The NFL Draft has long been known as an inexact science. A crapshoot that can make or break a franchise. The Kansas City Chiefs, like every other team, have had their fair share of draft hits and misses. Let’s take a look at the five most important draft maneuvers in team history.
5. Jared Allen trade sparks big results
Prior to the 2008 NFL Draft, Chiefs GM Carl Peterson decided to unload Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen to the Minnesota Vikings. In return Kansas City received the Vikings 1st and 3rd round picks which were used to take LT Branden Albert and RB Jamaal Charles. The rest of the draft yielded solid returns as well with future starters at corner Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr also selected.
4. Joe Montana heads to Kansas City
Marty Schottenheimer came to Kansas City in 1989 and immediately made the Chiefs a viable and competitive franchise. The team won with a gritty defense and pounding running attack led by Christian Okoye. What was missing? A viable quarterback who could get it done in the playoffs. In 1993 the Chiefs traded its 1st round pick and a 3rd rounder in 1994 for Joe Montana, who had been cast aside by the 49ers due to injury. Montana helped deliver the team a division title and a trip to the AFC Championship game, heights not reached for over 20 years in Kansas City.
3. The Chiefs trade up to draft Tony G
The Chiefs were trying to rebuild their offense back in 1997 with a new quarterback in Elvis Grbac. On draft day, the team moved up from 18 to 13 to select a college football and basketball player from CAL. Gonzalez would go on to become one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and made 14 Pro Bowls during his Hall-of-Fame career.
2. Drafting Derrick Thomas ushers in new era of Chiefs football
When you think about a single draft pick changing a franchise, it’s hard not to think of D.T. Head coach Marty Schottenheimer and GM Carl Peterson arrived in KC in 1989 in hopes of rebuilding a franchise that had not been competitive since the early 70’s. The team took Thomas with the 4th overall pick in 1989 and went on to have its first winning season in three years. Thomas would play his entire nine year career in KC and was a huge part of rejuvenating Chiefs football for an entire generation.
1. Patrick Mahomes
This pretty much speaks for itself. Kansas City traded up to the 10th slot in the 2017 draft to select its next quarterback. The results: an NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, two Super Bowl appearances, four division titles and four AFC Championship games at Arrowhead. It almost goes without saying that this was the most important move in team history and changed the course of the franchise forever.
