1. Patrick Mahomes: The one thing I’ve always enjoyed about this project is that people always find a way to discuss it. “This player should be ranked here and not here”. I love it all. That’s been the case with who’s left to reveal. Let’s take a trip down memory lane. In 2019 and 2020, he was ranked second on this project. 2021, he was ranked fourth and last year in 2022, he was ranked fifth overall. Now, we can all rejoice. He’s finally at the top and just as the title says, it’s his world and we are simply living in it. Patrick Mahomes, it’s your time. He claims my top spot and checks in as my number one player entering the season and my top-ranked Quarterback for 2023.
I remember when the Kansas City Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill last off-season and everyone wrote them off. The AFC West was stacked after so much off-season activity. Denver acquired Russell Wilson, the Raiders acquired Davante Adams and the Chargers traded for Khalil Mack. Experts picked everyone but the Chiefs to win that division. I still gave the nod to Kansas City because they have the best coach and player in the division. I’ve watched Patrick from his first year starting to now and he’s grown tremendously as a Quarterback. His ability to improvise at the last second has always been impressive to me and he can throw the ball with a moving pocket on either side. I’ve said this for years and I’ll say it again. He is the closest thing I’ve seen to Brett Favre, the only difference is Patrick takes much better care of the football. I saw that Favre comparison last season in a game against the Denver Broncos. The ball was snapped, he was flushed out the pocket and somehow, he threw the ball underhanded to Jerick McKinnon who ended up scoring the touchdown. His arm strength is amongst the best in the league, but what really stands out about his passes is the different ways he throws the football. Patrick has so many arm angles and options to make the pass. You see that baseball background in each throw and I say that because you notice infielders on the baseball diamond not making throws on a perfect angle. Patrick can throw it side armed, through defenders and the ball gets to where he intends for it to be. This is everything you want in a Quarterback. He’s smart, puts the ball anywhere and I love his composure. He’s never phased by anything. “We’re down and they gave me too much time?” is always his mindset. We talk about his ability to keep the play alive. One that comes to mind from last season took place on a Sunday night in Tampa Bay. The Chiefs were in the red zone they ran a play action fake and pressure was coming, Patrick used his speed, spun away from a would-be tackler and just flipped the ball in the end zone to Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the touchdown.
I remember his first MVP season. He became just the third Quarterback ever to throw for 50 touchdown passes in a single season joining Tom Brady and Peyton Manning which is a very exclusive, yet legendary class to be in. 2022, he did it again and won his second MVP. Patrick helped lead the Chiefs to another division title, the one-seed in the AFC Playoffs, a fifth consecutive AFC Championship game appearance and the Chiefs second Super Bowl victory in three seasons. Patrick became just the second MVP winner to also win the Super Bowl in the same season. Hall of Famer Kurt Warner was the first. This season, he enters his prime and that’s going to be fun to watch. In a short span, he’s become the face of the league. Two MVP’s, two Super Bowl rings, he’s led the Chiefs to the AFC West division title each year since he’s been the starting Quarterback and he’s had one of the top seeds in the AFC and has played in five consecutive conference championship games. He’s yet to play in a true road playoff game which is remarkable. That’s an impressive start to a career.
