Kansas City Chiefs: Top five draft picks of the last decade

NUMBER 4

Eric Berry, Safety, Round 1, Pick 5, Tennessee, 2010

The first season under Scott Pioli and Todd Haley was rough. That year, 2009, the Chiefs went 4-12 and finished in the basement of the AFC West. The defense finished 29th in points allowed and 30th in yards allowed.

Fortunately, the Chiefs got the fifth overall pick in that year’s draft, and they smartly went defense, selecting Eric Berry out of Tennessee over of the likes of offensive tackles Russell Okung (sixth to Seattle) and Anthony Davis (11th to San Francisco). The Chiefs also avoided bust Rolando McClain, a fierce linebacker out of Alabama who went eighth overall to the Raiders.

Berry’s impact on the Chiefs defense was immediate and noticeable. In 2010, Kansas City went 10-6 as the defense improved to 11th in points allowed and 14th in yards allowed.

In four out of the five seasons in which Berry played at least 15 games, the Chiefs defense ranked in the top 11 in at least points allowed or yards allowed. In 2015, when he played 15 games, the unit ranked in the top ten in both categories, coming in third in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, is the fact that the Chiefs made the defense in those four seasons: 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2016.

The Chiefs would not be where they are today were it not for Berry, drafted almost a decade ago. He’s been an inspiration to the team and city not just on the field, but also off, as he battled (and defeated) cancer in 2014-2015, and showed perseverance in recovering from multiple injuries that cost him large chunks of seasons.

While he may not be done as a Chief, his time in Kansas City seems to be dwindling. This organization owes part of its relevance to Berry, though. He was part of a solid foundation awaiting Andy Reid when he arrived in 2013, and he’s been a key cog in three of Reid’s Chiefs playoff teams.