4 quarterback prospects who could be great backups for Patrick Mahomes
By Grant Tuttle
The Chiefs seem to like bringing in young talent. Could they draft a quarterback to backup Mahomes and learn from Andy Reid and if so, who? We discuss.
The Kansas City Chiefs are getting closer to draft season by the hour. After some big signings in the form of offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor and defensive end Charles Omenihu, there are still a few questions to be answered. One question that seems a little underrated is the backup quarterback position.
While Shane Buechele was tendered by Kansas City, the chances of him sticking around as a long-term backup seem small. Usually, the Chiefs have had a seasoned veteran as their insurance plan. Perhaps they have changed their way of doing things and would like to continue with the youth movement.
So, if the Chiefs were to decide not to sign a veteran, who are some options for them in the draft? We got you covered.
Max Duggan, TCU
Projected Round: 3-5
Fit in Andy Reid’s offense: High
Analysis: It wasn’t until a disastrous ending to the Horned Frogs championship run that Max Duggan’s draft stock fell. Many were wondering whether he might be the type of player that gets selected at the end of round one or the top of round two.
While not a youngster coming out of college, Duggan led TCU to have one of the most productive offenses in the NCAA. In his senior year, Duggan threw for 3698 yards and 32 touchdowns. While many will point to the talented weapons that he had throughout his career there, it is clear to anyone who watched the Horned Frogs throughout the season that Duggan was a major reason that they won some of their tighter games.
With both precision and poise, Duggan has some very good traits in his quarterbacking. However, getting blown out in the national championship, accuracy inconsistency, and being a smaller size will push Duggan out of the top two rounds. The upside is there, though. He makes big plays in some of the biggest moments and is more athletic and mobile than one might realize.
It seems unlikely that the Chiefs will be interested in drafting any quarterback in the top three rounds. But if Duggan were to slide into the fourth or fifth round, he would make for an excellent project for Andy Reid and a cheap and talented insurance policy for Patrick Mahomes going forward.