Ranking the Chiefs Last 10 First-Round Picks, Worst to Best

The 2024 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away and the Chiefs have plenty of options with the No. 32 overall pick. Brett Veach and his staff have done a fantastic job identifying talent over the last few years, and Kansas City has a chance to re-solidify the core of the dynasty.

Kansas City has hit home runs in the first round, like trading up for three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes back in 2017, though there have been some misses as well (Hello, Jon Baldwin!).

We're going to discuss each of the Chiefs' last 10 first-round draft picks and rank them from worst to best. Note that this list is just first-round picks, so second-round guys like Chris Jones, Nick Bolton and Creed Humphrey won't be on it. Provided the Chiefs don't trade out of their pick, where will this year's selection rank among the others?

Ranking the Chiefs Last 10 First-Round Picks

10. Jonathan Baldwin, WR - 2011

This one should come as no surprise.

Baldwin is the last WR the Chiefs took in the first round, and I wonder if the ghost of failed draft picks past has somehow scared the organization off from even risking the same mistake. He lasted just two years in Kansas City, getting traded to San Francisco for A.J. Jenkins, but was out of the NFL after just seven games with the 49ers.

The No. 26 overall pick out of Pittsburgh had just 41 catches for 579 yards and two TDs with the Chiefs, being remembered as a cautionary tale throughout the fanbase of how quickly first-round picks can be proven a bust.

It was not a widely panned pick at the time. Baldwin had 2,337 receiving yards and 16 TDs over three seasons at Pittsburgh, averaging 18.3 yards per catch.

This draft wasn't a complete loss for the Chiefs though, as the organization found Justin Houston in the third round, one of the defining defensive players of the decade. That being said, let's hope Baldwin remains the worst draft pick of the last 10 years.

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9. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE - 2023

This is admittedly a bit unfair to Felix, who played only 218 snaps total in his rookie campaign due to the Chiefs' deep defensive line. I'm optimistic about the former Kansas State Wildcat's future, and he did notch a half-sack and forced fumble in just his second career game.

That being said, every first-round pick in the last 10 years outside of Baldwin has done more on the field to justify being ahead of Anudike-Uzomah. It could change quickly over the next few years, but Anudike-Uzomah has to be here based on professional accomplishments alone.

He ended the season with just 14 total tackles and was always viewed as more of a long-term project than an immediate contributor. With Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu and other established veterans in the mix, Anudike-Uzomah is still developing and will likely find playing time hard to come by in 2024 as well.

Even in limited snaps, you can see why Brett Veach took the pass rusher in the first round and can envision a bright future. There is a legitimate case to be made that you shouldn't spend a first-round selection on a player you don't think will see the field for two years, but Anudike-Uzomah can make the choice justified by taking advantage of his immense promise.

He had 19.5 sacks in his final two years at Kansas State, and I have a feeling we'll see him flash that talent more this year before becoming a full-time starter after Omenihu's deal is up.

8. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB - 2020

Things have worked out for Edwards-Helaire and he'll be fondly remembered no matter what happens for the rest of his career. He'll return on a one-year deal for a potential three-peat, though it took a long time for the fanbase to finally appreciate what he brings to the Chiefs.

Edwards-Helaire was famously Brett Veach's first ever draft pick in the first round. He had an impressive rookie campaign with 1,100 yards from scrimmage and five TDs in only 13 games, though injuries preventing him from getting going in future years while other members of his draft class shined.

Jonathan Taylor, Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, D'Andre Swift and numerous other offensive weapons were selected after Edwards-Helaire, so he was considered a huge whiff, especially after Isiah Pacheco took his job despite being drafted in the seventh round in 2022.

He's likely primarily a backup moving forward, but Edwards-Helaire has proven he has a place in the league. The former LSU star isn't one of the best running backs in the NFL or worthy of the first-round pick, but he's still a valuable piece for a contender.

