Revisiting the Kansas City Chiefs 1998 Draft

These other guys don't have many pictures out there so you get "Elvis Lives".

Round 1 (27, 27) - Victor Riley, Auburn, T -- The fifth offensive linemen taken in the first round, Riley was drafted directly after LSU's Alan Faneca, who is still playing today. The same can't be said for Riley though.

Riley played in Kansas City for four years before going to the New Orleans Saints to finish his career in 2003. He later bounced around with the Texans but never took the field. He was a solid starter in KC, if only for a short time.

Billed as overweight and lazy coming out of Auburn, Riley saw his first round stock drop when he ran a slow forty yard dash time at the Combine. Anchored on the right side of the offensive line across from 1999 first round pick John Tait, Victory Riley showed promised for a few years in Kansas City before letting his weight gain and injuries get the best of him. He broke his leg mid-season in 2001 and never was the same. It was revealed in 2002 that Riley "was accused of ramming his vehicle several times into a vehicle occupied by his wife and infant daughter" the previous May. He served two weeks in jail.

It sucks to have to grade Victory Riley poorly because he showed a lot of potential on the offensive line, if he could have only held it together. Squandered NFL dreams. Grade: C+

Notables taken recently after this pick: RW McQuarters

Round 3 (27, 88) - Rashaan Shehee, Washington, RB -- The Chiefs had no second round pick in 1998 because the Raiders received it as compensation after the Chiefs signed Chester McGlockton.

Coming out of college, Shehee was billed as an athletic scat back who could catch the ball just as well as a wide out. As I scroll through the Google news archives, the word "darting" keeps coming up in descriptions of the UW runner.

Shehee never was drafted to be a 25+ carry a game back but his five starts in 25 games in two years for the Chiefs is still a major disappointment. I wasn't obsessively checking mock draft boards back in 1998 so I can't remember if this draft pick was a reach or not. The third round seems high for a 3rd down back like Shehee. To be fair I suppose, the pick was at the very end of the third round, almost into the fourth. The Chiefs were also very desperate to get a running back, after not re-signing free agent Greg "The Real Deal Hill" and awaiting Marcus Allen's retirement. Did you want Donnell Bennett being your #1 running back? I didn't think so. Grade: D

Notables taken recently after this pick: Hines Ward

Round 4 (28, 120) - Greg Favors, Mississippi State, LB -- Favors took over for starting linebacker Wayne Simmons in mid-season of the 1998 campaign, after Simmons had been slipping in his play. Described as an up and comer throughout training camp after his rookie year, Favors was cut before the season to make room for Gary Stills. It appeared to be less about Favors' play and more a matter of circumstance.

Favors played linebacker, special teams and on the defensive line in his career. He played with the Chiefs, Titans, Colts, Bills, Panthers and Jaguars in his career. He's the definition of a journeyman -- but I bet he made a bunch of money doing it.

A Dave Szott/Greg Favors minor spat in training camp in 1999 produced one of my favorite Gunther Cunningham quotes -- "If you're gonna fight, fight. Don't stand there bullshitting with each other." Grade: C-

Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Round 5 (5, 128) - Robert Williams, North Carolina, DB -- Before the 1999 season, the Chiefs traded Williams to the 49ers for a 2000 draft pick. He never played again after the 1999 season. In his one season with the Chiefs, he played mainly special teams and didn't make much of an impact. Almost every bit of pre-draft analysis I found said Williams should have stayed for his senior year at UNC. But Williams later blamed greedy agents for convincing him to come out of school early. Grade: C-

Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Round 6 (28, 181) - Derrick Ransom, Cincinnati, DE -- Ransom quietly made a great NFL career for himself, playing until 2004 as a rotational defensive tackle for the Chiefs, Cardinals and Jaguars. He made 26 starts in 56 games over five seasons with the Chiefs. He was replaced by first round pick Ryan Sims in 2002. I have to give out a high grade for a late round guy who actually played. Grade: B+

Notables taken recently after this pick: Matt Hasselbeck

Round 7 (27, 216) - Eric Warfield, Nebraska, DB -- Warfield played essentially his entire career with Chiefs, which ended with his third DUI conviction in 2005 and a subsequent suspension by the NFL.

Warfield played in 115 games for the Chiefs, which is absolutely amazing number considering where he was drafted. Off the field troubles aside, Eric Warfield was the steal of the draft for the Chiefs. His value was tremendous. Always battling for his job, Warfield beat out a number of Chiefs prospects throughout the years. Never super talented, he made more of his NFL career than the vast majority of 7th round picks. Grade: A- Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Round 7 (35, 224) - Ernest Blackwell, Missouri, RB (Compensatory pick) -- A fullback who was more of a large running back at Missouri, Blackwell obviously found it difficult to beat out Tony Richardson, the Chiefs' future Pro Bowl fullback. Blackwell battled a hamstring injury after he was drafted and never took the field as a member of the Chiefs. He was released before the 1998 season. Grade: F

Notables taken recently after this pick: None

Overall Draft Grade: C-