Patrick Mahomes among players with most to prove in 2018

Zach Kruse of Bleacher Report says that Patrick Mahomes is one of the 12 NFL players with the most to prove on the field in 2018.

Patrick Mahomes has a lot on his shoulders.

Any new quarterback is going to carry a significant burden as he learns not only how to put into practice every concept he’s memorized and handle every defensive scheme he’s studied, he also has upon his shoulders the expectations from fans, the leadership needed in the locker room and the demands from the coaching staff.

As a first year starter for the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes has some extra pressure knowing that the Chiefs traded away a very successful starting quarterback in Alex Smith who won an average of 10 games per season as the starter and stabilized a franchise in a winning direction after years of losing records. That’s why Zach Kruse from Bleacher Report has Mahomes as one of the 12 NFL players with the most to prove in 2018. He writes:

"More from Arrowhead AddictFormer Chiefs cornerback in legal trouble in Las VegasChiefs Kingdom: Get ready to break contract newsChiefs news: Travis Kelce wants to host fan ‘chug-off’ in GermanyPodcast: Breaking down the Chiefs biggest roster battlesKC Chiefs send Dave Merritt to NFL coaching acceleratorA team with three straight seasons of double-digit wins traded its starting signal-caller and is now handing the keys of the franchise to a second-year quarterback. Patrick Mahomes has plenty to prove in 2018."

Mahomes sat on the bench for a full year behind Smith and speaks confidently as though he’s ready for the challenge. He certainly looked the part in a regular season-ending victory over the Denver Broncos in Mile High. The Chiefs are also committed to helping Mahomes reach his ceiling by surrounding him with plenty of offensive weapons—from an All-Pro tight end in Travis Kelce to the NFL’s fastest players in Tyreek Hill to the league’s leading rusher in Kareem Hunt to the newly signed Sammy Watkins.

Mahomes was the tenth overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft after the Chiefs traded up with the Buffalo Bills to select him.