Chiefs have history of first-round NFL Draft trades. Many have worked out
The first round of the NFL Draft should capture the attention of Chiefs fans, and not just because the team has two selections.
The Chiefs have made a trade involving a first-round pick in each of the previous two drafts and in seven of the last 10.
They’ve moved up in the draft order ... and moved back. They’ve dealt out of first round, and into the top 32 picks.
The results have been mostly terrific and helped shape a franchise that went to seven straight AFC Championship Games and five Super Bowls while winning three.
A trade already has affected this year’s draft. When the Chiefs dealt Trent McDuffie to the Rams in March, part of the return was a first-round pick, No. 29 overall.
Brett Veach, whose first draft as the Chiefs general manager came in 2018, said there’s no model for trade strategy.
“I don’t know if I have a blueprint for that,” Veach said. “I think it’s just exhausting all the information with each player, identifying your team needs (and) working with the coaching staff.”
The three-day NFL Draft begins Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Chiefs currently own nine picks, including Nos. 9 and 29.
Here’s a rundown of the Chiefs’ first-round moves since 2016:
Kansas City Chiefs’ NFL Draft trades (first round)
2026: Traded cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a first-round pick, No. 29 overall, a fifth-round pick (No. 159), sixth-round pick (No. 210) and a 2027 third-round pick.
Grade: Incomplete
2025: Traded a first-round pick (No. 31) to Philadelphia for the Eagles’ 32nd pick and selected offensive tackle Josh Simmons. The Chiefs also received a fifth-round pick, and sent that pick plus a seventh-rounder to Pittsburgh for the Steelers’ fifth-round pick; KC selected linebacker Jeffrey Bassa.
Grade: B. The Chiefs appear to have found their left tackle of the future, although Simmons played in only eight games as a rookie due to injury and personal reasons.
2024: Traded a first-round pick (32), along with their third-round (95) and seventh-round (221) picks, to Buffalo for the Bills’ No. 28 and selected wide receiver Xavier Worthy. The Chiefs also received a fourth-rounder (133) and seventh-rounder (248) and selected safety Jaden Hicks and offensive lineman C.J. Hanson.
Grade: C. Worthy regressed in 2025 after a solid rookie season.
2022: Traded wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for a first-round (29), second-round (50), fourth-round (121), 2023 fourth-round and sixth-round pick. The Chiefs traded that first-round selection and other picks to the Patriots for their No. 21 pick and selected McDuffie.
Grade: A. This draft proved foundational for the franchise. Six of the 10 picks became starters and this class played on two Super Bowl-winning teams in its first two seasons.
2021: Traded a first-round pick (31), a third and fourth plus a 2022 fifth-round pick to Baltimore for offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., a second-round pick (used to take linebacker Nick Bolton) and a sixth-round pick.
Grade: A. The Chiefs, looking to rebuild their offensive line, got two Pro Bowl seasons from Brown, and Bolton is a five-year starter and tackling machine.
2019: Traded their first-round pick (29), a third-rounder and 2020 second-round pick to the Seattle for defensive end Frank Clark and a third-round pick used to select defensive tackle Khalen Saunders.
Grade: B. Clark gave the Chiefs three Pro Bowl seasons, and “playoff Frank Clark” was terrific with five sacks during the 2019 Super Bowl run.
2017: Traded their first-round (27), third-round (91) and 2018 first-round pick to Buffalo for the No. 10 pick and selected quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Grade: A. Greatest trade in Chiefs — NFL? — history.
2016: Traded a first-round pick (28) to San Francisco for the 49ers’ second-round (37), fourth-round (105) and sixth-round (178) picks. With these picks, the Chiefs selected defensive tackle Chris Jones, offensive lineman Parker Ehinger and cornerback DJ White.
Grade: A. The Chiefs found their defensive anchor over the next decade in the second round.