2017 NFL Draft: A complete look at quarterbacks for the Chiefs

Here’s a complete rundown on the quarterbacks the Chiefs are likely considering as we head into the 2017 NFL Draft.

With the 2017 NFL Draft approaching, it’s time to take a look at various positions based on value to the team. As best I can, I’ve tried to evaluate players that the organization has been confirmed to have spoken to or visited with.

We will start with what I believe to be the most important draft position for the Chiefs this season, and that’s the quarterback position. At the point of repeating myself, it’s been well explained why this is the year to get the quarterback. Don’t fall victim to the chatter that this year doesn’t have any good signal callers. It does. While this class may be missing a can’t miss prospect, it needs to be pointed out that few of the top Q’s in the league now were considered top prospects when they came through the draft. In my humble opinion, there are four quarterbacks that you see having first round value at quarterback. I list them in my preference and order of who I believe long-term is the best fit for the Chiefs. You may disagree with my results. That’s okay.

It also should be noted, based on the past three years of drafting and the values of the contract paid out to the 27th overall pick in the draft, I’d expect the contract for the player taken by the Chiefs in the first round to be valued at 4 years and $10.36 million. Alex Smith’s cap hit this year will be $17.8 million. Let that sink in. On to the options.

Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech, Junior (6-2, 225 pounds)

If anything can be said about the 2017 quarterback class in this draft, the word polarizing may be the best to use. What is trash to someone may be a treasure to someone else. Mahomes certainly fits into that category.

Strengths:

• Howitzer of an arm (measured best arm velocity at the combine)
• Accuracy – Despite mechanics, throws well into small windows
• Athleticism – One of more athletic QB’s tested at combine
• Size
• Potential – Perhaps best combination of arm strength/accuracy
• Confidence – Believes he can make any throw to any player anywhere on the field
• Pocket movement – Moves well both inside and outside of the pocket

Weaknesses:

• Offensive scheme/Air Raid – No ‘pro style’ scheme background
• Footwork/Mechanics – They can vary from good to dreadful
• Texas Tech lost a lot of games in 2016
• Decision making – Confidence can on occasion lead to poor decision making
• Backyard – At times tries to do to much and not simply throwing a ball away

Mahomes is the type of quarterback that I’m guessing will lead to heated discussions in draft rooms. He can make all the throws, and often displays solid accuracy with the ball. While he wasn’t asked to run the ball often, Mahomes often was forced to move around, both inside and outside the pocket, to survive and get a pass off. He can throw down the sideline for a WR screen pass (as we’ve seen the past two seasons, very important in the Chiefs offense) as well as hitting the slant and short in routes. However, between his footwork and at times questionable decision-making, Mahomes can also make plays any coach will become scared of.

Mahomes’ arm strength can also allow him to make any throw down the field. His arm measured as the strongest of the combine quarterbacks. His arm strength, especially after spending the last seven or more seasons watching Matt Cassel followed by Alex Smith play quarterback, is something to behold.

In evaluating the quarterback, I wonder what the talent level at Texas Tech is around Mahomes; as I don’t know I see any other legitimate NFL player on offense helping him out, which is something that can’t be said to varying degrees with the rest of the draft class. Would he be picked much higher if he were playing for Clemson or North Carolina?

His greatest issue he’ll have to work on are his mechanics, and specifically his footwork. While he has his moments, plays are often made in spite of quality mechanics and awful footwork. Combine the issues with footwork, and his unending belief in his arm strength, and you’ll see passes land in the hands of a defender due to accuracy issues and not getting enough on the pass due to the aforementioned poor footwork/follow through.

Another issue for Mahomes will be the concern, legitimate or not, about the offense that Mahomes ran while at Texas Tech. How much experience does he have reading defenses, making reads and progressions through those reads? Can he handle play calls in the Chiefs’ complex system after coming from a somewhat basic set-up that is common in Air Raid style offenses.

Why Mahomes is a fit with the Chiefs

Mahomes is a far better athlete than he’s given credit for (he was a pitcher on the Tech baseball team his freshman season before concentrating solely on football) with a big arm and accuracy. While the offensive system at Texas Tech conceptually is different from what the Chiefs try to do, many of the throws are in the Chiefs playbook. Between the underneath routes with Kelce and Maclin to going over the top to a Tyreek Hill, Mahomes’ skill set is a great fit with what the Chiefs are looking to do.

Give Mahomes a season of learning and development with Andy Reid and this deep roster that won’t require him to be the hero on every snap, and the Chiefs could really have something at the position for years to come.

Interesting factoid: Mahomes father, also Patrick Mahomes, was a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.

Will Chiefs draft him at 27? Probably

Will he be available at 27? Possibly

My NFL comp: Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions