Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes believes there was serious interest on the New York Jets part to draft him in 2017.
Now starting, for your New York Jets, No. 15, Patrick Mahomes.
In an alternate, much-kinder universe, this is the reality extraterrestrial Jets fans might currently be enjoying. Mike Maccagnan snagged the Red Raider in the six-hole of the 2017 NFL draft and the organization never looked back.
Now wake up. Slap some water on your face and brew some coffee. This universe is a much harsher one for fans that root for New Jersey green. New York selected Jamal Adams and Mahomes went to the Kansas City Chiefs—the Jets’ opponent this weekend—four picks later.
Interestingly, the new face of the NFL thought he may have been heading to New York prior to the draft’s start. The “interest” on behalf of the Jets was apparent—at least from Mahomes’s point of view.
“I thought there was interest there,” Mahomes told reporters Wednesday. “Whenever you get on those visits, you know that they’re pretty interested in doing their due diligence.
“I mean, I definitely thought there was interest there, but at the time they drafted a great player in Jamal Adams, and you can’t really argue with that one.”
Did Patrick Mahomes think there was a good chance the Jets would draft him in 2017?
"Yeah, I definitely thought there was interest there" pic.twitter.com/9NjNGSGVKV
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 28, 2020
Mahomes, 25, requires no introduction. His 50 touchdowns and 5,097 passing yards in 2018 helped him win the NFL MVP in his first season as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback. A year later, he hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy courtesy of a fearless fourth-quarter comeback against a tremendous San Francisco 49ers defense.
Adams, 25, is now in the Great Northwest. While Joe Douglas certainly raked in the assets when trading the LSU product, his first-round selection three years ago falls under the “didn’t work out” category.
The Jets ventured into the 2017 season with Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty as the team’s quarterbacks.
This Sunday the New York Jets will run onto the Arrowhead Stadium field with the quarterback they were once interested in on the other side of the ball while the guy they did choose makes his home nearly as far away as possible.
