Best draft picks in Kansas City Chiefs history
Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Kansas City Chiefs history using career Weighted Approximate Value (wAV), a metric developed by Pro-Football-Reference.com to estimate career impact. The ranking also lists individual accolades such as Pro Bowl selections, First-Team All-Pro honors, and total years as a starter. Players were assigned to their originally drafted teams, excluding any draft-day trades. Data is as of April 2026.
#10. Neil Smith (1988, Round 1, Pick 2)
- Position: DE
- Career wAV: 96
- Pro Bowls: 6
- First-Team All-Pro: 1
- Games Played: 191
- Seasons as Starter: 11
#9. Tyreek Hill (2016, Round 5, Pick 165)
- Position: WR
- Career wAV: 98
- Pro Bowls: 8
- First-Team All-Pro: 5
- Games Played: 145
- Seasons as Starter: 8
#8. Jared Allen (2004, Round 4, Pick 126)
- Position: DE
- Career wAV: 101
- Pro Bowls: 5
- First-Team All-Pro: 4
- Games Played: 187
- Seasons as Starter: 12
#5. Bobby Bell (1963, Round 7, Pick 56) (tie)
- Position: LB
- Career wAV: 104
- Pro Bowls: 9
- First-Team All-Pro: 6
- Games Played: 168
- Seasons as Starter: 12
#5. Derrick Thomas (1989, Round 1, Pick 4) (tie)
- Position: LB
- Career wAV: 104
- Pro Bowls: 9
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 169
- Seasons as Starter: 11
#5. Roger Staubach (1964, Round 16, Pick 122) (tie)
- Position: QB
- Career wAV: 104
- Pro Bowls: 6
- First-Team All-Pro: 0
- Games Played: 131
- Seasons as Starter: 8
#4. Jim Tyrer (1961, Round 3, Pick 22)
- Position: T
- Career wAV: 107
- Pro Bowls: 9
- First-Team All-Pro: 6
- Games Played: 194
- Seasons as Starter: 13
#3. Bob Lilly (1961, Round 2, Pick 14)
- Position: DT
- Career wAV: 112
- Pro Bowls: 11
- First-Team All-Pro: 7
- Games Played: 196
- Seasons as Starter: 14
#2. Will Shields (1993, Round 3, Pick 74)
- Position: G
- Career wAV: 113
- Pro Bowls: 12
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 224
- Seasons as Starter: 14
#1. Patrick Mahomes (2017, Round 1, Pick 10)
- Position: QB
- Career wAV: 115
- Pro Bowls: 6
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 126
- Seasons as Starter: 8
Copyright 2026 Stacker Media, LLC
This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 11:29 AM.