Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking every first round pick in franchise history

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Todd Blackledge #14, 1983 first round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

RANKING EVERY FIRST ROUND PICK IN CHIEFS HISTORY

NUMBER 45 – TODD BLACKLEDGE

Arguably one of the biggest draft busts in Kansas City Chiefs history, Todd Blackledge was so bad that he scared the franchise away from drafting a first round quarterback until 2017 when they traded up to draft Patrick Mahomes.

The 1983 NFL Draft is widely regarded as one of the best quarterback classes ever. You’d think that meant drafting a quarterback in the first round that year would result in that guy being a star, but the Chiefs weren’t that lucky.

No, with the seventh overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Todd Blackledge out of Penn State. Blackledge spent five years in KC, throwing for 4,510 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions in 40 games. He went 13-11 as a starter.

Blackledge played for Pittsburgh for two years after he was done in KC, but was out of the league after the 1989 season. He belongs in the bottom ten (or close to it, at least) on this list for sure.

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