.{{Cite news |date=November 22, 1960 |title=Auburn Ace First AFL Draft Pick |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-californian-auburn-ace-first-afl-dra/136809605/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203033247/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-californian-auburn-ace-first-afl-dra/136809605/ |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |work=The Californian |pages=15 |type=clipping |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press International}}
Since the team's first draft, the Chiefs have selected 62 players in the first round.{{cite web |title=Kansas City Chiefs All-Time Draft History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/draft.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501063639/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/draft.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=February 21, 2024 }} The team's first-round pick in the inaugural AFL draft was Don Meredith, a quarterback out of Southern Methodist University (SMU); he was the team's territorial selection.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2011 |title=Backdraft: Kansas City Chiefs |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2011/04/news-backdraft-kansas-city-chiefs/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |language=en |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227200300/https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2011/04/news-backdraft-kansas-city-chiefs/ |url-status=live }} The Chiefs have held the first overall pick twice, once in the AFL draft, selecting Buck Buchanan in 1963, and once in the NFL draft, selecting Eric Fisher in 2013. In the most recent draft, held in 2025, the Chiefs selected Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons.{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Bucky |title=2025 NFL Draft: Bucky Brooks' pick-by-pick analysis for Round 1 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/2025-nfl-draft-bucky-brooks-pick-by-pick-analysis-for-round-1 |website=National Football League |access-date=25 April 2025 |date=April 24, 2025}}
The Chiefs did not draft a player in the first round on nine occasions. Four of the team's first-round picks—Buck Buchanan, Tony Gonzalez, Gale Sayers, and Derrick Thomas—have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame;{{cite web |title=Hall of Famers by Draft Round |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-by-draft-round/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=February 21, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425164300/https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-by-draft-round/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Team Greats |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/kansas-city-chiefs/team-greats/ |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=February 21, 2024 |archive-date=February 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212193650/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/kansas-city-chiefs/team-greats/ |url-status=live }} one of these, Sayers, chose not to play for the Chiefs and joined the NFL instead.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Alison |title=This week in history: Bears score Gale Sayers |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/6/3/22463619/gale-sayers-chicago-bears-draft-1964 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=May 10, 2024 |language=en |date=June 3, 2021 |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206041004/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/6/3/22463619/gale-sayers-chicago-bears-draft-1964 |url-status=live }} The Chiefs used additional first-round picks in the 1960s to select Don Meredith and Ronnie Bull, who also chose to sign with the NFL instead.{{cite web |title=#17 Don Meredith – Quarterback 1960–1968 |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/roh-don-meredith |website=Dallas Cowboys |access-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314162830/https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/roh-don-meredith |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Fred |title=Former Bears star Ronnie Bull: Where is he now? |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/02/10/former-bears-star-ronnie-bull-where-is-he-now/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=February 21, 2024 |date=February 10, 2015 |archive-date=February 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221145733/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/02/10/former-bears-star-ronnie-bull-where-is-he-now/ |url-status=live }}
Player selections
File:Tony Gonzalez at 2005 Pro Bowl 050213-N-3019M-002.jpg Tony Gonzalez was drafted 13th overall by the Chiefs in the 1997 NFL draft.{{cite web |title=Tony Gonzalez Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GonzTo00.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411112553/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GonzTo00.htm |archive-date=April 11, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=March 4, 2024 |language=en }} Gonzales was a 14-time Pro Bowler, 10-time All-Pro, and finished his career with the most receptions and receiving yards by a tight end in history.{{cite web |title=2018: Tony Gonzales {{!}} Chiefs Hall of Honor |url=https://www.chiefs.com/hallofhonor/players/tonygonzalez |website=Kansas City Chiefs |access-date=March 4, 2024 |archive-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330054923/https://www.chiefs.com/hallofhonor/players/tonygonzalez |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Tony Gonzalez |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/tony-gonzalez |website=Pro Football Hall of Fame |access-date=March 4, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=February 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213195054/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/tony-gonzalez/ |url-status=live }} He was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2018, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019, and was also selected for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2019 |title=NFL 100 All-Time Team tight ends, offensive linemen revealed |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-100-all-time-team-tight-ends-offensive-linemen-revealed-0ap3000001087410 |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=National Football League |archive-date=February 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219161458/https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-100-all-time-team-tight-ends-offensive-linemen-revealed-0ap3000001087410 |url-status=live }}]]
File:Eric Fisher (American football).JPG was drafted first overall by the Chiefs in 2013. He played eight seasons for the team, during which time he was a two-time Pro Bowler.{{cite web |title=Eric Fisher Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FishEr00.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129232330/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FishEr00.htm |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=March 1, 2024 |language=en }}]]
File:Eric Berry.JPG is a defensive back who was selected 5th overall in 2010.{{cite web |title=Eric Berry Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BerrEr99.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=March 14, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116131251/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BerrEr99.htm |url-status=live }} He spent his whole career with the Chiefs, during which time he was a three-time first-time All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, and was selected to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.{{Cite web |last=Battista |first=Judy |author-link=Judy Battista |date=April 6, 2020 |title=NFL 2010s All-Decade Team: Tom Brady, Aaron Donald headliners |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-2010s-all-decade-team-tom-brady-aaron-donald-headliners-0ap3000001108338 |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=National Football League |archive-date=October 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005165527/https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-2010s-all-decade-team-tom-brady-aaron-donald-headliners-0ap3000001108338 |url-status=live }} Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in late 2014 and, after undergoing chemotherapy in the offseason and being declared cancer free, came back for the 2015 season.{{Cite web |last=Sitzler |first=Beth |date=July 31, 2015 |title=Kansas City Announces Berry's Return to Play |url=https://www.nata.org/nata-now/articles/2015/07/kansas-city-announces-berrys-return-play |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=National Athletic Trainers' Association |language=en |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314141921/https://www.nata.org/nata-now/articles/2015/07/kansas-city-announces-berrys-return-play |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2017 |title=Timeline: The Amazing Road of Eric Berry |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/timeline-the-amazing-road-of-eric-berry-16785778 |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Kansas City Chiefs |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314141115/https://www.chiefs.com/news/timeline-the-amazing-road-of-eric-berry-16785778 |url-status=live }} He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors the two seasons following his diagnosis and won named the 2015 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year.]]
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1"
|+ Key |
| scope="col" | Symbol
! scope="col" | Meaning |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#FFFF99;" | {{dagger}}
| Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#DDFFDD;" | *
| Selected number one overall |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#E0FFFF;" | {{double dagger}}
| Selected number one overall and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" |
| scope="colgroup" colspan="2"| Position abbreviations |
|---|
| scope="row" | C
| Center |
| scope="row" | CB |
| scope="row" | DB |
| scope="row" | DE |
| scope="row" | DT |
| scope="row" | G
| Guard |
| scope="row" | LB |
| scope="row" | QB |
| scope="row" | RB |
| scope="row" | T
| Tackle |
| scope="row" | TE |
| scope="row" | WR |
See also
Notes
{{notelist|colwidth=1|group=upper-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Kansas City Chiefs}}
{{Kansas City Chiefs first round draft picks}}
{{List of NFL team first-round draft picks}}