Imagine a world where the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t have Patrick Mahomes or Chris Jones. They are two of the best players on the Chiefs today, but NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. recently shared a scenario where neither ended up in Kansas City if only their front office had gotten their way back in 2016.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft: Packers and Steelers trade up, Raiders, Patriots land QBs
Kansas City Chiefs wanted Paxton Lynch in 2016 NFL Draft, lucked into Patrick Mahomes a year later
Back during the 2016 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly had their eye on a quarterback prospect by the name of Paxton Lynch. The 6-foot-7 QB out of Memphis was projected by many draft experts as a potential first-round pick.
The Chiefs had Alex Smith, a 31-year-old former No. 1 overall pick who had just led them to the Divisional Round while finishing with the ninth-best scoring offense in the NFL. Yet, according to Mel Kiper Jr., the Chiefs were thinking about the future. However, with the 28th overall pick, Kansas City also knew they likely wouldn’t have a chance to land one of the top QB prospects like Jared Goff or Carson Wentz.
That left Paxton Lynch, who ended up being drafted by Kansas City’s AFC West rivals, to the Denver Broncos as the 26th overall pick, two spots ahead of where the Chiefs were drafting. Yet, the Chiefs’ front office, led by GM John Dorsey, tried to leap ahead of Denver so they could take Lynch, but it didn’t work out.
The Chiefs ended up trading down into the second round, where they took defensive tackle Chris Jones instead. Jones has since become a two-time All-Pro at his position. Then, the very next year, Kansas City traded up from No. 27 to No. 10 to draft Patrick Mahomes. Two years later, they were celebrating a Super Bowl win, with Mahomes at the helm, boosted by Jones wrecking game plans on defense.
Yet, if the Chiefs had successfully landed Lynch in 2016, Kansas City likely would have never drafted Jones or Mahomes, leading to a much different outcome. Sometimes missing out on your top prospect works out better than anyone could have ever imagined, and that’s never been more true for the Chiefs.
Lynch ended up playing in five games in the NFL, whereas Mahomes looks like a player on track to win five Super Bowls in his career. They are not the same.
Related: Jim Harbaugh suggests J.J. McCarthy will get drafted ahead of Caleb Williams in 2024 NFL Draft