I'm happy to see Edwards-Helaire regain love in the public eye and I'm hoeful we see the best version of him yet in 2024-25.

7. Dee Ford, DE - 2014

Dee Ford started slowly but became one of the NFL's most productive pass rushers near the end of his rookie deal. He had two double-digit sack seasons before being traded to the 49ers, though he hasn't played in the NFL since 2021 following back injuries and limited production and is not currently on an NFL roster.

Perhaps Ford will most be remembered in Kansas City for his ill-fated offsides penalty on a Tom Brady interception that would've ended the AFC Championship game back in 2018. He never played another game with the Chiefs, and the organization ultimately used the compensation from trading him to help acquire Frank Clark and draft Willie Gay Jr.

Those two players helped win Super Bowls, so Ford will be remembered more for a mistake and his contributions to getting other players than his time on the field. He was a quality player in stretches but left the franchise right before the Lombardi Trophies started flowing.

Assuming we've seen the last of him in the NFL, Ford ends his career with 159 tackles, 40 sacks, and 12 force fumbles over eight seasons.

His best year came in that 2018 campaign, when Ford recorded 55 tackles, 13 sacks, a league-leading seven forced fumbles. Ford was a quality defender and worthy of his first-round pedigree, though it's unfortunate he didn't get to experience a Super Bowl with Kansas City.

6. Dontari Poe, DT - 2012

The No. 11 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft out of Memphis, Poe was a behemoth in the middle of the defensive and ultimately played nine years in the league, five of which came with the Chiefs. You can make a reasonable argument that he should be higher on this list, but I downgraded him a bit for only spending five years in Kansas City.

What a fun five years they were though. A two-time Pro Bowler, Poe was named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2013, notching a career-high 51 tackles with 4.5 sacks and four deflected passes.

He would join Atlanta for a season after leaving the Chiefs, spent two years with Carolina then concluded his career in Dallas. Poe even threw and caught a TD pass with the Chiefs, giving fans a beloved highlight to remember him by.

Poe never quite reached the ceilings he did with the Chiefs after he moved on, though he was still a fearsome run stopper and one of the better defensive tackles in the league.

While he left before this golden era, Poe was one of the last great Chiefs before Patrick Mahomes changed the course of the franchise forever.

5. Marcus Peters, CB - 2015

Peters also gets docked for longevity, having spent only three years with the Chiefs before being traded to the Rams, but what an impressive three years it was on the field. I won't argue much if you prefer Poe over Peters, though I'd argue the corner's peak was more special as he quickly established himself as one of the premier defenders in the NFL.

He was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2015 while being named a Second-Team All-Pro, notching 60 tackles, a league-leading 26 deflected passes and eight interceptions, and even scoring two TDs. Peters earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2016 with another six interceptions.

While Peters had an unceremonious exit from Kansas City following behavioral issues, he was named a First-Team All-Pro again in 2019 and played in the 2018 Super Bowl with the Rams, ultimately losing to New England 13-3.

He's currently a free agent, though Peters has spent time with the Rams, Ravens, and Raiders since exiting the Chiefs. With 33 career interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and eight total TDs, he's one of the better cornerbacks of the era despite the occasional off-field controversy.

For a 23rd-overall pick, getting two All-Pro selections and a Rookie of the Year award is good work even if things didn't work out in the end.

4. Eric Fisher, LT - 2013

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft was panned early in his career and never made an All-Pro team, but Eric Fisher became a symbol of consistency and helped hold down the left side of the offensive line for eight years in Kansas City.

Widely regarded as the worst draft class of the last decade-plus, the 2013 class didn't leave the Chiefs with many options. That Fisher turned into a two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion is a testament to his hard work and he'll be fondly remembered in Chiefs Kingdom for helping transform the team into a champion.

Fisher was never the league's best offensive tackle and compares unfavorably to No. 1 overall picks over the years. However, he became what the organization needed him to be and earned a ring for his efforts.

