Kansas City has the first two players in this ranking.
Wednesday, ESPN Writers Matt Miller and Jordan Reed published their list of the 50 best draft steals of the past decade. The Kansas City Chiefs player tops the list.
1. Travis Kelce, TE
formulated: No. 63 in 2013
Career stats: 814 receptions for 10,344 yards and 69 TDs in 10 seasonsWhen his career is over, we may speak of Kelce as the greatest tight end of all time. After all, he’s already established himself as a dynamic and reliable No. 1 receiving option on a Super Bowl-winning team, and he has the numbers to put together with the best of the best. That’s too good for a late second-round pick who slipped into the draft due to suspension in Cincinnati. Kelce’s all-around game and his presence as the Chiefs’ number one target put him at the top of the list here.
a former Head player in second place.
2. Terek Hill, WR
formulated: No. 165 in 2016
Career stats: 598 receptions for 8,340 yards and 63 TDs in seven seasonsHill played running back and receiver in college and displayed an explosive skill set. But he slid into the 2016 draft after he was arrested and accused of punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend. Oklahoma State fired him, and he wasn’t even invited to the combine after heading to West Alabama. Many scouts thought he might go undrafted, but Kansas City eventually took him in the fifth round. On the field, Hill scored 12 times as a junior with the Chiefs and had a 1,000 rushing yard rush as a sophomore. Now with the Miami Dolphins, Hill continues to emphasize opposition defenses from any formation alignment. He can change the outcome of a game in one play.
Then another Chiefs player is ranked outside the top 10.
12. Chris Jones, D.T
formulated: No. 37 in 2016
Career stats: 244 tackles, 65 sacks, two interceptions, and 12 forced fumbles in seven seasonsJones became a key part of the Chiefs’ defense during their stellar third season, as an energetic and troubled inside presence. He posted 15.5 sacks that season and has recorded at least 7.5 sacks every year since. With his towering 6-foot-6 build, strong hands and an insatiable hunger to make life difficult for opposing passers, Jones has established himself as one of the best inside defenders in the league despite holding up to the second round in 2016.
away
No fan would complain about an NFL team having the top two entries on a list like this – or having three players in the top 15!
But if my editor salary comes from ESPN instead of Arrowhead prideI was going to suggest a fundamental change to the Miller and Reid story show: The 10 draft years should have been 2008-2017, instead of 2013-2022 – simply because we need at least Five years in perspective to put a player on the draft steal list.
For example:
Jalen Hurtz of the Philadelphia Eagles (ranked 10th overall after being drafted with the 53rd pick in 2020) is a very good player. Nobody can argue with that. But who is to say what his career will do truly It seems like? Is that something we can predict on a fair basis three seasons? If his production falls off a cliff over the next two or three seasons—which he could easily do—will he still catch steals?
How about Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions, who is ranked 48th after the 112th pick in 2021? If he is able we will include him at the end of this list to become a key player second On the season, I’d argue Kansas City’s Trey Smith (who drafted No. 226 that same year) deserved it more. started in Firstly season.
Of course, I would not have wanted also of these players are on the list for the same reason I don’t think Hurts should be on the list: there isn’t enough information yet to assess whether they really are He was draft steals.
However, all three Chiefs’ draft picks listed here are likely to be on the 2008-2017 list — and Justin Houston (picked 70th in 2011) and Ryan Succop (picked 256th in 2009) could make that ranking. also.
Finally me Owns Note that all of the Kansas City picks on this list are made by John Dorsey. But I will stop Good Other than saying it means anything in the ongoing debate about whether Dorsey is a better general manager than current general manager Brett Veach — and for the same reason: Veach hasn’t had the job long enough to really compare his record to Dorsey’s.
Ask me again in five years. Then we’ll see.
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