KC Chiefs: Ten Best Fourth Round Draft Picks of All-Time
By Bobby Miller
KC Chiefs Best Fourth Round Picks of All-Time | Number 2: Jared Allen
No list about KC Chiefs fourth round picks would be complete without mentioning Jared Allen.
Allen only played his first four seasons with the KC Chiefs after being selected in the 2004 NFL Draft. In his first three seasons, he recorded 27.5 sacks and 142 tackles and lead the league with six fumble recoveries in 2006.
In 2007, Allen’s numbers soared in his last season with the KC Chiefs.That year, Allen recorded a league best sack total of 15.5 along with 55 tackles and 10 pass deflections, and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
The next year, Allen was traded by the KC Chiefs to the Minnesota Vikings for picks that would be later used to select Jamaal Charles and Brandon Albert. Allen spent the next six years of his career in Minnesota where he was selected to his next four Pro Bowls in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012.
In his 2011 season with the Vikings, Allen recorded 22 sacks, which is the second highest single season total NFL history. Allen played his last season for the Vikings in 2013, which was the last season he would record more than 10 sacks.
In 2014, Allen left the Vikings and signed with the Bears. Allen’s statistical output dropped sharply that season, which is also the same year that Justin Houston tied his single season record of 22 sacks.
Allen’s play was never the same after leaving the Vikings. After playing as a member of the 2015 NFC Championship winning Panthers team, Allen announced his retirement this offseason. Over the course of his 12 year career, Allen totaled 498 tackles, 58 pass deflections, and 19 fumble recoveries. His career total of 136 sacks is 9th best in NFL history.
In addition, Allen is also one of three players in NFL history to record four safeties, and he also holds the NFL record for the most consecutive games with at least one sack with 11. There is no doubt that Allen will be a Hall of Famer one day, and there is certainly no doubt that he deserves to be ranked atop this list.
Although the prime of his career was spent with the Vikings, he will still be remembered as a great KC Chiefs player. Future KC Chiefs fourth round draft picks have their work cut out for them if they aim to knock Allen off one of top spots of this list.