Heading towards draft day we take a look at the worst picks by the Kansas City Chiefs since Derrick Thomas was drafted in 1989.
The Kanas City Chiefs like all other teams have had some horrendous draft picks over the years. Some names like Ryan Sims and Tyson Jackson come immediately to mind. The jury is still out on most in the John Dorsey/Andy Reid era, but throughout the 90s and 2000s, there were definite misfires on draft day. We will take a look at the ten worst of those misfires and rank them based on these criteria:
1. Expectations prior to the draft.
2. Round in which they were drafted.
3. Impact of position on the football team.
4. Years in the league after being drafted even they moved on to another team.
5. 2012 will be the most recent year we can draw from.
6. We won't be ranking anything beyond round three as the expectations cannot be that high.
Everyone got it? Good, now let's dive into the sadness of the Kansas City Chiefs 10 worst draft picks since 1990.
10. Turk McBride (2007): 54th Overall
Turk McBride was selected by the Chiefs in Herm Edwards' second year as head coach. The Chiefs were trying to get a youth movement going as they had limped into the playoffs in 2006 with Dick Vermeil's tired roster. McBride was supposed to fill the void left by the terrible selections of Ryan Sims and Junior Siavii at defensive tackle. It didn't quite work out that way. McBride played in 16 games in his rookie season, accumulating 14 tackles and one sack. Okay, he could get better right?
He started 2008 fairly reliable before being injured midway through the season and would not play another game for Kansas City. During his nine starts, he failed to register a single sack or a pass deflection. It's safe to say that as a second round selection he should have been much more productive. After he was waived by Kansas City before the start of the 2009 season he played two fairly productive years in Detroit.
McBride finished his career a member of the Chicago Bears in 2013 after he ruptured his achilles in training camp. Over the six years he played he only accrued 9.5 sacks and 125 total tackles.
9. Junior Siavii (2004): 36th Overall
When you have one sack in a four-year career at defensive tackle, it is pretty easy to call you a bust. Siavii was part of an effort by Kansas City to boost its defense after five terrible defensive efforts under Dick Vermeil. The offense was stellar, the offensive line in particular was legendary — but the defense could not stop anyone from scoring.
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Why they even took the field sometimes is beyond me when they could have saved more time for the offense. The year Siavii was drafted immediately followed a famous playoff game with no punts. The Chiefs knew they needed defensive help.
Over his short career, Siavii never started a game in Kansas City. He filled in here and there, accumulating 15 tackles and his only sack while with the team. On the field, he looked like he really wasn't a fit for the Chiefs as he struggled to get a push into the backfield. He also struggled with knee injuries that limited his development.
After being released he had a similar season in Dallas before playing well in Seattle. For the Seahawks he started six games and recorded more tackles in that one season than the previous three combined. However, due to a bruised spinal cord he has not played football in the NFL since that season.
8. Jonathan Baldwin (2011): 26th Overall
Baldwin certainly looked the part coming out of Pittsburgh in 2011. The Chiefs needed help opposite Dwayne Bowe as their quarterback at the time wasn't one to elevate the talent on his team. At 6-4, 230 pounds Baldwin was supposed to be the Chiefs' red zone target and stretch the field vertically.
He could not beat out Steve Breaston for a starting job, which is red flag No. 1 as a first-round pick. Two highlights from his first season come to mind: his deep touchdown against San Diego and his catch around the back of a Broncos defender that didn't count because of holding.
Baldwin didn't fare much better the next year, despite having more starts. He still only caught one touchdown with 20 receptions over the course of the season. To be fair, he played with four different starting quarterbacks during that time.
In 2013 he was traded to San Francisco for another first round, wide receiver bust of the same draft. The trade didn't really work out for either team and Baldwin is currently a free agent. The Chiefs have not drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2011, and it doesn't look like they will this year either.
Oct 4, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet on the sidelines during a game of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
7. Percy Snow (1990): 13th Overall
Percy Snow is relatively low on this list due to his productive rookie season and an injury that was out of the hands of the Chiefs. Snow managed to get two sacks and an interception during his rookie season in 1990. His tackle totals are unknown as that stat was not available on NFL.com.
During the 1991 training camp, however, Snow was involved in an accident that placed him on IR for the entire season. Had he remained healthy, he was set to star with other great defenders like Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas. Due to the injury, head coach Marty Schottenheimer rode Snow a little harder and earned the ire of the young linebacker.
After returning from injury, Snow only started one game and did not register another stat for the remainder of his time with the Chiefs. After leaving Kansas City, Snow publicly criticized Schottenheimer while with the Chicago Bears. In just 10 games with his new team, Snow failed to impress and was out of the NFL the following year.
He tried to continue his career in the World League, but didn't make much of an impact. Even though no one could have predicted the injury, the Chiefs could have drafted Emmitt Smith instead.
6. Victor Riley (1998): 27th Overall
Victor Riley may remind some Chiefs' fans of Eric Fisher in that he was drafted in the first round, but didn't ever live up to the billing. Riley started for three seasons in Kansas City, not because he was particularly good, but because there really wasn't anyone else. John Tait manned the left side and the Chiefs were left with Riley until they could find a better fit.
He didn't play too poorly, but a look at the Chiefs' running game in 2000 suggests he didn't play too well either. They ranked 25th in the league and fullback Tony Richardson was the leading rusher. The Chiefs also failed to produce a 100-yard rusher in a game until Week 15.
As the coaching situation changed in 2001, Dick Vermeil shipped Riley to New Orleans in favor of more experienced Marcus Spears. This could have been due in part to his off the field issues at the time.
