Adam Schefter: Time for Chiefs to draft a 1st round quarterback

It's called the most important position on the field. The Kansas City Chiefs still haven't received that memo -- for the last 25 years.

Adam Schefter led out his weekly Friday column at ESPN with the Chiefs quandary at the quarterback position and noted an amazing fact: "It has been 25 years since a quarterback the Chiefs drafted led Kansas City to a win." Schefter goes on:

Todd Blackledge was the last Chiefs quarterback to do it, back in 1987. Since then, a parade of no-name and underperforming quarterbacks has arrived in Kansas City: Doug Hudson in the seventh round in 1987; Danny McManus in the 11th round in 1988; Mike Elkins in the second round in 1989; Matt Blundin in the second round in 1992; Steve Matthews in the seventh round in 1994; Steve Stenstrom in the fourth round in 1995; Pat Barnes in the fourth round in 1997; James Kilian in the seventh round in 2005; Brodie Croyle in the third round in 2006; and Stanzi in the fifth round in 2011.

Of course, the Chiefs were starting several different quarterbacks in that time -- from Joe Montana to Elvis Grbac to the current rotation of Matt Cassel. To be fair to the decision makers in that time for the Chiefs, the team enjoyed several winning seasons since drafting Todd Blackledge, so their failure to draft a first round quarterback should not be portrayed as some sort of franchise stubbornness.

That said, 25 years is a long time. A very long time, in fact. And given the current choices, it's clear that the Chiefs will likely wipe the slate clean at the position this offseason to find a new answer -- one that's likely to come in the form of the first round quarterback Schefter is advising the team to take.

In the end, Schefter notes that there are several first-round rated quarterbacks with early starter potential. The Chiefs would indeed be wise to grab one of them.