2. Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback
Before you freak out, Patrick Mahomes isn’t skating on the same brittle ice as others on this list. He’s the Chiefs’ cornerstone, locked in for years to come. Still, free agency looms with fresh heat on his shoulders.
Completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 3,928 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions looks like a banner year for most quarterbacks. For Mahomes, it’s a dip—his fewest yardage since taking over as starter in 2018, and it ties his lowest touchdown haul from that stretch. That’s the burden of greatness.
His cap hit towers at $66.3 million—nearly a quarter of the projected 2025 NFL salary cap. That’s a heavy load for a team already shedding Joe Thuney to ease the squeeze. Every move hinges on that number.
The Chiefs’ receiver room could unravel fast. DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman all hit unrestricted free agency. With cash stretched thin, pinning down even one feels like a long shot.
Losing weapons heaps more on Mahomes.
He’s not facing a cut, but the ice under him groans with expectation. Quarterbacks today shoulder wild demands—Mahomes tops that list—and his 2024 slip fuels the chatter.
He needs to reignite his 2022 MVP spark, when he diced defenses with ease. The Chiefs lean on him to carry the load if the roster thins, and any stumble amplifies the noise.
His down year wasn’t a cliff dive, but it’s a nudge to climb back to his peak form. He'll need to be at his best during the 2025 NFL season.