On April 27th, John Dorsey and company did something unprecedented for the Kansas City Chiefs organization. Not only did did they trade up into the top ten, but they did so for a quarterback, Patrick Mahomes of Texas Tech. They set their sights on their guy of the future and they took a big-risk, potentially big-reward shot by trading up 17 spots to select him. As always, this uncharacteristic move has the potential to drag the franchise down for years. However, it also presents the possibility of being the best move made in a generation or more. What is this decision looking like halfway into the offseason?
Patrick Mahomes: Future Franchise Quarterback
It has become apparent that Alex Smith is not the quarterback who will bring a Lombardi Trophy back to Kansas City. The incumbent starter is simply an efficient game manager and lacks the star power of a typical Super Bowl winning quarterback. Smith isn’t the type of guy who goes out and puts the team on his back to win games. He just doesn’t lose them. Sometimes referred to as the “check-down king,” Smith possesses a conservative, ball control style. He makes sure it’s peppered generously with check-downs to his running back to aid completion percentage. This style will not foster a deep playoff run without an elite run game, something the Chiefs currently don’t have.
Andy Reid and the Chiefs staff have taken notice of the hindrance their incumbent quarterback is to their team and they finally made a move in hopes of changing it. Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs first round draft pick, is the polar opposite of Alex Smith. Mahomes has an absolute cannon for an arm, able to stretch the field any way he’s asked. He’s known best for his insane big plays and gunslinger tendencies, everything Alex Smith is not. The simple comparisons between the incumbent and the rookie make it appear that the organization is not satisfied with Alex Smith and what he brings to the table. Why else would they draft such a different guy to put under center?
Mahomes is the Missing Piece to Bring a Championship to Kansas City
The Kansas City Chiefs fan base is tired of seeing a deep, talented roster make the playoffs and ultimately fail. The defense is unquestionably top five in the league, possessing a great secondary duo of safety Eric Berry and cornerback Marcus Peters. Linebackers Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Dee Ford, and elite pass rusher Justin Houston help form a great front seven. The defensive line is good though not elite. The unit as a whole is very well-coached and works well together. They form a solid, formidable force to stop opponents from scoring.
Offensively, the Chiefs are branded widely as one thing: conservative. And Smith is highly culpable for this situation. The offense has electric young playmaker Tyreek Hill and a promising young receiving corps behind him that includes Chris Conley, Albert Wilson, Demarcus Robinson, and rookie Jehu Chesson ready to catch passes all over the field. Besides those guys there is also tight end Travis Kelce, arguably the best in the league at the position as an elite threat in the passing game. The offensive line is solid and provides decent protection, and Spencer Ware along with Charcandrick West and rookie Kareem Hunt have the potential to provide a reliable rushing attack.
The pieces are all there to bring home the Lombardi Trophy. Smith just isn’t gonna be the guy who can secure that for the team. That’s where Mahomes with his Aaron Rodgers-esque uncanny scrambling ability and big play tendency comes in. He isn’t ready to be an NFL starter now, but when he’s fully developed, big things could be in store. Mahomes’ skillset brings everything the Chiefs are missing. A player like him could finally take full advantage of the plethora of weapons available. Hopefully, he can be the savior of this team’s championship hopes before the window closes. While also having a top five defense to back him up, Mahomes looks poised to deliver a bright future.
