A system called the "common draft" was implemented for the AFL and NFL in 1967, creating a joint draft between the two leagues while establishing the precursor for what has become the marquee event of the offseason.
The two leagues merged in 1970, and the rest is history.
Over the last several weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, we've taken a look back at who the Kansas City Chiefs have selected in each round since the event's beginnings 59 years ago. Here's what we've covered so far:
We'll wrap up this series with the first round, where Kansas City currently owns the No. 9 and No. 29 overall picks in this year's draft.
As of now, these are the selections Kansas City currently has in the 2026 Draft:
Round 1: No. 9 overall
Round 1: No. 29 overall (via Los Angeles)
Round 2: No. 40 overall
Round 3: No. 74 overall
Round 4: No. 109 overall
Round 5: No. 148 overall
Round 5: No. 169 overall (via Los Angeles)
Round 5: No. 176 overall (Compensatory)
Round 6: No. 210 overall (via Los Angeles)
And here's a look at who the Chiefs have drafted in the first round since 1967:
2025 | Pick No. 32 | Josh Simmons | OT | Ohio State
2024 | Pick No. 28 | Xavier Worthy | WR | Texas
2023 | Pick No. 31 | Felix Anudike-Uzomah | DE | Kansas State
2022 | Pick No. 30 | George Karlaftis | DE | Purdue
2022 | Pick No. 21 | Trent McDuffie | CB | Washington
2020 | Pick No. 32 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | RB | LSU
2017 | Pick No. 10 | Patrick Mahomes | QB | Texas Tech
2015 | Pick No. 18 | Marcus Peters | CB | Washington
2014 | Pick No. 23 | Dee Ford | LB | Auburn
2013 | Pick No. 1 | Eric Fisher | T | Central Michigan
2012 | Pick No. 11 | Dontari Poe | DT | Memphis
2011 | Pick No. 26 | Jonathan Baldwin | WR | Pittsburgh
2010 | Pick No. 5 | Eric Berry | DB | Tennessee
2009 | Pick No. 3 | Tyson Jackson | DE | LSU
2008 | Pick No. 15 | Branden Albert | G | Virginia
2008 | Pick No. 5 | Glenn Dorsey | DT | LSU
2007 | Pick No. 23 | Dwayne Bowe | WR | LSU
2006 | Pick No. 20 | Tamba Hali | DE | Penn State
2005 | Pick No. 15 | Derrick Johnson | LB | Texas
2003 | Pick No. 27 | Larry Johnson | RB | Penn State
2002 | Pick No. 6 | Ryan Sims | DT | North Carolina
2000 | Pick No. 21 | Sylvester Morris | WR | Jackson State
1999 | Pick No. 14 | John Tait | T | BYU
1998 | Pick No. 27 | Victor Riley | T | Auburn
1997 | Pick No. 13 | Tony Gonzalez | TE | California
1996 | Pick No. 28 | Jerome Woods | DB | Memphis
1995 | Pick No. 31 | Trezelle Jenkins | T | Michigan
1994 | Pick No. 25 | Greg Hill | RB | Texas A&M
1992 | Pick No. 20 | Dale Carter | DB | Tennessee
1991 | Pick No. 21 | Harvey Williams | RB | LSU
1990 | Pick No. 13 | Percy Snow | LB | Michigan State
1989 | Pick No. 4 | Derrick Thomas | LB | Alabama
1988 | Pick No. 2 | Neil Smith | DE | Nebraska
1987 | Pick No. 19 | Paul Palmer | RB | Temple
1986 | Pick No. 7 | Brian Jozwiak | G | West Virginia
1985 | Pick No. 15 | Ethan Horton | TE | North Carolina
1984 | Pick No. 21 | John Alt | T | Iowa
1984 | Pick No. 5 | Bill Maas | NT | Pittsburgh
1983 | Pick No. 7 | Todd Blackledge | QB | Penn State
1982 | Pick No. 11 | Anthony Hancock | WR | Tennessee
1981 | Pick No. 14 | Willie Scott | TE | South Carolina
1980 | Pick No. 11 | Brad Budde | G | USC
1979 | Pick No. 23 | Steve Fuller | QB | Clemson
1979 | Pick No. 2 | Mike Bell | DE | Colorado State
1978 | Pick No. 2 | Art Still | DE | Kentucky
1977 | Pick No. 10 | Gary Green | DB | Baylor
1976 | Pick No. 14 | Rod Walters | G | Iowa
1974 | Pick No. 16 | Woody Green | RB | Arizona State
1972 | Pick No. 23 | Jeff Kinney | RB | Nebraska
1971 | Pick No. 16 | Elmo Wright | WR | Houston
1970 | Pick No. 26 | Sid Smith | C | USC
1969 | Pick No. 23 | Jim Marsalis | DB | Tennessee State
1968 | Pick No. 22 | George Daney | G | Texas - El Paso
1968 | Pick No. 19 | Mo Moorman | G | Texas A&M
1967 | Pick No. 24 | Gene Trosch | DE | Miami (FL)
Notes:
- All fifty-five of Kansas City's first-round picks since 1967 have gone on to suit up for the Chiefs.
- Fifteen of those 55 picks played in at least 100 games with Kansas City: tight end Tony Gonzalez (190), linebacker Derrick Johnson (182), offensive tackle John Alt (179), defensive end Tamba Hali (177), linebacker Derrick Thomas (169), defensive end Neil Smith (138), defensive end Art Still (136), defensive end Mike Bell (135), defensive back Jerome Woods (128), quarterback Patrick Mahomes (126), wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (118), offensive tackle Eric Fisher (117), nose tackle Bill Maas (116), defensive back Dale Carter (104) and defensive back Gary Green (100).
- Quarterback Patrick Mahomes - who Kansas City selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft - is off to the greatest start for any quarterback in NFL history by several statistical measures. Through 126 career starts, Mahomes has the most passing touchdowns (267) and passing yards (35,939) in NFL history. Mahomes has led the Chiefs to seven AFC title game appearances, five Super Bowls and three world titles during his time in Kansas City.
- The Chiefs drafted offensive tackle Josh Simmons in the first round (No. 32 overall) of last year's draft. Simmons missed some time due to various reasons in 2025, but in the eight games he played, the former Ohio State star flashed immense potential.
- Kansas City drafted wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Worthy has recorded 1,361 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns in 31 games with the Chiefs.
- Kansas City acquired defensive end George Karlaftis with the No. 30 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Karlaftis has appeared in 65 games for the Chiefs over the last four seasons, tallying 30.5 sacks.
- The Chiefs have a knack for drafting prolific pass rushers in the first round, as Derrick Thomas (126.5), Tamba Hali (89.5), Neil Smith (85.5) and Art Still (73.0) are four of the top six sack artists in franchise history. Thomas was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
- Tony Gonzalez, who has the most career catches (1,325) and receiving yards (15,127) by a tight end in NFL history, was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. He was the Chiefs' first-round selection in 1997.
- Linebacker Derrick Johnson – the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2005 – owns the franchise mark for the most tackles (1,262) in team history.
