A system called the "common draft" was implemented for the AFL and NFL in 1967, creating a joint draft between the two leagues and establishing the precursor for what has become the marquee event of the offseason.
The two leagues merged in 1970, and the rest is history.
In the weeks leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, we're looking back at who the Kansas City Chiefs have selected in each round since the event's beginnings 54 years ago.
Here's a look at what we've covered so far:
We'll continue with the fourth round, where Kansas City currently owns two selections (No. 136 and No. 144 overall) in the upcoming draft. The Chiefs selected defensive back L'Jarius Sneed in the fourth round (No. 138 overall) last year.
As of now, these are the selections Kansas City currently has for the 2021 Draft:
No. 31 (Round 1)
No. 63 (Round 2)
No. 94 (Round 3)
No. 136 (Round 4)
No. 144 (Round 4)
No. 175 (Round 5)
No. 181 (Round 5)
No. 207 (Round 6)
And here's a look at who the Chiefs have drafted in the fourth round since 1967:
2020 | Pick No. 138 | L'Jarius Sneed | DB | Louisiana Tech
2018 | Pick No. 124 | Armani Watts | S | Texas A&M
2017 | Pick No. 139 | Jehu Chesson | WR | Michigan
2016 | Pick No. 126 | Demarcus Robinson | WR | Florida
2016 | Pick No. 106 | Eric Murray | CB | Minnesota
2016 | Pick No. 105 | Parker Ehinger | G | Cincinnati
2015 | Pick No. 118 | Ramik Wilson | ILB | Georgia
2014 | Pick No. 124 | De'Anthony Thomas | RB | Oregon
2013 | Pick No. 99 | Nico Johnson | LB | Alabama
2012 | Pick No. 107 | Devon Wylie | WR | Fresno State
2011 | Pick No. 118 | Jalil Brown | DB | Colorado
2009 | Pick No. 102 | Donald Washington | DB | Ohio State
2008 | Pick No. 105 | Will Franklin | WR | Missouri
2005 | Pick No. 116 | Craphonso Thorpe | WR | Florida State
2004 | Pick No. 126 | Jared Allen | DE | Idaho State
2004 | Pick No. 105 | Samie Parker | WR | Oregon
2003 | Pick No. 113 | Brett Williams | T | Florida State
2002 | Pick No. 107 | Omar Easy | FB | Penn State
2001 | Pick No. 108 | George Layne | RB | TCU
2001 | Pick No. 107 | Monty Beisel | LB | Kansas State
2000 | Pick No. 115 | Frank Moreau | RB | Louisville
1999 | Pick No. 108 | Larry Parker | WR | USC
1998 | Pick No. 120 | Greg Favors | LB | Mississippi State
1997 | Pick No. 110 | Pat Barnes | QB | California
1996 | Pick No. 98 | Donnie Edwards | LB | UCLA
1995 | Pick No. 134 | Steve Stenstrom | QB | Stanford
1994 | Pick No. 127 | Bracy Walker | DB | North Carolina
1993 | Pick No. 103 | Jaime Fields | LB | Washington
1992 | Pick No. 101 | Mike Evans | DT | Michigan
1990 | Pick No. 96 | Fred Jones | WR | Grambling State
1989 | Pick No. 88 | Stan Petry | DB | TCU
1988 | Pick No. 96 | J.R. Ambrose | WR | Mississippi
1986 | Pick No. 90 | Chas Fox | WR | Furman
1986 | Pick No. 87 | Tom Baugh | C | Southern Illinois
1985 | Pick No. 99 | Bob Olderman | G | Virginia
1984 | Pick No. 90 | Mark Robinson | DB | Penn State
1983 | Pick No. 92 | Ron Wetzel | TE | Arizona State
1982 | Pick No. 104 | Stuart Anderson | LB | Virginia
1982 | Pick No. 100 | Louis Haynes | LB | North Texas
1981 | Pick No. 97 | Ron Washington | WR | Arizona State
1980 | Pick No. 94 | Dave Klug | LB | Concordia-Moorhead (MN)
1979 | Pick No. 85 | Frank Manumaleuga | LB | San Jose State
1978 | Pick No. 104 | Pete Woods | QB | Missouri
1978 | Pick No. 85 | Danny Johnson | LB | Tennessee State
1977 | Pick No. 104 | Eric Harris | DB | Memphis
1977 | Pick No. 95 | Darius Helton | G | North Carolina Central
1977 | Pick No. 94 | Tony Samuels | TE | Bethune-Cookman
1977 | Pick No. 92 | Mark Bailey | RB | Long Beach State
1974 | Pick No. 94 | Matt Herkenhoff | T | Minnesota
1973 | Pick No. 89 | John Lohmeyer | DT | Emporia State
1972 | Pick No. 97 | Andy Hamilton | WR | LSU
1971 | Pick No. 94 | David Robinson | TE | Jacksonville State
1969 | Pick No. 101 | Jack Rudnay | C | Northwestern
1968 | Pick No. 90 | Mickey McCarty | TE | TCU
1967 | Pick No. 104 | Ron Zwernemann | G | Texas A&M-Commerce
Notes:
- Forty-three of Kansas City's 55 fourth-round picks since 1967 went on to suit up for the Chiefs.
- Kansas City selected defensive back L'Jarius Sneed with the No. 138 overall selection in 2020, acquiring one of the top steals of the entire draft class. In fact, the folks at CBS Sports pegged Sneed as a top-10 pick in their re-draft of the 2020 class after he tallied seven passes defensed, three interceptions and two sacks last season.
- The Chiefs selected defensive end Jared Allen in the fourth round of the 2004 Draft, who blossomed into one of the league's top pass-rushers almost right away. In his four years with Kansas City from 2004-07, Allen led the NFL in tackles for loss (56), ranked second in sacks (43.0), fifth in quarterback hits (39) and sixth in forced fumbles (13). Allen was traded to the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2008 season, providing Kansas City with the selection that was used on tailback Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs' all-time leading rusher.
- Center Jack Rudnay played in the most games of any fourth-round pick in franchise history (178).
- In addition to Rudnay, linebacker Donnie Edwards (117) and offensive tackle Matt Herkenhoff (125) each played in at least 100 games for the Chiefs.
- The Chiefs have drafted more wide receivers (12) than any other position in the fourth round, doing so with two of their last four fourth-round picks (Jehu Chesson and Demarcus Robinson).
