Chiefs’ Roster Building Supremacy: Kansas City Ranks Higher Than All Remaining Playoff Teams in Key Strategy
One reason why the Kansas City Chiefs have been so successful over the past decade has been their ability to draft well.
Sure, there have been some misses, but that goes for all teams. The NFL Draft is an inexact science, but overall the Chiefs have done a great job identifying talent that fits within their system and culture.
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap took to X to point out that the Chiefs rank sixth in the NFL in homegrown players (drafted players), which is the highest among all four remaining playoff teams.
The Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles don’t trail too far behind Kansas City in that category, but the Washington Commanders appear to be the exception at 27th. It has largely been proven that building through the draft is the best way to construct a roster, especially since the NFL adopted a salary cap back in 1994.
Of the Chiefs’ 22 starters on both offense and defense (per their official depth chart), 16 of them were either drafted or signed with K.C. as an undrafted free agent. Let’s take a look at those players.
- QB Patrick Mahomes- First round
- RB Isiah Pacheco – Seventh round
- TE Travis Kelce- Third round
- WR Xavier Worthy- First round
- LG Mike Caliendo- UDFA
- C Creed Humphrey-Second round
- RB Trey Smith- Sixth round
- DE George Karlaftis- First round
- DE Mike Danna- Fifth round
- DT Chris Jones- Second round
- DT Tershawn Wharton- UDFA
- LB Nick Bolton- Second round
- LB Leo Chenal- Third round
- S Bryan Cook- Second round
- CB Trent McDuffie- First round
- CB Jaylen Watson- Seventh round
Other key contributors who were drafted by K.C. include safeties Chamarri Conner and Jaden Hicks, DT Derrick Nnadi, TE Noah Gray, and RB Kareem Hunt.
That is a huge testament to the Chiefs’ scouting department, coach Andy Reid, general manager Brett Veach, former assistant GM Mike Borgonzi, and former GM John Dorsey.
If the Chiefs can continue to draft that well, they are going to remain one of the top franchises in the league for many more years to come, much to the chagrin of opposing fanbases.
