The Kansas City Chiefs were given a “C” by SB Nation’s Dan Kadar for a perceived overpayment to trade up for Patrick Mahomes.
Nevermind that the Kansas City Chiefs found their quarterback of the future or that several other teams admitted they were also interested in drafting Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The knock on the Chiefs is not the player taken but the price they paid to move up, two first round picks and a third round pick to switch places with the Buffalo Bills at No. 10 overall. According to SB Nation’s Dan Kadar, the price is tough to stomach.
"My grade on what Kansas City did in this draft is due to my opinion that they gave up way too much to trade up for quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the first round. Again, if he works out, I look dumb and it doesn’t matter. But to give up pick Nos. 27 and 91 this year and a first-round pick in 2018 is a lot. The Chiefs are a team that I think could have used this draft to find a player in the first round who can push them over the top in 2017 and help them make a Super Bowl push."
For many fans, the move to get Mahomes is precisely the Super Bowl push they needed. Instead of hoping Alex Smith can eventually get them over the hump, although he will get one more chance in 2017, the Chiefs seem ready to turn the page with a stronger arm and more willing rusher at quarterback in the near future. If they can grab a Super Bowl this year, that’d certainly be welcome, but the reality is that the team is aiming for future trophies in addition to staying competitive in the current year.
The question, then, is what other player could the Chiefs have taken to put them over the top. Would grabbing another cornerback to play opposite Marcus Peters have done the job? Certainly Kevin King would look nice in red and gold. The same can be said of another edge rusher like T.J. Watt or maybe even a linebacker like Reuben Foster, each of whom were also available.