What Round Did Patrick Mahomes Get Drafted
Hey everyone! So, let's talk about a name that's pretty much synonymous with "awesome football plays" these days: Patrick Mahomes. You hear it, you think of no-look passes, improbable comebacks, and a whole lot of winning. But have you ever stopped to wonder, like, how did this guy even end up where he is? It got me thinking – at what point in the NFL Draft did the Kansas City Chiefs snag this absolute gem?
It's kind of a funny thought, right? Like, imagine being one of those GMs or scouts in the war room, staring at a board full of names, and then poof, Patrick Mahomes is on the board. Did they know they were getting a future legend? Or was it more of a "let's take a flyer on this kid with the cannon arm" kind of deal? It’s a question that, for football nerds like me, is surprisingly fascinating.
So, drumroll please… Patrick Mahomes was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Now, you might be thinking, "Okay, first round, big deal." But stick with me, because it gets a little more interesting when you pinpoint the exact spot. He was the tenth overall pick. Yeah, tenth. Out of all the incredible talent that enters the draft pool each year, he was the tenth guy to hear his name called.
Think about that for a second. Ten picks. That means there were nine other players chosen before him. Nine! It’s a bit mind-boggling when you consider the dynasty he’s helped build. It’s like going to a buffet and picking the tenth most delicious-looking item, only to discover later it was the absolute king of all buffet items. You'd be kicking yourself a little, wouldn't you?
Why the Tenth Pick is Pretty Cool
So, why is being the tenth pick kind of a big deal, beyond just being in the first round? Well, in the NFL Draft, the order is determined by the previous season's standings, with the worst teams picking first. The Chiefs, in 2017, weren't exactly the laughingstock of the league, but they weren't exactly Super Bowl contenders either. They had a decent team, but they were looking for that missing piece, that spark. And landing at number ten gave them a shot at some serious talent.
It’s like picking a lottery ticket. The further down the line you are, the more people have already picked their numbers. But sometimes, someone picks a number that’s a little less conventional, a little more daring, and it ends up being the jackpot. The Chiefs were patient, they watched the board, and when Mahomes was there at ten, they jumped on it.
Now, it's easy to look back with the benefit of hindsight and say, "Of course! Everyone should have picked him!" But that's not how the draft works. There are always question marks, potential risks, and players who flash differently on tape. Some teams might have been worried about his playing style, his arm strength (which, ironically, is now one of his greatest assets), or how he’d translate from college to the pros.
Imagine being a fan of a team picking in the top five that year. They pick a quarterback, and it doesn't quite pan out the way they hoped. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are over there, doing... well, you know what they're doing. It's a stark reminder that the draft is a gamble, and sometimes, the biggest rewards come from taking calculated risks.
The "What Ifs" of the Draft
This is where it gets really fun to speculate, isn't it? What if the Chiefs hadn't picked him at ten? What if another team had a sudden urge to trade up? What if he’d fallen just a little bit further? Could another team have discovered his magic before Kansas City did?
It's like watching a movie and knowing the ending, but then rewinding and imagining different scenarios. What if the protagonist took a different path? Would the story still be as epic? For Mahomes, it’s hard to imagine him in any other jersey, but the possibility was definitely there.
Think about the teams that picked before the Chiefs. Some of them picked offensive linemen, some picked defensive players, and yes, some picked quarterbacks. Each of those decisions, at the time, seemed like the right move for their franchise. But football history, as we know it today, would look a whole lot different if Mahomes had gone to, say, the San Francisco 49ers at pick two, or the Chicago Bears at pick three (both of whom picked quarterbacks in that draft). It’s a wild thought experiment!
The fact that he was the tenth pick also speaks to the Chiefs' scouting and their belief in head coach Andy Reid's ability to develop talent. They weren't just looking for a guy to plug and play immediately. They were looking for potential, for a player who could be molded and coached into something special. And boy, did they hit the nail on the head.
More Than Just a Draft Pick
It’s easy to get lost in the numbers and the draft order, but what makes Patrick Mahomes’ draft story so compelling is what he’s done with that opportunity. Being drafted tenth overall is a great start, a vote of confidence from a franchise. But it’s the dedication, the hard work, the sheer talent, and the leadership that have transformed him from a promising young quarterback into arguably the face of the NFL.
He didn’t just sit on that tenth overall pick status. He took it, ran with it, and then proceeded to rewrite the record books. It’s a testament to perseverance and the idea that sometimes, the biggest stars don't have to be the very first ones off the board. They just have to be the right ones, at the right time, for the right team.
So, next time you're watching Mahomes do his thing – that improbable throw, that game-winning drive – take a moment to remember that it all started with a call at pick number ten in the 2017 NFL Draft. It's a pretty cool piece of football lore, and a reminder that sometimes, the most legendary journeys begin with a single, well-placed decision.