2017 NFL mock draft: Peter King gives Patrick Mahomes to Kansas City Chiefs

Peter King has his annual mock draft up at Monday Morning Quarterback and he’s giving the Kansas City Chiefs a new quarterback in Patrick Mahomes.

Most Kansas City Chiefs fans will love the new mock draft from Peter King, founder of Monday Morning Quarterback. The longtime NFL writer projects Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes to the Chiefs at No. 27 overall in the first round. He writes:

"Not what Andy Reid planned, but the talent is too good to pass up. Alex Smith heir."

Many Chiefs fans have been vocal about their support for a new quarterback given the perceived ceiling of Alex Smith and the fact that it’s an ideal time for the Chiefs to make their move for youth at the position. The lack of any real options behind incumbent Alex Smith, the financial picture, the amount of homework at quarterback all point to this sort of outcome, and the fact that the Chiefs can get their man in Mahomes without having to trade other assets is a nice outcome.

That said, draft night is unlikely to come with such a winning scenario falling to the Chiefs. Many teams are also in need of a quarterback either immediately or in the next year or so, and that often leads to movement up in the draft or back into the first round by other teams. The Bears, Browns, Steelers, Giants, Cardinals, Jets and Chargers are just some of the teams expected to consider a quarterback early in this draft. Can the Chiefs afford to just sit there?

Mahomes threw for over 5,000 passing yards last year for Texas Tech, with 41 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.