The class is highlighted by cornerback Trent McDuffie (No. 21 overall), who has earned All-Pro honors in each of the last two years, and defensive end George Karlaftis (No. 30 overall), whose eight sacks in 2024 led the team.
Linebacker Leo Chenal (No. 103 overall) has grown into a jack of all trades on defense and special teams, exemplified by his game-winning field goal block against the Broncos earlier this year.
Safety Bryan Cook (No. 62 overall) started 17 games this year and logged multiple interceptions, while cornerbacks Jaylen Watson (No. 243 overall) and Joshua Williams (No. 135 overall) have appeared in nine postseason games each, combining to tally three interceptions between them.
Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson (No. 259 overall) made numerous plays on special teams in 2022, and now a year removed from a season-ending knee injury, he carved out a role in the secondary in 2024 with six starts.
Tailback Isiah Pacheco (No. 251 overall) leads the Chiefs in rushing over the last three seasons, and even wide receiver Skyy Moore (No. 54 overall), who spent the majority of the 2024 season on Injured Reserve, played a major role in the Chiefs’ march to a title in 2022 with impact plays in the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVII.
All nine have played in at least one Super Bowl, and four – Pacheco, Karlaftis, Watson and McDuffie – started Super Bowl LVII as rookies.
This group has known nothing but winning Super Bowls, and now with an opportunity to win three-straight titles just a few days away – something that’s never been done before – the journey isn’t lost on those who joined the Chiefs that fateful draft weekend.
“It’s been such a blessing, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” Karlaftis said. “We’ve kind of banded together. There’s been a nucleus of guys who have been here – it’s been consistent. There’s love and there’s trust there.”