4. Patrick Mahomes: Six names down, four are left. If you’re reading this, you know how I always say there are players I brainstorm, and some names just automatically come up? I think this will be the case for this next player for years and years to come. His introduction to the NFL has been a nice one. The first year he starts, he throws 50 touchdown passes in a season and leads his team to the top seed in the AFC. 2019, he gets another first-round bye and leads the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl in 50 years. Last Summer, he becomes the highest-paid athlete in sports history. I’m talking about Patrick Mahomes who makes his third consecutive appearance on my list. He checks in as my fourth-best player in the NFL and second-ranked quarterback entering the season.
This kid is a special football player. He has that “it factor”. Some of his peers say it’s difficult to explain, but he’s just different. I love how he plays the game. Patrick brings that backyard football mindset to every single contest. I’ve seen him do just about everything to keep the play alive and stay on his feet. From no-look passes, to jump throws or switching hands in between plays to throw the ball. Patrick is a magician on the football field. I think he’s the most difficult player to prepare for as a defense these days. If you flush him left, he still runs to make a play. You keep him in the pocket and don’t apply any pressure, he’s picking you apart. When you think you have him down, the ball is already out of his hands. Patrick has made difficult passes look easy. I say that because he completes passes in all shapes, sizes, and arm angles. It’s that baseball background you see every time he’s on the field. I call him a shortstop playing quarterback.
What I admire about Patrick the most is he’s not afraid of the moment. The brighter the lights, the better he is and he’s still a young guy but has the mindset of a ten-year veteran. I’ve also seen him become a leader. Whenever I watch, he’s had no problem going to his teammates and saying that was good, but we can do this better. Nothing ever phases him. Look at that playoff game against the Houston Texans a few seasons back. The Chiefs are down 24 points and Patrick brings them back into the game. No game is over with number 15 on the opposing sidelines. Kansas City will be competitive as long as he’s healthy and on the field.
