We know now exactly what an inexact science the NFL Draft is. On average, a team’s roster contains only 23.4% of drafted players. We see phrases like “draft busts” thrown around too liberally as many factors contribute to a particular player’s ability to get drafted in the first place, live up to expectations and maintain success is a tough hill to climb.
The Kansas City Chiefs, like 31 other NFL franchises, have had their share of draft hits and misses over the years. Taking into account the round a particular player was drafted in and expectations vs productivity, here is our list for top 10 draft busts in Chiefs history.
10. Percy Snow (Michigan State- 1st round, 13th overall 1990)
After hitting so valiantly on Derrick Thomas in the first round in 1989, the Chiefs tried to strike gold with another linebacker prospect in 1990. The result was Percy Snow from Michigan State who had a solid season as a rookie but was out of the league by 1993.
9. Jonathan Baldwin (Pitt- 1st round 26th overall 2011)
The Chiefs thought Baldwin could be the perfect match for incumbent receiver Dwayne Bowe. What they got was a player that couldn’t even get on the field in 2012 when the team was 2-14 and Steve Breaston was the only other viable option. Baldwin busted out of the league just three years after being drafted by KC.
8. Junior Siavii (Oregon- 2nd round, 36th overall 2004)
The Chiefs traded out of the first round in 2004 and hoped they could get some value in Siavii, a defensive tackle out of Oregon. The experiment lasted just two seasons as injuries and poor play forced Siavii out of the league by 2006. He later returned to football with the Cowboys and Seahawks from 2008-2010.
7. Kris Wilson (Pitt- 2nd round, 61st overall 2004)
The hype train for the Chiefs supposed “secret weapon” derailed early when it was learned that instead of doing everything in the KC offense, he was actually a glorified water boy that occasionally was put in a game to catch passes out of bounds or never get open.
6. Eddie Freeman (UAB- 2nd round, 43rd overall 2002)
Kansas City’s defensive woes from the early 2000’s are legendary. The team swung and missed on two defensive tackle prospects (more on the other one later on) which stunted a lot of the potential that the defense had. Freeman was known as a “raw” talent and that typically is a term to run away from if you are a Chiefs fan. Freeman never made it in KC and was playing in NFL Europe just two years after being drafted.
5. Sylvester Morris (1st round, 21st overall 2000)
Morris had a better than average rookie season in KC in 2000 hauling in 48 catches for 678 yards and 3 scores. Unfortunately those are the only stats Morris ever registered in the NFL as he never played in another game after the 2000 season. A hip injury would greatly contribute to his career woes but he eventually tried to catch on with the Bucs in 2004 to no avail.
4. Ryan Sims (North Carolina- 6th overall 2002)
Sims played on the same line as future Hall-of-Fame defender Julius Peppers and yet somehow draft pundits thought Sims could be an impact player in the league. Sims actually stuck around in KC for five seasons although he only tallied 8.5 sacks and battled injuries/subpar play during his time. In hindsight, drafting Sims and Eddie Freeman in the first two rounds in 2002 is unforgivable and likely a huge reason why the Chiefs defense set records for futility in ’02 and ’03.
3. Breeland Speaks (Ole Miss- 2nd round, 46th overall)
Many Chiefs fans have put this pick completely out of their memory and for good reason. The Chiefs actually MOVED UP to select Speaks in the 2018 draft and he played in 16 games as a rookie which included the unforgettable moment where he failed to tackle old, frail Tom Brady in route to a Patriots go-ahead TD. Speaks would battle injuries and suspension in 2019 and was cut by the team in 2020.
2. Trezelle Jenkins (1st round, 31st overall 1995).
Drafting a prolific left tackle from a prestigious university with the 31st pick should give you stability at that position for years right? In the case of Trezelle Jenkins, how about only playing in nine games over three years before failing to make an XFL roster? This pick could have been a huge detriment had the KC offensive line not already been one of the best in football.
1. Todd Blackledge (Penn State- 1st round, 7th overall)
This is a position that poor Todd will never relinquish. The former Davey O’Brien award winner from Penn State was famously taken ahead of Dan Marino (and even Tony Eason/Ken O’Brien). In five years in KC, Blackledge never started more than 12 games and was relegated to backing up Bill Kenny at times. The Chiefs did not select a quarterback in the first round again until 2017.
Draft Busts Honorable Mention
- Brian Jozwiak
- Matt Blundin
- Harvey Williams
- Brodie Croyle
- Tyson Jackson
- Glenn Dorsey
