Kansas City Chiefs Draft Day Bargains: Five Best Value Picks
By John Viril
Bobby Bell #78 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
1. OLB Bobby Bell, 7th round (56th overall), Minnesota—Yeah, I know, 56th overall would mean a 2nd round pick today. Even so, AFL teams passed on Bell at least six times before the Kansas City Chiefs selected him in 1963. All Bell did was have an NFL Hall-of-Fame career over the next 12 seasons.
Yeah, that’s a pretty good bargain.
Many consider Bell the best overall athlete in franchise history. Hall-of-Fame coach Hank Stram said that Bell had
"“as much talent as anyone I ever coached.”"
Bell was a 6-4 228lb. linebacker that could run with wide-receivers, play with his hand on the ground as a defensive end, tackle, rush the passer, and could throw the ball the length of the field. Some said that Bell could play any position on the team. Teammate and fellow Hall-of-Famer Buck Buchanan said about Bell,
"“This guy is the best all-around football player I ever saw.” Bell was so versatile, he actually started his college career as a quarterback before winning the Outland Trophy as the nation’s outstanding collegiate interior lineman in 1962."
Bobby Bell was also drafted in the 2nd round by the Minnesota Vikings (16th overall), but shocked the football world by signing with the AFL’s Chiefs. He started his Kansas City career as a defensive end, but Hank Stram moved him to linebacker after two seasons to exploit his amazing athleticism.
Bobby Bell was Lawrence Taylor before the New York Giant great "re-invented" the linebacker position.The fact is, Bobby Bell was Lawrence Taylor before the New York Giant great “re-invented” the linebacker position. Unfortunately, the sack was not an official statistic in Bobby Bell‘s day, but Chiefs records estimate he recorded 40 of them in his career—even though he played strong-side, rather than weak side, linebacker.
He was a terrific open-field tackler, could cover well enough to record 26 interceptions, and returned 9 for touchdowns. Bell qualified for 9 pro-bowls and 7 all-pro teams. Bobby Bell retired after the 1974 season.
He might have been the greatest player in team history.
Not bad for a seventh round pick.
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