Even though Patrick Mahomes was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft 2017, very few people imagined he would quickly become one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. In fact, during his rookie season he only played one game; it wasn’t until 2018 that he became the full-time starter and shocked the entire league.
That season, Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game, where they ultimately lost an unforgettable overtime matchup against the New England Patriots led by Tom Brady. From that point on, the former Texas Tech Red Raiders football star’s career took off. So far, he has won three Super Bowls in five appearances and has been named league MVP twice.
However, the ninth season of his career was the most painful. The Chiefs failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and also lost the AFC West title for the first time since 2016. On top of that, Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers, creating uncertainty about whether he will be ready for Week 1 next season.
The Chiefs continue to fall in projections
In recent hours, the Kansas City Chiefs have once again made headlines after parting ways with one of their best players. The team traded star cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in a move that surprised much of the NFL world. In return, Kansas City received multiple draft picks, including a first-round selection (pick No. 29) in the upcoming draft.
What makes the move particularly painful is that the team loses a key piece of its defense. Meanwhile, the Rams now appear among the favorites to win the next Vince Lombardi Trophy, with odds around +700, and notably the next Super Bowl will be played at their home venue, SoFi Stadium.
At the moment, the Chiefs are outside the Top 10 favorites to win the Super Bowl, which is striking considering that during the Mahomes era they were consistently among the top three contenders. Still, the situation is not entirely surprising. Kansas City’s offense has shown signs of stagnation, and the AFC West has become increasingly competitive with teams such as the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers.
In fact, the Chiefs are not even the favorites to win their own division, as that distinction currently belongs to the Chargers. There is no doubt that with two first-round picks in the 2026 Draft (Nos. 9 and 29), Kansas City’s front office must provide Mahomes with new weapons in order to recover from the disappointing 2025 season.
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