KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs have selected 785 players in their 57-year history. Here's a look at the best draft picks by position for the Chiefs:
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Roger Staubach, 16th round, 1964, Navy. It speaks to the Chiefs' sad history in drafting at this position that the best quarterback they've selected never played for them. Staubach, picked by the Chiefs when they were AFL members, was also drafted by the NFL's Cowboys. He joined the Cowboys after fulfilling the military obligations that followed his collegiate career and wound up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Running back: Jamaal Charles, third round, 2008, Texas. He's the Chiefs' all-time leading rusher, with 7,260 yards, and the NFL's all-time leader with a 5.5 yards per carry average. There's no telling how good Charles would have been if a torn left ACL in 2011 didn't cost him most of that season and a torn right ACL in 2015 didn't effectively end his Chiefs career. Kansas City released him recently.
Wide receiver: Otis Taylor, fourth round, 1964, Prairie View A&M. Taylor didn't have great stats by today's standards, but many of his former teammates attest to his greatness. Taylor delivered perhaps the biggest single play in Chiefs history. It happened in Super Bowl IV, when after catching a short pass on the right sideline, he slipped a tackle and ran for the touchdown that iced Kansas City's only championship.
Tight end: Tony Gonzalez, first round, 1997, California. Gonzalez was a prolific receiver with 1,325 catches (first among tight ends and second among all players) and 15,127 yards (first and fifth). But he also set a standard for what teams expect from their tight ends. After Gonzalez came along, tight ends were expected to be more than just blockers.
Tackle: John Alt, first round, 1984, Iowa. After a slow start, Alt became one of the NFL's best left tackles at a time when the passing game was taking off. Alt was selected for the Chiefs' Hall of Fame in 2002.
Guard: Will Shields, third round, 1993, Nebraska. Shields made the Pro Bowl in 12 of the 14 seasons he played for the Chiefs. He never missed a game in those 14 seasons, and his achievements were recognized in 2015, when he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Center: Jack Rudnay, fourth round, 1969, Northwestern. Rudnay was a four-time Pro Bowler. He was selected for the Chiefs' Hall of Fame in 1994.
DEFENSE
End: Jared Allen, fourth round, 2004, Idaho State. Allen played only four seasons for the Chiefs and led the NFL in sacks with 15.5 in 2007. He was then traded to the Minnesota Vikings, where he continued to flourish as one of the NFL's top pass-rushers. Including time spent with the Bears and Panthers at the end of his 12-year career, Allen stands 11th on the all-time career sacks list, with 136.
Tackle: Buck Buchanan, first round, 1963, Grambling. Buchanan was so dominant that he was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 following his 13-season career with the Chiefs. Buchanan had one of his best games in Super Bowl IV, when the Chiefs beat the Vikings for their only championship.
Linebacker: Derrick Thomas, first round, 1989, Alabama. The Chiefs have drafted some greats at this position, including eventual Pro Football Hall of Famers Bobby Bell (seventh round in 1963) and Willie Lanier (second round in 1967). The nod here goes to the late Thomas, who is 16th on the NFL’s all-time sacks list, with 126.5, and a Hall of Famer himself.
Cornerback: Albert Lewis, third round, 1983, Grambling State. A four-time Pro Bowler, Lewis was a true shutdown cornerback. Lewis was named to the Chiefs' Hall of Fame in 2007 after playing 11 seasons in Kansas City. He finished his career with five seasons with the Raiders.
Safety: Eric Berry, first round, 2010, Tennessee. Berry was selected to play in the Pro Bowl five times; he made it in every season he played at least 15 games. Berry had perhaps his best season in 2016, when he made a number of big plays to tip close games in Kansas City's favor. The Chiefs gave him a long-term contract in March and made him the highest-paid safety in league history.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Jan Stenerud, third round, 1966, Montana State. From his induction in 1994 to this year, when he was joined by Morten Andersen, Stenerud was the only place-kicker in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Stenerud, who helped popularize soccer-style kicking, made three field goals in Kansas City's only Super Bowl victory in 1970.
Punter: Jerrell Wilson, 11th round, 1963, Southern Mississippi. It's a tough call between Wilson and current Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt, who was drafted in the third round in 2005. The nod goes to Wilson for his 43.4-yard average over 15 seasons with the Chiefs. He punted for both of Kansas City's Super Bowl teams and is a member of the Chiefs' Hall of Fame.