The nine players picked ahead of Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft: Where are they now?
The Kansas City Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl after a thrilling AFC Championship game victory on Sunday night.
For the fifth time in the last six seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs are AFC Conference champions. A thrilling Sunday night game ended 32-29 to the Chiefs, seeing off the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs just know how to get it done in the crucial moment and boast the big game know-how needed to deliver championships. But for all the quality in the roster and the genius of Andy Reid on the sideline, it is quarterback Patrick Mahomes who is the real difference-maker for the Chiefs.
Speaking after the game, Mahomes said: “I’ve always said it, it’s not about one guy it’s about the entire team... It’s a team effort, it’s a team game.”
But while Mahomes does have a point, there’s no denying that his own personal interventions have saved the Chiefs on countless occasions over the course of this historic run. Mahomes' big-game character and unerring mentality have allowed the Chiefs to push their opponents to breaking point and beyond.
PATRICK. MAHOMES. #BUFvsKC pic.twitter.com/QGAcUp4BJm
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
Another championship would place Mahomes firmly in the ‘GOAT’ conversation. Yet when he entered the NFL eight years ago, he only just made it into the Top 10 of the 2017 Draft. There were nine players picked ahead of Mahomes back then, and nine teams who will be severely regretting their decisions. Here’s a look at how those players have got on since then...
No. 1, DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: The 2017 Draft was thought to be low on QB quality so the No. 1 pick went to a defensive end. While not quite a Mahomes, Garrett has gone on to be a stalwart with the Browns; a six-time Pro Bowler and NFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2022. No complaints.
No. 2, QB Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears: The first quarterback to go in 2017 had starred for the North Carolina Tar Heels in NCAA but hasn’t found consistency in the NFL. He spent three years with the Bears, before signing with the Buffalo Bills and latterly the Pittsburgh Steelers.
No. 3, DT Solomon Thomas, San Francisco 49ers: The Chicago native went at No. 3 and has been a solid performer in the NFL. After four years with the 49ers, he wen to to the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets.
No. 4, RB Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars: The first Super Bowl winner in the list, Fournette was a part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that lifted Super Bowl LV for the 2020 season. He was a starter for much of the 2021 and 2022 seasons before slipping down the pecking order and moving to Buffalo.
No. 5, WR Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans: A superstar in college, Davis would go on to find some success with the Titans but never topped either 1,000 yards or five touchdowns in a season. After four years he earnt himself a decent free agency deal with the New York Jets but retired in 2023.
No. 6, S Jamal Adams, New York Jets: After joiningthe Jets in the 2017 Draft, Jamal Adams looked to have nailed down a starting berth for years to come. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018, 2019 and 2020, but moved on to the Seattle Seahawks on a huge $72 million four-year deal. At that time, he was the highest-paid safety in the league.
No. 7, WR Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers. After struggling for game time in his first NFL season Williams became a steady receiver for the Chargers. In 2022 he signed a three-year extension worth $60 million with the team but has struggled with injury since then, moving on to the Jets and the Steelers.
No. 8, RB Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers. Perhaps the best non-Mahomes pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. McCaffrey is arguably the NFL’s best running back, when he is fit to play. He is the most important player on a stacked 49ers offensive roster and has come close to a Super Bowl of his own.
No. 9, WR John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals. The Californian made headlines at the NFL Combine with a record-breaking 4.22-second in the 40-yard dash. However his five-year NFL career was much less explosive, catching just 63 passes in his professional career. He played one game for the Eagles this season but has since been released.
And, finally, rounding out the Top 10 is Patrick Mahomes.
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