The Kansas City Chiefs have a notable history of first-round draft picks, featuring stars like Patrick Mahomes and Tony Gonzalez. This strategy has been key to their success in building a championship-caliber team.
Key points
Chiefs have a notable history of first-round draft picks
Patrick Mahomes and Tony Gonzalez are highlighted selections
Draft strategy has been key to building a successful team
Recent drafts include stars like Travis Kelce and Chris Jones
Kansas City ChiefsPatrick MahomesTony GonzalezTravis Kelce
There are multiple ways to conjure up a winner in the NFL.
Some franchises build through the draft, wading through the ferns with savvy scouting departments and gleaming selections.
Others attempt to skip the queue entirely, relying on blockbuster signings to round out their rosters. These franchises look to turn their brand strength to attract the gridiron's biggest luminaries to their shores.
For all of their flourishes -- and gleaming contracts -- the Chiefs have primarily employed the former technique to create one of football's greatest-ever dynasties. Kansas City has lived in the draft in the past decade or so, turning prized pieces like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones into gemstones.
It hasn't always worked out for the Chiefs. In 2009, Kansas City selected Eric Fisher with the No. 5 pick in the draft, hoping to cement its pass rush for years to come. The LSU product proceeded to record nine sacks across five seasons with the Chiefs, failing to impress.
Still, Kansas City's hit rate is better than most, especially in the first round of the NFL draft. Here's a look back at their first-round draft history.
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Last time Chiefs had first-round pick
The last time Kansas City held a first-round pick was in 2024. Despite hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the Chiefs actually selected No. 28 in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Kansas City moved up four spots to secure the Texas alum, sending its first-round pick (No. 32 overall), third-round pick (No. 95 overall) and seventh-round pick (No. 221 overall) to land the speedy wideout.
Worthy has been a solid presence in the Chiefs' aerial attack in the years since his selection. He was Kansas City's second- and fourth-leading pass-catcher during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, respectively, combining to record 1,170 receiving yards and seven scores across the campaigns.
The Chiefs have bypassed the first round of the NFL draft more often than most franchises in recent years, using their selections to beef up trade proposals.
Still, Kansas City has collected a few notable players over the past decade, none more valuable to its setup than Mahomes.
Here's a look at the Chiefs' first-round selections since 2017.
2017: QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
Fresh off of a 12-4 record and divisional round appearance, Kansas City looked on the up-and-up heading into the 2017 NFL draft. With Alex Smith under center, the Chiefs had a reliable -- if somewhat underwhelming -- signal-caller to push them towards success.
Andy Reid's side didn't needanother quarterback. Mahomes was too good to pass up, however, blessed with an arm made from titan and dancing feet. Mahomes was college football's most effective hurler during his time at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' subpar record belied his impact, even as he turned records into rubble.
Kansas City was entranced, leaping inside the top-10 to select him. In hindsight, it was an inspired choice. Mahomes replaced Smith as starter in 2018. That same year, he picked up his first MVP award. Another one followed in 2022, as did three Lombardi Trophies and Super Bowl MVP awards. Mahomes is on pace to break every major statistical record in NFL history. And at just 30 years old, he still has plenty more to offer.
The No. 32 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Edwards-Helaire was expected to take command of Kansas City's backfield. The diminutive running back drew comparisons to Pro Bowl-level running backs across his time with the Tigers, dazzling with inch-perfect footwork and an assortment of feints and jinks to displace defenders.
Edwards-Helaire started his NFL career with a flourish, tallying 1,100 yards of total offense for the Super Bowl-bound Chiefs. His production tumbled as years went on, however, prompting Kansas City to release him partway through the 2024 season.
McDuffie starred with the Huskies, twice capturing All-Pac-12 honors. Considered one of the top defensive back prospects in the 2022 draft, McDuffie's body control, aggression and twitchiness made him a favorite of fans and scouts alike.
Like they did with Mahomes, the Chiefs orchestrated a deal to move up in the first round and take McDuffie, selecting him No. 21 overall.
McDuffie emerged a starter from his opening moments in Kansas City's practice facility. By his second season, he was a first-team All-Pro.
All told, McDuffie captured two Super Bowl titles during his time with the Chiefs. He was dealt to the Rams during the 2026 offseason, immediately securing the largest defensive back contract in league history upon his arrival.
The second of Kansas City's two first-round picks in 2022, Karlaftis was expected to be the next in an impressive lineage of Chiefs pass-rushers. A first-team All-American during his final year at Purdue, the Greek-born Karlaftis expected to hear his name called a little earlier than it did during the 2022 draft.
Ultimately, though, he landed with the Chiefs. He has gone from strength-to-strength in the years since his arrival, taking charge of Kansas City's pass rush alongside Chris Jones. Karlaftis ranks second in sacks (30.5), tackles for loss (34) and quarterback hits (79) on the Chiefs since 2022, only bested by Jones. In July 2025, he landed a four-year, $88 million contract extension. Of that total, $62 million is guaranteed. He is the 14th-highest-paid edge rusher in the league by average annual value (AAV).
One year after drafting Karlaftis, the Chiefs attempted to add another building block to their defensive line in the form of Anudike-Uzomah, a Kansas State alum.
Anudike-Uzomah emerged as one of the nation's top pass-rushers across his three years in Manhattan, earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors after tallying 11.0 sacks as a junior.
Kansas City selected Anudike-Uzomah with the second-to-last pick in the first round of the 2023 draft. His assortment of swim and rip-through move and harrowing length made him an enticing addition into Steve Spagnuolo's ranks.
Anudike-Uzomah has played sparingly in the years since his selection, failing to establish himself as a consistent threat in the pass rush. He tallied three sacks across his first two seasons. Anudike-Uzomah was ruled out of the 2025 campaign after suffering a severe hamstring injury in preseason.
Worthy was a polarizing talent during his draft cycle. On one hand, he possessed scorching speed, posting the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Combine history in 2024.
On the other, he was gaunt and inconsistent -- traits that rarely find a home on NFL rosters.
Ultimately, Worthy's speed and agility won out. The Chiefs moved up to select him, taking Worthy with the No. 28 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
The jury is still out on the former Longhorns star. Worthy's blazing speed can at times make him a nightmare assignment, particularly for lead-footed defenders. Still, his production has left a lot to be desired, with Worthy failing to eclipse 650 yards in either of his first two seasons.
Still in his early 20s, time is certainly on Worthy's side. But the Chiefs will be hoping for improved performances in the years to come.
