NFL: Ranking every quarterback midseason
By Nick Villano
NFL: Ranking every quarterback midseason: 4. Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs
Most of you were probably waiting to see where Patrick Mahomes ended up on this list. How can we evaluate Patrick Mahomes ranking this season? Does he get the benefit of the doubt because of what he’s done in years past, or do we take this season in a vacuum and evaluate it based on what he’s done for the Chiefs? Mahomes is the least of the Chiefs’ problems this season, but he was very bad in their loss to the Titans.
As of Week 8, Mahomes is leading the league in interceptions, tied with Jets rookie Zach Wilson’s 11. He’s also fumbling over the last few weeks, with four total fumbles in Weeks 5, 6, and 7 and two lost. Giving the other team a good field position or ruining a chance in the red zone is putting the Chiefs behind.
Mahomes is still great, and if there was a real-life fantasy draft, he would go first overall. He does need to fix some serious flaws in his game this season. He’s taking 11-yard drops that are really putting his offensive line in a bind. He needs to be smarter about his positioning in the pocket.
These are all flaws that Mahomes can fix. He’s never had a serious turnover problem, and he has to get used to how his new offensive line operates. Things will turn around, and it’s likely Mahomes ends the season on the top of the list, but unlike years past, it is hardly a formality.