The Kansas City Chiefs outlined on Apr. 21 their history of first-round draft selections, as the team prepares for the upcoming 2026 National Football League Draft with two picks in the opening round.
This overview is significant as it highlights how past first-round choices have shaped the team’s roster and contributed to its success over nearly six decades. The Chiefs currently hold the No. 9 and No. 29 overall selections in this year’s draft.
Since the implementation of a joint “common draft” between the American Football League and National Football League in 1967, which preceded their official merger in 1970, Kansas City has made fifty-five first-round picks. All of these players have appeared in games for the franchise. Fifteen of those selections played at least one hundred games with Kansas City, including notable names such as Tony Gonzalez (190), Derrick Johnson (182), John Alt (179), Tamba Hali (177), Derrick Thomas (169), Neil Smith (138), Art Still (136), Mike Bell (135), Jerome Woods (128), Patrick Mahomes (126), Dwayne Bowe (118), Eric Fisher (117), Bill Maas (116), Dale Carter (104) and Gary Green (100).
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, drafted tenth overall in 2017, is described as having “the greatest start for any quarterback in NFL history by several statistical measures.” Through his first one hundred twenty-six starts, Mahomes has set records for most passing touchdowns and yards during that span and led Kansas City to multiple conference title games and Super Bowl victories.
Recent years have seen offensive tackle Josh Simmons selected thirty-second overall last year; he played eight games during his rookie season after missing time but showed potential when available. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy was picked twenty-eighth overall in 2024 and has accumulated over thirteen hundred scrimmage yards with ten total touchdowns across thirty-one appearances. Defensive end George Karlaftis joined from Purdue at number thirty overall in 2022, tallying more than thirty sacks across sixty-five games so far.
Several Chiefs’ first-rounders became franchise leaders or Hall of Fame inductees: Derrick Thomas ranks among top sack leaders with his induction into Canton occurring in two thousand nine; Tony Gonzalez leads all tight ends historically for catches and receiving yards after being enshrined a decade later; Derrick Johnson holds Kansas City’s record for career tackles since being drafted eighteenth overall twenty-one years ago.
As preparations continue for this year’s draft event—a tradition now nearly sixty years old—the organization reflects on its drafting legacy while looking forward to adding new talent to its roster.
