A system called the "common draft" was implemented for the AFL and NFL in 1967, creating a joint draft between the two leagues and establishing the precursor for what has become the marquee event of the offseason.
The two leagues merged in 1970, and the rest is history.
In the days and weeks leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, we're looking back at who the Kansas City Chiefs have selected in each round since the event's beginnings 54 years ago.
Here's a look at what we've covered so far:
We'll continue with the second round, where Kansas City currently owns two selections (No. 58 and No. 63) in the upcoming draft. The Chiefs selected linebacker Willie Gay Jr. in the second round (No. 63 overall) last year..
As of now, these are the selections Kansas City currently has for the 2021 Draft:
No. 58 (Round 2 – From Baltimore)
No. 63 (Round 2)
No. 144 (Round 4)
No. 175 (Round 5)
No. 181 (Round 5)
No. 207 (Round 6)
And here's a look at who the Chiefs have drafted in the second round since 1967:
2020 | Pick No. 63 | Willie Gay Jr. | LB | Mississippi State
2019 | Pick No. 56 | Mecole Hardman | WR | Georgia
2019 | Pick No. 63 | Juan Thornhill | S | Virginia
2018 | Pick No. 46 | Breeland Speaks | LB | Mississippi
2017 | Pick No. 59 | Tanoh Kpassagnon | DE | Villanova
2016 | Pick No. 37 | Chris Jones | DT | Mississippi State
2015 | Pick No. 49 | Mitch Morse | G | Missouri
2012 | Pick No. 44 | Jeff Allen | T | Illinois
2011 | Pick No. 55 | Rodney Hudson | C | Florida State
2010 | Pick No. 50 | Javier Arenas | DB | Alabama
2010 | Pick No. 36 | Dexter McCluster | WR | Mississippi
2008 | Pick No. 35 | Brandon Flowers | DB | Virginia Tech
2007 | Pick No. 54 | Turk McBride | DT | Tennessee
2006 | Pick No. 54 | Bernard Pollard | DB | Purdue
2004 | Pick No. 61 | Kris Wilson | TE | Pittsburgh
2004 | Pick No. 36 | Junior Siavii | DT | Oregon
2003 | Pick No. 47 | Kawika Mitchell | LB | South Florida
2002 | Pick No. 43 | Eddie Freeman | DE | Alabama - Birmingham
2000 | Pick No. 54 | William Bartee | DB | Oklahoma
1999 | Pick No. 54 | Mike Cloud | RB | Boston College
1997 | Pick No. 47 | Kevin Lockett | WR | Kansas State
1996 | Pick No. 58 | Reggie Tongue | DB | Oregon State
1994 | Pick No. 58 | Donnell Bennett | RB | Miami (FL)
1992 | Pick No. 40 | Matt Blundin | QB | Virginia
1991 | Pick No. 50 | Joe Valerio | C | Pennsylvania
1990 | Pick No. 40 | Tim Grunhard | C | Notre Dame
1989 | Pick No. 2 | Mike Elkins | QB | Wake Forest
1987 | Pick No. 35 | Christian Okoye | RB | Azusa Pacific
1986 | Pick No. 35 | Dino Hackett | LB | Appalachian State
1985 | Pick No. 41 | Jonathan Hayes | TE | Iowa
1984 | Pick No. 34 | Scott Radecic | LB | Penn State
1983 | Pick No. 34 | Dave Lutz | T | Georgia Tech
1982 | Pick No. 46 | Calvin Daniels | LB | North Carolina
1981 | Pick No. 41 | Joe Delaney | RB | Northwestern State (LA)
1978 | Pick No. 29 | Sylvester Hicks | DE | Tennessee State
1977 | Pick No. 37 | Tony Reed | RB | Colorado
1976 | Pick No. 41 | Cliff Frazier | DT | UCLA
1975 | Pick No. 34 | Elmore Stephens | TE | Kentucky
1974 | Pick No. 41 | Charlie Getty | T | Penn State
1973 | Pick No. 27 | Gary Butler | TE | Rice
1971 | Pick No. 42 | Scott Lewis | DE | Grambling State
1971 | Pick No. 39 | Wilbur Young | DE | William Penn
1970 | Pick No. 52 | Clyde Werner | LB | Washington
1969 | Pick No. 48 | Ed Podolak | RB | Iowa
1968 | Pick No. 48 | Mike Livingston | QB | SMU
1967 | Pick No. 50 | Willie Lanier | LB | Morgan State
1967 | Pick No. 47 | Jim Lynch | LB | Notre Dame
Notes:
- Forty-four of Kansas City's 46 second-round picks since 1967 have gone on to suit up for the Chiefs.
- Hardman has hauled in 67 catches for 1,098 yards and 10 touchdowns during his two seasons in Kansas City, averaging 16.4 yards-per-reception. He's tallied at least 500 receiving yards and four scores in each of his first two seasons as a professional.
- Thornhill recorded three interceptions in 2019 - the second-most on the team behind fellow safety Tyrann Mathieu – before suffering an ACL tear in Week 17 of that season. Despite the injury, however, Thornhill was back on the field for Week 1 of the 2020 campaign and went on to appear in all 16 games, tallying three passes defensed and an interception.
- The Chiefs took defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has racked up 32 sacks over the last three seasons, during the second round of the 2016 Draft.
- The Chiefs selected Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier in the second round (50th overall) of the 1967 Draft. Lanier played in 149 games for Kansas City, earning eight All-Pro selections and a spot in Canton in 1986.
- Seven of the Chiefs' second-round picks since 1967 went on to play in at least 100 games for Kansas City: center Tim Grunhard (169), linebacker Jim Lynch (151), Lanier (149), offensive tackle Dave Lutz (139), tight end Jonathan Hayes (136), offensive tackle Charlie Getty (119) and running back Ed Podolak (104).
- Though he only played in 23 games for the franchise before his tragic passing, running back Joe Delaney made his mark during his short time in Kansas City. Delaney rushed for 1,121 yards as a rookie after the Chiefs selected him in the second round of the 1981 Draft.
- Another tailback drafted in the second round to make an instant impact for Kansas City was Christian "The Nigerian Nightmare" Okoye, who rushed for 4,897 yards and 40 touchdowns over his six-year career with the Chiefs.
- Eleven of Kansas City's second-round picks since 1967 have earned a Pro Bowl nod with the Chiefs: Hardman (2019), Jones (2016), wide receiver Dexter McCluster (2010), cornerback Brandon Flowers (2008), center Tim Grunhard (1990), Okoye (1987), linebacker Dino Hackett (1986), Delaney (1981), quarterback Mike Livingston (1968), linebacker Jim Lynch (1967) and Lanier (1967).
