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 days leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft, we're taking a look back at who the Kansas City Chiefs have selected in each round since the event's beginnings 53 years ago.
Here is what we've covered so far:
We'll continue with the second round, where the Chiefs currently own one pick in this year's draft (No. 63 overall). Kansas City selected wide receiver Mecole Hardman (No. 56 overall) and safety Juan Thornhill (No. 63 overall) in the second round last year.
As of now, these are the selections Kansas City currently has for the 2020 Draft:
No. 32 (Round 1)
No. 63 (Round 2)
No. 96 (Round 3)
No. 138 (Round 4)
No. 177 (Round 5)
And here's a look at who the Chiefs have drafted in the second round since 1967.
2019 | Pick No. 56 | Mecole Hardman | WR | Georgia
2019 | Pick No. 63 | Juan Thornhill | S | Virginia
2018 | Pick No. 46 | Breeland Speaks | LB | Mississippi
2017 | Pick No. 59 | Tanoh Kpassagnon | DE | Villanova
2016 | Pick No. 37 | Chris Jones | DT | Mississippi State
2015 | Pick No. 49 | Mitch Morse | G | Missouri
2012 | Pick No. 44 | Jeff Allen | T | Illinois
2011 | Pick No. 55 | Rodney Hudson | C | Florida State
2010 | Pick No. 50 | Javier Arenas | DB | Alabama
2010 | Pick No. 36 | Dexter McCluster | WR | Mississippi
2008 | Pick No. 35 | Brandon Flowers | DB | Virginia Tech
2007 | Pick No. 54 | Turk McBride | DT | Tennessee
2006 | Pick No. 54 | Bernard Pollard | DB | Purdue
2004 | Pick No. 61 | Kris Wilson | TE | Pittsburgh
2004 | Pick No. 36 | Junior Siavii | DT | Oregon
2003 | Pick No. 47 | Kawika Mitchell | LB | South Florida
2002 | Pick No. 43 | Eddie Freeman | DE | Alabama - Birmingham
2000 | Pick No. 54 | William Bartee | DB | Oklahoma
1999 | Pick No. 54 | Mike Cloud | RB | Boston College
1997 | Pick No. 47 | Kevin Lockett | WR | Kansas State
1996 | Pick No. 58 | Reggie Tongue | DB | Oregon State
1994 | Pick No. 58 | Donnell Bennett | RB | Miami (FL)
1992 | Pick No. 40 | Matt Blundin | QB | Virginia
1991 | Pick No. 50 | Joe Valerio | C | Pennsylvania
1990 | Pick No. 40 | Tim Grunhard | C | Notre Dame
1989 | Pick No. 2 | Mike Elkins | QB | Wake Forest
1987 | Pick No. 35 | Christian Okoye | RB | Azusa Pacific
1986 | Pick No. 35 | Dino Hackett | LB | Appalachian State
1985 | Pick No. 41 | Jonathan Hayes | TE | Iowa
1984 | Pick No. 34 | Scott Radecic | LB | Penn State
1983 | Pick No. 34 | Dave Lutz | T | Georgia Tech
1982 | Pick No. 46 | Calvin Daniels | LB | North Carolina
1981 | Pick No. 41 | Joe Delaney | RB | Northwestern State (LA)
1978 | Pick No. 29 | Sylvester Hicks | DE | Tennessee State
1977 | Pick No. 37 | Tony Reed | RB | Colorado
1976 | Pick No. 41 | Cliff Frazier | DT | UCLA
1975 | Pick No. 34 | Elmore Stephens | TE | Kentucky
1974 | Pick No. 41 | Charlie Getty | T | Penn State
1973 | Pick No. 27 | Gary Butler | TE | Rice
1971 | Pick No. 42 | Scott Lewis | DE | Grambling State
1971 | Pick No. 39 | Wilbur Young | DE | William Penn
1970 | Pick No. 52 | Clyde Werner | LB | Washington
1969 | Pick No. 48 | Ed Podolak | RB | Iowa
1968 | Pick No. 48 | Mike Livingston | QB | SMU
1967 | Pick No. 50 | Willie Lanier | LB | Morgan State
1967 | Pick No. 47 | Jim Lynch | LB | Notre Dame
Notes:
- Forty-three of Kansas City's 45 second-round picks since 1967 have gone on to suit up for the Chiefs.
- Hardman finished the 2019 campaign with six offensive touchdowns, tied for the second-most by a rookie or first-year player in franchise history. His 104-yard kickoff return touchdown in Week 17 was the longest in the NFL last season, and when combining his special teams' score with his six offensive touchdowns, Hardman averaged a ridiculous 55.9 yards on each of his seven total trips to the end zone. Additionally, Hardman averaged 20.7 yards-per-catch in 2019 to lead the NFL (among players with at least 20 catches).
- Thornhill recorded three interceptions in 2019, the second-most on the team behind fellow safety Tyrann Mathieu. He's just the 16th rookie in franchise history to start all 16 games through his first season as a professional, and his strong season earned him a spot on the Pro Football Focus All-Rookie Team following the year.
- The Chiefs took defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has racked up 24.5 sacks over the last two seasons, during the second round of the 2016 Draft.
- The Chiefs selected Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier in the second round (50th overall) of the 1967 Draft. Lanier played in 149 games for Kansas City, earning eight All-Pro selections and a spot in Canton in 1986.
- Seven of the Chiefs' second-round picks since 1967 went on to play in at least 100 games for Kansas City: center Tim Grunhard (169), linebacker Jim Lynch (151), Lanier (149), offensive tackle Dave Lutz (139), tight end Jonathan Hayes (136), offensive tackle Charlie Getty (119) and running back Ed Podolak (104).
- Though he only played in 23 games for the franchise before his untimely passing, running back Joe Delaney made his mark during his short time in Kansas City. Delaney rushed for 1,121 yards as a rookie after the Chiefs selected him in the second round of the 1981 Draft.
- Another tailback drafted in the second round to make an instant impact for Kansas City was Christian "The Nigerian Nightmare" Okoye, who rushed for 4,897 yards and 40 touchdowns over his six-year career with the Chiefs.
- Ten of Kansas City's second-round picks since 1967 have earned a Pro Bowl nod with the Chiefs: Hardman (2019), wide receiver Dexter McCluster (2010), cornerback Brandon Flowers (2008), center Tim Grunhard (1990), Okoye (1987), linebacker Dino Hackett (1986), Delaney (1981), quarterback Mike Livingston (1968), linebacker Jim Lynch (1967) and Lanier (1967).
