The case for starting Patrick Mahomes immediately
The Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes would both benefit by starting Mahomes this year. So why shouldn’t they? …Seriously, why shouldn’t they?
On this episode of Roughing the Kicker, a Kansas City Chiefs podcast here on Arrowhead Addict, Joshua Brisco talks with Seth Keysor of Arrowhead Pride and Brandon Kiley of 101 ESPN in St. Louis about why Patrick Mahomes should start in 2017. The short version: it would benefit Mahomes and the Chiefs in the long run while not risking all that much. The long version took an hour and a half to unpack.
(Host’s note: Genuinely, I hope you’ll listen to the show and hear me, Seth and Brandon kick around this topic. A lot of the knee-jerk responses aren’t particularly insightful or helpful, and this debate has at least two reasonable sides. Some of you will read the headline and never even get to this, but hey, I tried. -JB)
Arguments against starting Patrick Mahomes have become tired and misguided. Would Mahomes benefit from a year behind Alex Smith? Probably. But how much? Eventually, Patrick Mahomes is going to play his first year in the NFL, and there will be growing pains. Why would the Chiefs voluntarily delay the timeline to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender by holding Mahomes out this season?
Sitting behind Alex Smith will not let Mahomes skip his rookie struggles. Playing time will challenge Mahomes, and I don’t see the Chiefs as a Super Bowl contender until at least Mahomes’ second NFL season. The Chiefs could bring those days sooner.
Concerns with Mahomes’ footwork are overblown. Mahomes can read defenses. And there will be problems, growing pains, and interceptions. But where better for Mahomes to jump in than on a team ready-made to make a playoff run?
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