The Chiefs have two picks in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. To make a good situation even better, said picks are back-to-back.

Granted, Kansas City doesn't pick until No. 29. But that doesn't mean it won't be able to choose quality players that also fill the team's needs. The Chiefs need help at EDGE, receiver, and safety. There will be plenty of options at 29 and 30.

But before we head into the future, let's dive into the past and take a look at the Chiefs' top-5 first-round picks since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

5. LB Derrick Johnson, No. 15 overall, 2005 NFL Draft

All-Pros (with KC): 1
Pro Bowls (with KC): 4

Johnson played 13 seasons in Kansas City and was a key cog in the defense during that time. He is No.1 in franchise history with 941 solo tackles and 213 assisted tackles and he's just 2.0 TFLs from tying Tamba Hali for No. 1 in that category, too.

Johnson's 182 game appearances ties KC legend Buck Buchanan for the most games played by a defender. The former Texas Longhorn also finished with 14 career interceptions, which is fourth-most among all linebackers in team history. His four-pick sixes are tied for fifth-most among all defenders and is the second-most among all linebackers in Chiefs history. And to top it all off –  Johnson's 27.5 sacks is the most among Chiefs inside linebackers, as well.

The success wasn't limited to just the Chiefs, either. It was league-wide. Johnson's 941 solo tackles were second-most, his 1,154 combined tackles were fifth-most, and his 103.0 TFLs were second-most among all linebackers in the NFL from 2005-2017.

4. DE Neil Smith, 2nd overall, 1988 NFL Draft

All-Pros (with KC): 1
Pro Bowls (with KC): 5

Smith dealt with injuries during his rookie season, but missed just three games over the following eight seasons in Kansas City.

His durability isn't the reason why he's on this list, however. Smith was an absolute terror for the Chiefs when it came to rushing the passer. He logged 85.5 sacks in nine seasons with the Chiefs, which is good for third all-time.

Smith's peak was during the early- to mid-90s, where he recorded 53.0 sacks from 1992-1995. He led the NFL with 15.0 sacks in 1993 and the 53.0 sacks were good for second-most in the league during that span. Smith even 11.5 more sacks during those four seasons than his future Hall of Fame teammate, Derrick Thomas.

Smith's career saw him finish with 104.5 career sacks, one first-team All-Pro nod, and a seat on the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team.

3. TE Tony Gonzalez, 13th overall, 1997 NFL Draft

All-Pros (with KC): 5
Pro Bowls (with KC): 10

Gonzalez is one of the best tight ends in NFL history, so there's no surprise he's on the list. A former basketball player in college, Gonzalez's unmatched speed and athleticism made him the ultimate matchup nightmare during his playing days. His skills and abilities were also paramount in revolutionizing the tight end position.

The former Miami Hurricane was a first-ballot Hall of Famer back in 2018. Gonzalez is the Chiefs' all-time leader in both receptions (916) and receiving yards (10,940). His impact on the franchise and his respective position is nearly second-to-none and that's just scratching the surface on the reasons why he's one of the Chiefs' best first-round picks of all-time.

2. QB Patrick Mahomes, 10th overall, 2017 NFL Draft

All-Pros: 1
Pro Bowls: 4

It was so hard not to put Mahomes at No. 1 on this list, but he will likely be at No. 1 when his career is over. So, there's some solace in that, hopefully.

Mahomes is one of the best -if not the best- quarterbacks in the NFL. He already has a NFL MVP, a Super Bowl MVP, a Super Bowl ring, an Offensive Player of the Year award, an All-Pro appearance, and four Pro Bowl appearances. He led the NFL with 50 passing touchdowns in 2018 and 316.0 passing yards per game in 2020.

The wild part? He'll only be 27 one week into the 2022 season. Mahomes is just now entering his prime. Which should be scary for the rest of the league.

The Chiefs also have Mahomes locked in contractually through the 2031 season, so he has plenty of time to climb into the No. 1 spot. He's not far off, either. It's easily a matter of "when" and not "if" in regard to Mahomes eventually taking over the top spot.

1. LB Derrick Thomas, 4th overall, 1989 NFL Draft

All-Pros (with KC): 2
Pro Bowls (with KC): 9

And here we are. The late, great Derrick Thomas is the Chiefs' best first-round draft pick in franchise history.

Thomas isn't just one of the best players in Chiefs history, though. He's one of the best players in NFL history, as a whole. His 126.5 sacks rank 17th all-time and he is just one of 12 players to record 20+ sacks in a single season. Thomas was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

Thomas was a game-changer at the position and averaged 11.5 sacks per season during his short career. He could've easily finished as one the top-5 pass rushers of all-time if his career wasn't cut short by a tragic car wreck.

Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports