The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the most successful teams in NFL history. Dating back to their AFL days in the 60s, the team has always had exceptional talent on their roster.
Like every other team, the franchise has had their fair share of draft-day misses; however, they've also been one of the best teams at selecting hidden talent in the later rounds of the draft.
5. Willie Lanier
Coming out of Morgan State, Lanier wasn't exactly considered a top prospect during the 1967 draft. That is why the Hall of Fame linebacker wouldn't be selected until pick No. 50.
Lanier was an instant impact player for Kansas City. In fact, in his first nine seasons with the Chiefs, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound linebacker was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and made the All-Pro First Team three times.
4. Jared Allen
If Allen had played longer for the Chiefs, he'd have a good chance to be the top player on the list. Nonetheless, although he only spent four seasons in Kansas City, Allen's impact was impressive considering he was the 126th pick of the 2004 draft.
The Idaho State product had his best season as a Chief in 2007 when he recorded 65 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, a league-high 15.5 sacks and 11 passes defended.
One of the best pass rushers of his era, Allen contributed 43 sacks in only four seasons as a Chief.
3. Travis Kelce
Arguably the best tight end in the game today, Kelce still has plenty of years left to climb up this list. Regardless, his resume through seven seasons already speaks for itself.
A 2013 third-round pick out of Cincinnati, Kelce has already been named to five Pro Bowls and has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past four seasons. The 6-foot-5 tight end was also named First-Team All-Pro in 2016 and 2018.
2. Will Shields
A third-round pick (74th overall) out of Nebraska, Shields was an integral part of the Chiefs' success in the 90s and early 2000s. Despite being a consensus All-American as a Cornhusker, Shields wasn't seen as an elite offensive lineman prospect.
The 315-pound guard continued his collegiate success in the pros and his 12 Pro Bowl selections are the most in franchise history. Leading the way for stars like Marcus Allen and Priest Holmes, Shields was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
1. Bobby Bell
At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds with a reported 4.5 forty-yard dash speed (along with a collegiate career at Minnesota that saw him finish third in the 1962 Heisman race), it really doesn't make sense that Bell wasn't a top prospect coming into the league.
Regardless, the Chiefs were able to select the star linebacker in the seventh round of the 1963 AFL draft with pick No. 56.
Bell was a strong pass rusher and elite coverage linebacker. Despite sacks not officially being recorded during his career, Bell supposedly recorded 40 sacks as a left linebacker. He also racked up an impressive 26 career interceptions, and his six career pick-sixes are tied with Derrick Brooks for most by a linebacker.
Nine Pro Bowl selections and six First-Team All-Pro honors in 12 seasons with Kansas City are far more than you'd expect from a seventh-round pick.
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