Arrowheadlines: Only one team has drafted more Pro Bowlers than the Chiefs since 2000

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Ranking the 5 Teams That Dominated the NFL Draft Since 2000

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Pro Bowlers Drafted: 25

MVPs: Patrick Mahomes

Best Draft Class: 2008

After two decades of drafting at a consistently high level, the Kansas City Chiefs were finally able to put it all together and win their first Lombardi Trophy since Super Bowl IV.

That Super Bowl victory is credited in large part to the Chiefs taking a quarterback in the first round since Todd Blackledge in 1983, drafting Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 draft. Although he was the third quarterback taken in that draft, the Chiefs knew the potential Mahomes had, trading up to No. 10 overall to take the future MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

Drafting top-tier talent isn’t something the Chiefs stumbled into all of a sudden in 2017. Since 2003, the Chiefs have only had two drafts where players they selected didn’t go on to be future Pro Bowlers—in 2018 and 2009.

The 2008 class stands out as the franchise’s most impressive in recent memory, despite the letdown that No. 5 overall pick Glenn Dorsey was. The Chiefs’ next three picks in that draft went on to become Pro Bowl players in offensive tackle Branden Albert, cornerback Brandon Flowers and the electric running back Jamaal Charles, who will have his own place in Chiefs history as a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro.

Some big free agents like Tyrann Mathieu and Frank Clark had an impact on the Super Bowl win this past season, but a long stretch of consistent drafts helped build the culture and core team of playmakers who helped Kansas City win it all.

Pete Prisco’s what teams ‘should’ do NFL Mock Draft 2020: Tua Tagovailoa slides to down to Raiders at No. 12 | CBS Sports

Round 1 - Pick 32

Patrick Queen LB

Kansas City

They had some issues at linebacker last year and this kid can fly. He would fit perfectly in their scheme as a three-down linebacker.

Mock draft 4.21 | The Ringer

Chiefs

Patrick Queen

Linebacker - LSU, junior

Undersized but explosive linebacker who boasts excellent play-recognition skills, natural coverage chops, and a tenacious playing demeanor.

2020 NFL Mock Draft 17.0: Dolphins Get Justin Herbert, Henry Ruggs Goes Before CeeDee Lamb | SI

32. Kansas City: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU

A nice, safe pick. Despite some missteps early in his college career, Fulton grew up quickly and should be a solid starter at the NFL level. He was tested plenty last year playing opposite a true freshman some at LSU felt was the best player on their defense (Derek Stingley Jr.), and held up fine. So he should be ready to go. I have, by the way, heard the Chiefs like D’Andre Swift. But it’s hard to see, given Andy Reid’s track record (he’s spent no first-rounders, and just one second-rounder, on a running back in 21 drafts). And if someone wants to come fishing for Jordan Love here, I’d bet Brett Veach would be all ears.

Charles Davis 2020 NFL mock draft 3.0: 49ers pick CeeDee Lamb | NFL.com

32. D’Andre Swift - RB

School: Georgia | Year: Junior

The Chiefs could go big and target the offensive line with the last pick in Round 1, but the allure of Swift in this offense might be too much for GM Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid to pass up. Defensive tackle Ross Blacklock from TCU makes sense here, too.

Chiefs draft history: KC finally strikes QB gold with Mahomes | Fox Sports Kansas City

BEST SECOND-ROUND DRAFT PICK: The second of two second-round picks in 1967, Willie Lanier went from little-known linebacker out of Morgan State to a standout on the 1970 Super Bowl champions. He was a three-time All-Pro and started 146 of 149 games over an 11-season career that landed him on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team and in the Hall of Fame.

BEST LATE-ROUND DRAFT PICK: You think the seven-round draft these days takes forever? Running back Mike Garrett had to wait until the 20th round of the 1966 draft before he learned he was headed to the Chiefs, where he was an All-Pro and won a Super Bowl during his first five seasons. He finished his career with the Chargers.

Some first-round grades weren’t kind to Mahomes in 2017, but Chiefs may have set trend | Kansas City Star

“They were ahead of teams as far a being willing to take a shot on a raw guy with upside,” said Terez Paylor, who covered the 2017 Draft for The Star and has been a national NFL writer for Yahoo Sports for the past two seasons.

Anything less than game-changing ability with early-round quarterback prospects hardly seems worthwhile.

“It’s not 1999,” Paylor said. “You’re aiming for stud. That’s what’s going to get you through.”

Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs Eyeing Record-Setting Deal After NFL Draft | Inside Hook

Once the draft is over and clients like quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy have new homes and deals, agent Leigh Steinberg will turn his focus to getting Mahomes his record-setting contract.

“Pat is a priority. The way we look at it now with all that is going on, we’re going to have a lot of time to work with,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach told the AP ahead of this week’s draft. “It’s just hard to put a timetable on exactly when and how that will all work out. But we know and I’m sure he knows that it will get done and it will be taken care of.”

Around the NFL

Vikings entertaining trade offers, GM Rick Spielman says | ESPN

“I’ve had calls already, opportunities of people trying to trade up, and I’ve also had teams that are in front of us that wanted to trade back,” general manager Rick Spielman said on Tuesday. “I think it all depends how the draft board unfolds on Thursday. For example, I would say if we stay at 22, and we have maybe seven or eight names still up there, to move back from 25 to gain another pick and still get the same quality of player. An example: Last year, we moved back three times in the third round and still had [Alexander] Mattison targeted and were able to still get him. A lot of that manipulation on the draft board depends on what’s up there, how you have the draft board stacked and how far are you willing to go back without risk of losing a particular player.”

2020 NFL Draft rumors: Buying or selling the latest buzz on Tua Tagovailoa, Jeffrey Okudah and more | CBS Sports

49ers trading out of No. 13: Buy

I’ll end on an easy buy. Yes, the thought of Lamb or Jeudy would be tantalizing for Kyle Shanahan, but after the club’s two first-round selections, they don’t have a pick until the fifth round.

We are talking about the reigning NFC champs here, yet every team needs those middle rounds to build roster depth with young, cheap talent.

And San Francisco’s first Round 1 selection resides smack dab in the middle of a (likely) run on receivers, so they’ll probably get plenty of calls, or in the case for this draft, private messages on Microsoft Teams. And as a club still loaded defensively with an absolute genius of a play-caller in Kyle Shanahan — not to mention some explosive pieces on offense — the 49ers will gladly just grab the best player available after moving back a few slots in Round 1 while netting a pick or two on the second day of the draft.

Lamar Jackson accidentally leaked that he’s the ‘Madden 21’ cover athlete | SB Nation

These are weird times, but that doesn’t change the fact this simply isn’t how Madden cover athletes are announced. Normally the whole thing is a big to-do, with a media blitz, a count down, speculation — the whole nine yards. Even though there were pretty good odds Jackson would be a finalist for the cover anyway, it seems EA Sports weren’t too thrilled about having their surprise ruined.

In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride

23 Days of Draftmas: Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, running back

How he fits in Kansas City: If the Chiefs are going to take a running back in the first round, make it Clyde Edwards-Helaire. This not an endorsement of the Chiefs selecting him in the first round — but if they elect to take one, Edwards-Helaire fits perfectly. In fact, I compared him to a former Andy Reid bell cow in Brian Westbrook.

Edwards-Helaire would never have to leave the field in Reid’s offense. He can do it all. He’s tough between the tackles, possesses good vision and patience in the run game. He shows great burst through the hole and good balance at the point of contact. Pair all that with special lateral agility and he’s tough to handle. The only thing he has against him as a runner is a lack of long speed.

And finally...

The above may be true but Chiefs Twitter didn’t disappoint as usual....

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