The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs didn’t have a complete lot of first-round firepower throughout the 2017 NFL Draft. They completed with a 12-4 file the season earlier than behind Alex Smith as their quarterback, thought of one of many higher groups within the league on the time. However the group sensed one thing in a prospect named Patrick Mahomes from Texas Tech, and made a transfer to climb up the draft board.
Kansas Metropolis gave the Buffalo Payments their first spherical decide, the twenty seventh total, in addition to a third-round decide and a primary rounder in 2018, and moved up into the tenth spot. They made Mahomes the choice, and the remaining is historical past, because the quarterback has entered the “biggest of all time” dialog after his first 6 seasons as a full-time starter.
NFL: Which Gamers Have been Drafted Forward Of Patrick Mahomes?
Patrick Mahomes needed to cease by Disneyland after successful back-to-back championships 🐐@PatrickMahomes | @Disneyland pic.twitter.com/2uZaAyqC8t
— ESPN (@espn) February 13, 2024
However who have been the gamers that groups forward of the Chiefs deemed higher prospects than Patrick Mahomes? Here’s a have a look at the 9 gamers who have been chosen earlier than him, and the place they’re right now:
1. Myles Garrett – Cleveland Browns
Any group would like to have Mahomes as their quarterback, however the Browns didn’t get too horrible of a comfort prize. They’d the primary total decide in 2017 and took freak line of defense prospect Myles Garrett out of Texas A&M, who has turned in to arguably one of the best defensive participant within the league. He has been a primary or second group all-pro in every season since his second, and was the winner of the NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr Award in 2023.
2. Mitch Trubisky – Chicago Bears
The one quarterback drafted forward of Mahomes. Trubisky had a stable season in 2018, main the Bears to a 11-3 file in video games that he began whereas qualifying for a Professional Bowl. It has been just about all downhill from there, as he has spent the final three seasons primarily as a backup with each the Payments and Steelers. It was revealed the day after the Tremendous Bowl that the Steelers can be parting methods with the quarterback.
3. Solomon Thomas – San Francisco 49ers
Thomas was finally a disappointment for San Francisco, as he notched simply six sacks in his 4 seasons with the group. The 49ers had no concern letting him go after his rookie contract expired, and he has performed for the Raiders and Jets within the years since. He has began simply three video games since 2020.
4. Leonard Fournette – Jacksonville Jaguars
He was one of many high prospects in 2017, and the Jaguars nabbed Fournette with the 4th total decide. Two of his first three seasons have been reasonably productive whereas he missed time within the different attributable to damage, however his shelf life didn’t final lengthy as usually occurs to NFL working backs. He’s nonetheless within the league and technically energetic, however spent the vast majority of the 2023 with out a group earlier than taking part in in two video games for the Payments.
I’ll get at the least 3 extra tremendous bowls earlier than I’m carried out……..
— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) February 12, 2024
5. Corey Davis – Tennessee Titans
Davis had a few good seasons with the Titans, however he was by no means in a position to reside as much as his billing as a top-five decide and the primary broad receiver taken within the NFL Draft that 12 months. He signed with the Jets after 4 seasons in Tennessee, beginning 19 video games between 2021 and 2022. He didn’t play in any respect in 2023, as he has taken a break from the sport and may very well be retiring as an alternative of constant his profession.
6. Jamal Adams – New York Jets
He began each recreation throughout the first two years of his profession, and have become one of many high safeties within the recreation, and was chosen for a number of All-Professional groups, even after being traded to the Seahawks in 2020. Accidents have derailed the final couple of seasons for Adams, as he performed in a complete of simply 10 of a doable 35 video games for Seattle in 2022 and 2023.
7. Mike Williams – Los Angeles Chargers
ESPN had Williams ranked as the highest broad receiver within the class of 2017, however he was the second taken after Davis, and it seemed like he was going to be labeled a bust after his first two seasons within the league. However he has gone over 1,000 yards twice since 2019, and posted 4 straight years of 750+ yard performances. He suffered an ACL tear in Week 3 in 2023, reducing his most up-to-date season quick.
The landing machine 😤@49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is the 2023 Offensive Participant of the Yr! pic.twitter.com/VUme8LucZ1
— FOX Sports activities: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 9, 2024
8. Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers
McCaffrey is among the stars that was chosen forward of Mahomes, and he was simply named the Offensive Participant of the Yr for 2023 and was a couple of minutes away from being topped an NFL champion. He led the league in speeding this previous season, and has been a high-volume producer from the start, even throughout his time with the panthers.
9. John Ross – Cincinnati Bengals
Ross would be the greatest bust of the entire gamers picked earlier than Mahomes. He has zero catches his rookie season and touched the ball simply as soon as, a play during which he fumbled on. His finest season got here in 2019 when he caught 28 balls for 506 yards, however by no means got here near duplicating these numbers once more. He spent the ultimate 12 months of his profession with the Giants in 2021 earlier than retiring.
