KC Chiefs: 15 Best Second Round Draft Picks of All-Time

A detail of Kansas City Chiefs helmets (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
A detail of Kansas City Chiefs helmets (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Willie Lanier #63 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Willie Lanier #63 of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Best Second Round Picks of All-Time – Number 1: Willie Lanier (Chiefs linebacker from 1967-1977)

Was there any doubt on this one?

More from Chiefs All-Time Lists

Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch came out of the same draft and in the same round. Lanier was actually taken three picks behind Lynch though, making him the Chiefs’ 50th overall pick in the 1967 AFL Draft.

Lanier, or “Contact” as he was often referred to during his time in the pros, spent 11 seasons as a member of the KC Chiefs and racked up a lot of awards during that time, including six Pro Bowls (1970-1975), two AFL All-Star Awards (1968, 1969), eight-time All-Pro (1968-1975), and NFL Man of the Year (1972). He was on the Super Bowl IV championship team.

Lanier had his jersey retired by the Chiefs (63) and made it into the team’s Hall of Fame in 1985. He made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

He recorded 27 interceptions during his 11 years with the Chiefs and never played for another football team in the pros. Lanier is not only the best second round pick for Kansas City, but he’s one of their greatest players ever, coming in at number four on KC Kingdom’s all-time Chiefs list.

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