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 third round, where the Chiefs currently own one pick in this year's draft (No. 96 overall). Kansas City selected defensive tackle Khalen Saunders in the third 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 third round since 1967.
2019 | Pick No. 84 | Khalen Saunders | DT | Western Illinois
2018 | Pick No. 100 | Dorian O'Daniel | LB | Clemson
2018 | Pick No. 75 | Derrick Nnadi | DT | Florida State
2017 | Pick No. 86 | Kareem Hunt | RB | Toledo
2016 | Pick No. 74 | KeiVarae Russell | CB | Notre Dame
2015 | Pick No. 98 | Steven Nelson | CB | Oregon State
2015 | Pick No. 76 | Chris Conley | WR | Georgia
2014 | Pick No. 87 | Phillip Gaines | DB | Rice
2013 | Pick No. 96 | Knile Davis | RB | Arkansas
2013 | Pick No. 63 | Travis Kelce | TE | Cincinnati
2012 | Pick No. 74 | Donald Stephenson | T | Oklahoma
2011 | Pick No. 86 | Allen Bailey | DE | Miami (FL)
2011 | Pick No. 70 | Justin Houston | LB | Georgia
2010 | Pick No. 93 | Tony Moeaki | TE | Iowa
2010 | Pick No. 68 | Jon Asamoah | G | Illinois
2009 | Pick No. 67 | Alex Magee | DE | Purdue
2008 | Pick No. 82 | DaJuan Morgan | DB | North Carolina State
2008 | Pick No. 76 | Brad Cottam | TE | Tennessee
2008 | Pick No. 73 | Jamaal Charles | RB | Texas
2007 | Pick No. 82 | Tank Tyler | DT | North Carolina State
2006 | Pick No. 85 | Brodie Croyle | QB | Alabama
2005 | Pick No. 99 | Dustin Colquitt | P | Tennessee
2004 | Pick No. 93 | Keyaron Fox | LB | Georgia Tech
2003 | Pick No. 92 | Julian Battle | DB | Tennessee
2001 | Pick No. 77 | Snoop Minnis | WR | Florida State
2001 | Pick No. 75 | Eric Downing | DT | Syracuse
2000 | Pick No. 85 | Greg Wesley | DB | Arkansas - Pine Bluff
1999 | Pick No. 84 | Larry Atkins | LB | UCLA
1999 | Pick No. 75 | Gary Stills | DE | West Virginia
1998 | Pick No. 88 | Rashaan Shehee | RB | Washington
1996 | Pick No. 68 | John Browning | DT | West Virginia
1995 | Pick No. 97 | Troy Dumas | LB | Nebraska
1995 | Pick No. 81 | Tamarick Vanover | WR | Florida State
1994 | Pick No. 96 | Chris Penn | WR | Tulsa
1994 | Pick No. 92 | Lake Dawson | WR | Notre Dame
1993 | Pick No. 74 | Will Shields | G | Nebraska
1991 | Pick No. 77 | Tim Barnett | WR | Jackson State
1989 | Pick No. 60 | Naz Worthen | WR | North Carolina State
1988 | Pick No. 59 | Kevin Porter | DB | Auburn
1987 | Pick No. 73 | Todd Howard | LB | Texas A&M
1986 | Pick No. 63 | Leonard Griffin | DE | Grambling State
1984 | Pick No. 61 | Herman Heard | RB | Colorado State - Pueblo
1983 | Pick No. 61 | Albert Lewis | DB | Grambling State
1981 | Pick No. 78 | Lloyd Burruss | DB | Maryland
1981 | Pick No. 75 | Roger Taylor | T | Oklahoma State
1981 | Pick No. 70 | Marvin Harvey | TE | Southern Miss
1980 | Pick No. 66 | James Hadnot | RB | Texas Tech
1978 | Pick No. 58 | Gary Spani | LB | Kansas State
1977 | Pick No. 67 | Tom Howard | LB | Texas Tech
1976 | Pick No. 79 | Henry Marshall | WR | Missouri
1976 | Pick No. 74 | Gary Barbaro | DB | Nicholls State
1976 | Pick No. 63 | Keith Simons | DT | Minnesota
1975 | Pick No. 59 | Cornelius Walker | DT | Rice
1974 | Pick No. 66 | David Jaynes | QB | Kansas
1973 | Pick No. 72 | Paul Krause | T | Central Michigan
1970 | Pick No. 78 | David Hadley | DB | Alcorn State
1970 | Pick No. 61 | Billy Bob Barnett | DE | Texas A&M
1969 | Pick No. 76 | Morris Stroud | TE | Clark (GA)
1967 | Pick No. 77 | Billy Masters | TE | LSU
- Fifty-four of Kansas City's 58 third-round picks since 1967 have gone on to suit up for the Chiefs, playing in a combined 3,403 total contests.
- The Chiefs have found a tremendous amount of success in the third round over the years, selecting All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce (2013), the franchise's all-time leading rusher in Jamaal Charles (2008), two-time Pro Bowl punter Dustin Colquitt (2005), Hall of Fame offensive guard Will Shields, two-time All-Pro defensive back Albert Lewis and linebacker Gary Spani - who has the second-most tackles in team history - to name a few.
- In all, Kansas City's third-round picks have tallied 36 Pro Bowl selections. Shields is responsible for 12 of those nominations – the most of any third-round pick in the NFL since 1967.
- Thirteen of Kansas City's third-round picks since 1967 went on to play in at least 100 games for the Chiefs: Colquitt (238), Shields (224), wide receiver Henry Marshall (165), Lewis (150), defensive back Lloyd Burruss (145), Spani (124), defensive tackle John Browning (121), defensive back Greg Wesley (118), Charles (103), defensive end Leonard Griffin (103), linebacker Justin Houston (102), defensive tackle Allen Bailey (102) and defensive back Gary Barbaro (101).
