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Selecting a quarterback in the NFL Draft is a challenging task, as we have witnessed repeatedly. However, there are instances where teams strike gold, just like the Kansas City Chiefs did with Patrick Mahomes.
Throughout history, there have been highly touted quarterbacks who were chosen with high draft picks but ultimately failed to live up to expectations. Rick Mirer, drafted second overall in 1993, Heath Shuler, drafted third overall in 1994, Ryan Leaf, drafted second overall in 1998, Akili Smith, drafted third overall in 1999, and JaMarcus Russell, drafted first overall in 2007, serve as notable examples.
However, for every Andre Ware, drafted seventh overall in 1990, and David Klingler, drafted sixth overall in 1992, there are quarterbacks like Brock Purdy, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes who far exceed the predictions of experts.
Let’s take a look at the skepticism expressed by several NFL analysts when the Chiefs selected Mahomes with the 10th overall pick in 2017, passing on DeShaun Watson (picked two spots later) and Mitchell Trubisky (picked eight spots earlier).
At the time, Shannon Sharpe bluntly stated, “So, Patrick Mahomes… I don’t like him. I do not like this pick.” Cris Carter also criticized the Chiefs for trading up and choosing Mahomes over Watson.
Another analyst described Mahomes, coming out of college, as undisciplined, lacking fundamentals, and immature. In another clip, a pundit claimed that Mahomes not only had bad footwork but “NO footwork.”
Carter even went as far as saying that the only quarterback from the 2017 Draft class with a chance to win a championship was DeShaun Watson. Mahomes was mocked and ridiculed, but he remained unfazed.
Fast forward to today, and the results speak for themselves. DeShaun Watson has played in 66 games, throwing for 16,756 yards, but has faced legal issues since 2020. Mitchell Trubisky has played in 69 games, passing for 12,536 yards, and was recently released by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On the other hand, Mahomes has played in 96 regular season games, passing for 28,424 yards, winning three Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVPs, and earning two NFL Most Valuable Player awards.
In hindsight, John Dorsey, currently a senior personnel executive for the Detroit Lions, is regarded as a genius for his decision to acquire Mahomes.
According to the Source brobible.com