He would play one season with the Colts before retiring, and he even caught a TD pass himself in 2020 after blocking for so many over the years.

Given the available options at the time, even hindsight looks favorably upon Fisher's selection in the end. After all, Super Bowls are what matter and he's got one.

3. George Karlaftis, DE - 2022

These next two spots require some projection, but I think it's safe to say that George Karlaftis was a home-run pick at No. 30. He's played in the NFL for two years and has two Super Bowl wins, breaking out in 2023 with 47 tackles and 10.5 sacks to help give the Chiefs the league's best defense.

Alongside Chris Jones, Charles Omenihu, Mike Danna and (hopefully) Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Karlaftis is part of perhaps the most ferocious defensive line in football and certainly one of its most accomplished. He had 6.5 sacks in his rookie campaign with two fumble recoveries, though the huge step he took his second year implies his best days have yet to come.

Believe it or not, Karlaftis is already tied for the fourth-most playoff sacks in Chiefs history with four. He had three in the playoffs this year with two fumble recoveries, routinely blowing up plays behind the line of scrimmage and harassing a bevy of talented QBs.

Furious George is in line for a monster payday after this next season, and I imagine Brett Veach will do everything in his power to keep the former Penn State star in Chiefs red for years to come.

For now, Karlaftis is one of the most promising young defenders in the NFL and helps form a masterclass 2022 rookie group alongside the next player on this list.

2. Trent McDuffie, CB - 2022

Cornerback and defensive end are widely regarded as the two most important defensive positions and league-wide salaries reflect that. Brett Veach getting two foundational pieces in the same draft at those positions is one of the best accomplishments by any GM over the last few years and is a large reason why the Chiefs have two straight Super Bowls.

Veach gets extra points for this pick too, since he traded up in front of the Buffalo Bills to pull it off. Trent McDuffie officially became a star in 2023, earning First-Team All-Pro honors for his efforts. He had 80 tackles, seven deflected passes, five forced fumbles and three sacks while becoming one of the NFL's best defenders.

It's no secret that the Chiefs churn out cornerbacks like Burger King churns out Whoppers, but McDuffie is Veach and Steve Spagnuolo's magnum opus.

McDuffie feels destined to become a household name and will be thrust into a larger spotlight with L'Jarius Sneed no longer on the team. He's the new leader of the secondary despite being in just his third year, though I believe the Washington product is ready for the challenge.

With McDuffie, Joshua Williams, Jaylen Watson, and Nazeeh Johnson manning the cornerback room, the Chiefs are in great shape. Whether or not the defense can maintain it's stellar heights of 2023-24 will largely depend on McDuffie's continued development, but he's clearly a slam-dunk pick in the first round.

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB - 2017

I mean, duh.

Patrick Mahomes is already the greatest Chiefs player to ever live and would be a Hall of Famer if he retired today. Few players in NFL history have much such an immediately profound and meaningful impact on the NFL, and the 2017 No. 10 overall pick has already cemented himself as an NFL legend no matter what happens for the rest of his career.

The six-time Pro Bowler has two MVPs, three Super Bowl MVPs, a 74-22 record, 28,424 passing yards, 231 career TDs and just 63 interceptions. Kansas City will compete for Super Bowls for the next decade solely because of Mahomes' brilliance, though the organization's other impressive draft picks help quite a bit too.

He has invigorated Chiefs Kingdom and delivered Kansas City a legitimate dynasty. It's impossible to overstate his impact on the city, a remarkable fact given Mahomes is just 28 years old.

At this point, Mahomes is chasing only Tom Brady on the all-time QB pantheon. If you could draft any QB in the history of the league for one game, most fans would take Mahomes. He's the face of the league and the face of a city and he's just getting started.

Patrick Mahomes is the greatest draft pick in Chiefs history, so it's only right to end this list celebrating the man who authored three Super Bowl wins in his first six seasons as a starter.

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