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In some unspecified time in the future, it would occur for the K.C. Chiefs: the drafting of one other quarterback after Patrick Mahomes.
Let’s first make clear what we’re not speaking about: some eventual alternative of Mahomes someday within the 2030s or past on the twilight of Mahomes’ illustrious profession. That day hopefully is not going to come for a really very long time, and nobody must spend any time within the current apprehensive about such a second.
As an alternative, the Chiefs will in some unspecified time in the future within the close to future start the ever-so-often choice(s) of developmental quarterbacks on the roster. They’ll accomplish that for a variety of causes, which we’ll get into in a second, and Mahomes might be entrusted with a brand new function at his place: mentor/chief. The one query is just not if however when this kind of transaction will happen.
Heading into this offseason, the Chiefs are taking a look at Mahomes as a real veteran for the primary time. He’s now a fourth-year starter within the league taking part in into his mammoth extension. The rookie jitters are far behind him. He’s loved a full season of watching and ready after which three extra seasons of completely demolishing any and all expectations for what a quarterback ought to be capable to do. He’s shattered myriad information alongside the way in which and already seems like an inevitable lock for the Corridor of Fame even with solely three seasons beneath his belt.
The Ok.C. Chiefs ought to start to consider drafting one other younger quarterback.
Mahomes has already performed—and received—on the largest levels afforded him. He’s signed the biggest contract in American sports history. He’s Kansas Metropolis’s favourite son whereas concurrently serving as the face of the new NFL. Now it’s time to speak about his backups.
Coming into this season, the Chiefs have Chad Henne on the ultimate 12 months of a two-year deal. That’s it. Even then, Henne is simply getting older and he’s very, very low cost in 2021 at a $1.625 million cap hit. (That’s almost 1 / 4 of what Chase Daniel makes, for the sake of comparability.) Past this 12 months, nevertheless, Henne is off the books and the Chiefs don’t have any extra quarterback financials to debate past that. It’s Mahomes and nothing else.
Now, the Chiefs do have a pair developmental arms on the roster, gamers who signed reserve/futures contracts again within the winter who at the moment are on the 90-man roster as soon as the brand new league 12 months begins later this month. Technically both Jordan Ta’amu and Anthony Gordon will be competing for a roster spot this spring and summer season as effectively, however any actual try to drum up the potential of both is probably going wishful considering. That’s not private towards both participant, however these are lengthy shot gamers for numerous causes.
Bear in mind this: yearly the Chiefs herald somebody like Gordon or Ta’amu. Some vocal members of Chiefs Kingdom on-line are overly excited by Ta’amu particularly, however the actuality is that these positions are a revolving door of forgettable gamers. In a quarterback-needy league, these are the fellows who nonetheless couldn’t earn a draft choose. Previously, the Chiefs have trotted out the likes of Kyle Shurmur, Chase Litton, Joel Stave, Tyler Bray and extra.
As an alternative, there are a selection of the reason why it is sensible for the Chiefs to consider utilizing draft belongings on the identical place at which they’re essentially the most safe. Nobody is asking for a first-round choose right here by any means, nevertheless it makes for normal supervisor Brett Veach to maintain his finger on the heartbeat of quarterbacks on this 12 months’s draft and past.
Positional safety
Let’s all be clear: Patrick Mahomes has come up harm in every of the final two seasons, so let’s not fake that QB2 isn’t already necessary in Kansas Metropolis. In 2020, we noticed Mahomes take care of an ankle damage, turf toe, and a concussion. In 2019, Matt Moore began two video games midseason towards the hardest groups from the NFC North as a result of all of us watched a Chiefs coach transfer Mahomes’ kneecap again into place whereas mendacity on the sector of play.
Mahomes is superhuman in his heroics and really human in his fragility. It’s the rationale why anybody and everybody who likes the Chiefs—and even entertaining soccer—is begging the staff to spend money on their offensive line.
Shifting ahead, it’s very seemingly that whoever is listed behind Mahomes from 12 months to 12 months goes to be requested to play to various levels. The Chiefs can actually preserve filling the slot with veterans yearly or two. That’s positive. However what’s clear is that QB2 and even QB3 for that matter aren’t meaningless positions in Ok.C. The Chiefs very a lot want some positional safety from somebody, which leads us right here.
Benefit from Andy Reid
One of many best belongings held by the Chiefs at the moment is present in head coach Andy Reid. He’s referred to as a quarterback whisperer for good purpose, and he’s a artistic genius, which is why groups have been fast to rent his proteges for head teaching positions (at the very least till Eric Bieniemy is on deck, however that’s a irritating topic for an additional time). The one purpose why the Chicago Bears seemingly employed Matt Nagy was to proper the Mitchell Trubisky ship earlier than it sank. (Sorry, Chicago.)
Any quarterback drafted by the Chiefs would instantly start to study from the perfect within the recreation: the perfect coach and the perfect participant. It could be a dream for any younger quarterback who wanted a while to work on his recreation. Take a uncooked quarterback prospect who has all of the intangibles however perhaps lacks the expertise or decision-making to be taken close to the highest of the draft. The Chiefs might mould such a participant into a real asset, somebody who might step in at key moments if Mahomes have been ever indisposed. It could even be necessary for an additional purpose
A desired asset
Whereas the Chiefs would get pleasure from positional safety with a developmental arm on deck, maybe an important a part of draft-and-develop is concerning the future tradability of such a participant. The Inexperienced Bay Packers did this beneath Ron Wolf and past. The New England Patriots have been transport off their backup quarterbacks for years when Tom Brady was in home. The Chiefs ought to completely undertake this similar strategy to be able to finest leverage their belongings.
If Invoice Belichick can construct a mystique round Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett and others, then think about what different normal managers will consider getting their fingers on some developmental quarterback who has soaked within the Chiefs’ strategy for a pair apprenticing years. It’s onerous to think about the Chiefs wouldn’t recoup their unique draft funding and extra within the course of.
Not solely would drafting a developmental arm handle any considerations behind Mahomes in case of an emergency, however it will additionally start the draft-and-develop strategy of giving the Chiefs tradable belongings sooner or later on the recreation’s most necessary place. Given a budget contract within the closing 12 months for Henne, 2021 is the primary 12 months that actually is sensible for the Chiefs to go this route if the precise prospect sits on their draft board. It may not occur this spring, however someday quickly, the Chiefs will start so as to add one other younger quarterback and transfer Mahomes firmly into the veteran chief function.
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