Kansas City Chiefs: What if the Chiefs had drafted Watson instead of Mahomes?
By Chris Taylor
When the Kansas City Chiefs traded up in last year’s draft, fans knew it was for one of two quarterbacks. What if the Chiefs had drafted Watson instead?
When the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes over Deshaun Watson in last year’s draft, there was a healthy mixture of applause and groans among Chiefs fans.
Watson ended up being drafted by the Houston Texans. He was put in at halftime of week one and started every game up to his season-ending surgery. Watson impressed during his six starts. He threw for 1,699 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He finished with a 61.8 completion percentage and a QBR of 81.5. The Kansas City Chiefs 10th overall pick sat on the bench for 16 games.
So what would have happened if Kansas City went with Watson instead of Mahomes? What would the similarities and differences be? Let’s go through these scenarios and find out.
Similarities
For starters, Watson would have spent a season on the bench, just like Patrick Mahomes. Another similarity would be that Watson would be the starter in 2018.
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Nothing would have changed in 2017. Watson would have learned whatever he could from Alex Smith before getting a start in a week 17 garbage time game. The Chiefs would have still traded Smith after the season and Watson would take over, just like Mahomes.
Differences
So obviously the differences would come this season since everything would have likely gone identically with either.
Watson would have not been injured, yet anyway. Now if it was going to happen, then Kansas City would be looking to their backup in week seven of this year.
The hype would be different, and rightfully so. Watson lit it up last season, there is no argument there. Not from me anyway. The difference is that he doesn’t possess the arm strength or talent level that Mahomes appears to have. There aren’t any no-look passes in Watson’s repertoire.
Although we have seen more of Watson than Mahomes, neither has proven that they are a mainstay in the NFL, yet.
Where both are supposed to be
Mahomes went to the right team, with the right coach and the right weapons. Watson went to the right team as well.
The Chiefs are made up to fit Mahomes, to cater to Mahomes. Other than Sammy Watkins, the weapons were already here and established. Things haven’t been this exciting for either program in quite possibly, ever.
Talk to a Texans fan and you will see their face light up when talking about Watson and what he means to the program.
Talk to anyone that has some connection to the Chiefs and they will tell you all about Mahomes and how special he is. Both guys are where they should be.
Would Watson be successful in Kansas City? Absolutely. Would he be throwing for 4,500 yards and 40 touchdowns? Probably not.
Will Mahomes? Maybe not, but the excitement can not be compared to anyone or anything that Kansas City has ever had. The Chiefs have never had a receiver tandem as good as the one they have currently, ever.
Chances are that Watson wouldn’t be as involved as Mahomes has been either. From attending local sporting events to playing pickup baseball games with random citizens. The amount of time and effort Mahomes put in with his receivers this offseason is unheard of.
So what if the Chiefs drafted Watson instead of Mahomes?
Kansas City would be fine, but they wouldn’t be as fine as they are now. To think this kid could fail this season is asinine. Watson would win games, but Mahomes will build a legacy. Watson may help build a legacy as well in Houston, which is where he should have gone.
There are things no quarterback in the NFL can do that Mahomes makes look easy. He will probably be the most unpredictable quarterback in the league for years to come. This offense needs a guy that isn’t scared to make a mistake. That guy is Patrick Mahomes.
For those that still believe the Chiefs should have gone with Watson after six NFL starts, flip the script. We would be listening to all the media hoopla about some Texans quarterback. Kansas City deserves the hype.
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Don’t let that hype die down. Mahomes is the exact type of player who feeds off expectations. Tell him he can’t do something, he will go out and do it. Tell him he is the best, and he will go out and try to prove you right.
*Note: All stats are credited to pro-football-reference. com.