Backdraft: Kansas City Chiefs

BACKDRAFT SERIES: For 16 days leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft, we're rolling out capsule draft histories of each of the 32 NFL Teams.

 

 

Backdraft Series

Apr. 12 - Packers | Steelers

Apr. 13 - Bears | Jets

Apr. 14- Patriots | Falcons

Apr. 15- Ravens | Seahawks

Apr. 16- Saints | Eagles

Apr. 17- Colts | Chiefs

Apr. 18- Buccaneers | Giants

Apr. 19- Chargers | Raiders

Apr. 20- Jaguars | Dolphins

Apr. 21- Rams | Lions

Apr. 22- Vikings | Texans

Apr. 23- Redskins | Cowboys

Apr. 24- Titans | 49ers

Apr. 25- Browns | Cardinals

Apr. 26- Bengals | Bills

Apr. 27- Broncos | Panthers

2011 Draft Position:

• 21

 

First-Ever Draft Pick:

• Don Meredith, QB, Southern Methodist (1st Round, 1960) The AFL's first draft had a provision where each of the eight clubs one "territorial" or "bonus" pick. The Chiefs, then known as the Dallas Texans, selected Meredith. The SMU QB was also drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 3rd round, 32nd overall in the NFL Draft that year. He eventually signed with expansion Dallas Cowboys and spent nine seasons as the team's QB.

 

Most Recent Draft Pick:

• Cameron Sheffield, LB, Troy (5th round, 142nd overall, in 2010)
 
 

Hall of Famers Drafted:

• Buck Buchanan - 1st Round (1st overall) 1963 AFL Draft (Also drafted in 19th round - 265th overall - of 1963 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.)
• Bobby Bell - 7th Round (56th overall) 1963 AFL Draft (Also drafted in 2nd round - 16th overall - of 1963 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.)
• Roger Staubach – 16th round (122nd overall) as future pick, 1964 AFL Draft (Also drafted in 10th Round - 129th overall- by Dallas Cowboys in NFL Draft
• Gale Sayers – 1st Round, 1965 AFL Draft (Also drafted in 1st Round – 4th overall – by Chicago Bears in NFL Draft
• Jan Stenerud - 3rd Round of the 1966 AFL Red Shirt Draft
• Willie Lanier - 2nd Round (50th overall), 1967
• Derrick Thomas - 1st Round (4th overall), 1989

 

First Overall Pick in the NFL Draft:

• 1963 – Junious "Buck" Buchanan, DT, Grambling
 

Buck Buchanan	Willie Lanier	Derrick Thomas

Did you know?

One of the key elements of the Chiefs early success as a franchise came from the fact that owner Lamar Hunt and coach Hank Stram recruited players from predominantly black colleges, which up to that time had not really been scouted. Their strategy worked as is evidenced by such Chiefs who've earned bronze busts in Canton: Buck Buchanan (Grambling), Willie Lanier (Morgan State), and Emmitt Thomas (Bishop).

 

Quotable:

"I think he'll be able to adapt quickly to what we're trying to do here, the evolution of the 3-4 defense has brought it to a point where you take one linebacker and utilize him as rusher," shared Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer after Kansas City picked Derrick Thomas with the fourth overall pick in 1989. Thomas was the Butkus Award winner as college's top linebacker.

Creating havoc for the opposing quarterbacks is something that Thomas wasted no time in doing at the NFL level. A devastating pass rusher, who owns the NFL record for seven sacks in a game, was posthumously enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

For more on Thomas' prowess as a pass rusher, read our featured titled "Sack Machine."

 

Shop:

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Who in '11?

Post your comment with who you think the Chiefs should select in the first round on April 28. Why?