After going 13-3 in 1997, the seventh straight winning season for the franchise, the Chiefs went 7-9 (1998), 9-7 (1999), 7-9 (2000), 6-10 (2001) and 8-8 (2002). Few draft picks in those years made any impact on the team and many were busts, as you've seen in our other draft reviews. Growing up with the Chiefs in the 1990s, I consider a year like 2000 to be among the "dark" years. When the Chiefs were out of the playoffs early in the season, admittedly my interest would wane and I would follow them less.

Round 1 (21, 21) - Sylvester Morris, Jackson State, WR -- Sly Mo had a promising rookie campaign in 2000. He started fourteen games for the Chiefs and caught 48 passes for 678 yards and three touchdowns. But in the summer of 2001, while Morris was practicing with the Chiefs during off-season work outs, he tore his ACL. Morris was immediatley out for the 2001 season and was unable to make it back for 2002 as well, being put on injured reserve before the season even started. Then, in 2003 on the first day of training camp, Morris was injured again. This time, an MRI showed torn tissue in the back of his hip. Morris finished his career with a tryout in Tampa Bay. He never played in the NFL again.

The injuries Morris suffered seemed to be of the freak accident variety. The loss of first round picks like this was just devastating. You can't pin this "bust" on any group or person but the fact that Morris only had one productive season with the Chiefs gives this pick a near failing grade. Grade: D-

Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Round 2 (23, 54) - William Bartee, Oklahoma, DB -- Bartee spent six years playing in Kansas City. He played in 87 games over those six years. He became an UFA in 2004 but the Chiefs quickly scooped him back up and signed him to a four-year deal. Bartee also moved from corner to safey in 2005, a move he was comfortable with.

Off-season 2006 rolled around and the Chiefs signed Ty Law. Bartee gave Law his number, injured his Achilles and was promptly replaced by draft picks Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page. And that quickly William Bartee was gone. The veteran player is out of football today.

With Bartee, the Chiefs got a versatile player who was able to start part time at safety and defensive back. Considering the lack of alternatives in the second round of this draft, the Chiefs got a decent amount of value out of this pick. Grade: C+

Notables taken recently after this pick: LB Marcus Washington

(AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Round 3 (23, 85) - Greg Wesley, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, DB -- There were a fair amount of people who thought Wesley had a bad year last year but I would argue was just as effective if not more effective than Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard when he got to play. Different rumors around the internet say the Chiefs have been looking to trade Wesley since last year. A seven-year veteran of the Chiefs, Wesley is a player whose time has come in Kansas City, not unlike Sammy Knight last year. We have two young safeties now and are going to give them a chance to play.

Wesley has started 103 of the 118 games he's played in. That's solid mileage for a 3rd round pick. Grade: B

Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Round 4 (21, 115) - Frank Moreau, Louisville, RB -- In 2000, Moreau played part time for ten games. This was the period of the Chiefs vaunted running back by committee. In 2000, Tony Richardson got the majority of the team's carries (he was a fullback!) with Kimble Anders and Frank Moreau bringing up the rear. Don't forget about Mike Cloud or Donnell Bennett, who had a few carries of their own.

Moreau appeared to be nothing more than a warm body that could fill in for the Chiefs' running back by committee. Next season, Priest Holmes destroyed any notion that another back should share carries when he rushed for 1,555 yards. Moreau was off the team by then, played a few games with Jacksonville and called it quits for his career. Grade: C-

Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Round 5 (24, 153) - Dante Hall, Texas A&M, RB -- Talk about your all-time great fifth round picks. The Chiefs drafted one of the (Damn you Devon Hester!) greatest return men all time in Dante Hall. No need for details here. We're all aware of Hall's accomplishments. Grade: A

Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Round 5 (33, 162) - Patrick Dennis, Louisiana-Monroe, DB -- A compensatory pick for the Chiefs, Dennis actually started thirteen games for the Chiefs in his rookie year. The next year he started none and hasn't started an NFL game for the rest of his career. Definitely a journeyman, Dennis has played for the Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans and Redskins. The Chiefs took a chance with a compensatory pick and almost got a full season of starts out of Dennis. Not great but not terrible. Grade: C

Notables taken recently after this pick: QB Marc Bulger, K Neil Rackers

Round 6 (22, 188) - Darnell Alford, Boston College, G -- Alford's career is not unlike many sixth round picks not named Tom Brady. He was signed on and released from the Chiefs' practice squad twice over the course of three years. He's spent considerable time on at least four teams' practice squads. Alford's career seems to be defined by being picked up in the off-season and cut before the regular season starts. Grade: D

Notables taken recently after this pick: QB Tom Brady

Round 7 (2, 208) - Desmond Kitchings, Furman, WR -- A part-time special teams guy for two seasons. He now coaches running backs at Vanderbilt. Grade: F

Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Overall Draft Grade: C+