With the recent agreement to trade Alex Smith to Washington, the Patrick Mahomes era has started for the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans.
The Kansas City Chiefs still managed to shock the sports world even though it was well-known that Alex Smith would be playing elsewhere. In one swift move, Alex Smith was gone and Patrick Mahomes was handed the keys. The question is to what he will be driving.
Will he be operating a fine oiled machine, with all the upgrades and parts to take it all the way, or a broken down machine, that looks good on the outside but runs poorly. From the looks of it, the Chiefs are all in on Mahomes. They appear prepared to give him a defense that will keep him on the field, as well as the offensive weapons already in place.
Not all of the pressure is on his shoulders. He has help in that regard. Andy Reid may not be on the hot seat, but he needs to do something more than produce a team that acts tough but shy’s away from danger. There are veterans on both sides of the ball that need to take that extra step. Travis Kelce can be a quarterbacks’ best friend, and Tyreek Hill could flourish with the strongest arm in football throwing to him.
More from KC Kingdom
- Win $650 GUARANTEED Plus $100 Off NFL Sunday Ticket With Caesars, FanDuel and DraftKings Kansas Promos!
- This Plus-Money Bobby Witt Jr. Prop Bet is on Fire (Hit in 15/21 Games)!
- How to Bet on the Chiefs vs. Cardinals in NFL Preseason Week 2
- The Royals Need to Extend Bobby Witt Jr. Immediately
- The 3 Most Intriguing Games on the Chiefs’ Schedule
Then there’s Kareem Hunt, the leagues leading rusher. With a running back of his caliber to hand the ball off to, it takes a lot of worry away from a young quarterback. This allows Patrick to do what he does best without worrying about everything else happening around him.
Great expectations
Assuming that Brett Veach has plans beyond the Alex Smith trade, and understands the needs of this program, #15 has a championship-ready team in the waiting.
The connection between Pat and Tyreek can be a defense killer. If Mahomes can keep Kelce busy during the game like Smith could, there doesn’t seem like much the defense will be able to do.
Kareem Hunt will benefit the most with having Mahomes under center, or behind center. Even with Smith having the deep year he had in 2017, defenses played the run and continued to play the run all season. Still, Hunt led the league. Defenses will not be able to key on one player without another getting free.
Pat had a great showing when Albert Wilson was his go-to guy in week 17. Chris Conley should be healthy, and Patrick’s good friend Gehrig Dieter will definitely be in the mix to get playing time.
Other than arm strength, Mahomes seemed to have better control in the pocket and was more comfortable when the pocket collapsed.
If Veach can get more defensive help to fill the holes revealed last season, and improve in areas that need it most, it proves they are confident in a young man that bleeds confidence. Mahomes’ football idol was Brett Favre, and like Favre he isn’t afraid to go for the throat, to go for the win. To take a chance.
Next: Top 15 Chiefs in passing yards
There is little doubt that he will experience growing pains during his first season, but expectations for the Chiefs should be no less than what they’ve been able to accomplish.