He played for three seasons with the Saints before finishing his career with the Houston Texans as a serviceable offensive lineman. The Chiefs were able to move on by putting Jon Tait at right tackle and nabbing arguably the best left tackle of all time in Willie Roaf to set up one of the best offensive lines in history.
5. Sylvester Morris (2000): 21st Overall
Another end to a promising career due to injuries, Morris never got a real shot in the NFL. He started off very well opposite Derrick Alexander, catching 48 passes for 678 yards and three touchdowns.
What most Chiefs' fans forget is that starting quarterback Elvis Grbac was actually good during the 2000 season. Morris helped Grbac earn a massive contract from Baltimore when the Chiefs cleaned house in 2001. Unfortunately for the talented wide receiver, 2000 would be the only time he would see action in the NFL.
Knees can be very detrimental to an athlete. Morris had done severe damage to both of his knees throughout his playing career. It could have been a bit of a red flag coming out of college, but some guys come back from knee injuries better than others. Often it isn't just a matter of repairing the ACL, but also what stress the rest of the knee goes through.
Much like this past season with Jamaal Charles, Morris could not get his knees to handle the stress that football places on one's body. He eventually gave up on the ridiculous number of surgeries and left the game following the 2003 season. Had Morris been able to stay healthy, then maybe some free agent cash could have been spent on the defensive side of the ball in the early 2000s.
Oct 4, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet on the sidelines during a game of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 36-21. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
4. Matt Blundin (1992): 40th Overall
The highest the Chiefs have drafted a quarterback since the infamous 1983 draft, Matt Blundin was supposed to be the leader of a very talented team. Had Blundin shown any true promise after his rookie season, the Chiefs may have never traded for Joe Montana.
It was commonly thought that all Kansas City needed was a healthy, NFL caliber quarterback and the mid 90s would not have been Dallas' dynasty. Alas, the traded for an aging and oft-injured star and got as far as the AFC Championship with Blundin on the sidelines.
In limited time for the Chiefs, Blundin completed two passes on eight attempts and an interception. All of those attempts came after his rookie year when he was learning from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He sat at third-string for his entire career and, after finally being released from the Chiefs, he joined the Detroit Lions in 1997.
His only pass attempt in Detroit was picked off and returned for a touchdown. This was a complete disaster pick by the Chiefs as Blundin had just one good season at Virginia before being drafted. Because of his size and his zero interception season in college, the Chiefs gambled and lost.
3. Tyson Jackson (2009): No. 3 Overall
Jackson is the highest drafted on this list, but he doesn't make No. 1 because he did find a role with the Chiefs defense for five seasons. The Chiefs were switching to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Romeo Crennell and wanted Jackson to showcase his talents. He finished his LSU career eighth in school history for sacks with 18.5.
That built some hype going into the draft, but the Chiefs soon found out that Jackson would struggle facing NFL offensive lines. His first three seasons in Kansas City were difficult for fans to watch. A pick at No. 3 overall is supposed to be franchise changing. Jackson was a backup at best.
In 2012 Jackson had his best season to date with three sacks, 43 combined tackles, and three pass deflections. He followed that with another solid campaign in 2013. This earned him a nice free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons where he started all 16 games the next season. His best years, however, would remain in Kansas City.
He never recorded another regular season sack and, after a 2016 season where he only started seven games, he was released by the Falcons this past March. He may yet sign with another team before training camp, but it is safe to say he will never live up to his draft status.
2. Trezelle Jenkins (1995): 31st Overall
Fittingly, there are no pictures available that feature Jenkins playing in a regular season game. He did play in the season opener of 1997 at Denver, which is where this photo was taken. When you are a first -ound draft pick and there are no photos of you playing, you're a bust.
Jenkins is the second tackle on this list selected by former general manager Carl Peterson in the first round. The Chiefs found some excellent guards and centers, but tackles were a bit more difficult. Jenkins was drafted to protect Steve Bono when the Chiefs were expected to regress following Joe Montana's departure. Instead, he rode the bench and the Chiefs went 13-3.
The next season, the Chiefs were picked by many to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl and their first-round tackle still could not get on the field. Finally in 1997, the Chiefs started Jenkins at the beginning of the season. It was clear he could not handle Neil Smith, who played for Denver and was soon traded to New Orleans.
He didn't participate in another regular season game for the remainder of his career. The sad cherry on top is, in 2000 he was drafted into the ill-fated XFL, but he didn't even make the team.
1. Ryan Sims (2002): No. 6 Overall
Ryan SIms is the quintessential draft bust in Kansas City. He remains synonymous with the worst defensive era in Chiefs history, producing only five sacks while a member of the team. He was heavily touted coming out of college, which may have been helped by his future Hall-of-Famer teammate at North Carolina, Julius Peppers.
Sims only played in six games as a rookie before taking over as a full time starter in 2003. That season was his most productive in his career in all major categories. Sims would start only 13 games the next season and five in 2005. By the time Herm Edwards took over as head coach, he would no longer be a starter in Kansas City.
Edwards seemed to recognize the lack of production from Sims immediately. Sims also struggled with teammates and coaches and his attitude led him to be traded to Tampa Bay following the 2006 season. For the Buccaneers, Sims started all of the 2009 season. He neared the tackle and sack totals from his 2003 season, but it wouldn't last.
Sims was cut following the 2010 season and never played another snap. He signed on with Seattle for training camp in 2011, but was cut before the season. Ryan Sims wasn't injury prone like many on this list. His lack of work ethic and his inability to get along with coaches and teammates make him the biggest bust since 1990.
