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There are such a lot of unimaginable “what ifs?” in the case of the NFL, however the newest from Bruce Arians would have drastically altered the league in methods which might be unfathomable. Three of the final 5 Tremendous Bowls would have been completely different, and the following dominoes would have fully modified the league.
Showing on Pardon My Take Wednesday, Arians mentioned that the Cardinals have been concentrating on Patrick Mahomes within the 2017 NFL Draft, and believed he would fall to them — till the Chiefs shocked them and took the quarterback.
“As that draft was falling I used to be like ‘He’s ours.’ It’s both him or Deshaun. However Pat, he was proper there — Kansas Metropolis doesn’t want a quarterback. They take him, and I used to be like ‘what?’ They’d Alex Smith … simply went to a Professional Bowl. We cherished him”
It’s simple to neglect now, however the Chiefs taking Mahomes was a shocker on the time. Clearly the workforce wanted to begin planning for the longer term on the place on condition that Alex Smith was 32-years-old, however coming off a 12-4 season it appeared unlikely Kansas Metropolis would search for a passer, not to mention commerce up from No. 27 to No. 10 to get one. So as to add one other layer the Chiefs took Mahomes over Deshaun Watson, who was extensively regarded to be the higher quarterback by draft consultants.
Clearly we all know this was one an absolute stroke of genius. The Chiefs acquired probably the greatest quarterbacks within the NFL, and a participant who has a really actual probability to be one of many biggest of all-time if his type holds — all whereas managing to by no means backside out.
Think about for a second that didn’t occur. The Chiefs determine to face pat as a substitute of buying and selling up for Pat — what occurs to the remainder of the league?
The 2017 Draft
The Payments clearly didn’t really feel they wanted a quarterback for a wide range of causes. They have been nonetheless recovering from whiffing on E.J. Manuel, and Tyrod Taylor was coming off a promising two-year run that confirmed potential he may very well be a long-term possibility.
A significant weak point was now obtrusive at cornerback. Stephon Gilmore left in free company for the Patriots, leaving an enormous gap that wanted to be plugged. There’s each probability the Payments draft Marshon Lattimore at No. 10, leaving each quarterbacks on the board. The Saints then take Marlon Humphrey at No. 11, as a result of they want a defensive again too.
With yet another decide earlier than the Cardinals are on the clock, the Texans commerce up identical to they did in 2017 to take Watson, which was the logical choice based mostly on most draft boards. The Cardinals then choose Patrick Mahomes with the No. 13 decide.
What occurs to the Chiefs?
Alex Smith had a fantastic 2017 earlier than falling off. The Chiefs play out via Alex Smith’s decline and are confronted with back-to-back shallow quarterback courses in 2019 and 2020, unable to actually discover a good alternative.
They don’t win the Tremendous Bowl in 2020, and are seemingly nonetheless looking for a franchise quarterback at this time.
What occurs to the Cardinals?
It’s nearly unattainable to know simply how dangerous Arizona’s quarterback room was in 2016. Carson Palmer was on his final legs, and the opposite choices have been Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton. This workforce desperately wanted a brand new quarterback, so what in the event that they landed Mahomes within the 2017 draft?
Firstly, the workforce has a future. Palmer continues to be the starter, however Mahomes is ready to take over for him as a substitute. Figuring out Pat has the chops to be a future franchise quarterback it’s fully seemingly Bruce Arians decides to not retire from the NFL after the 2017 season and stays in Arizona, believing they’ve an opportunity to win a Tremendous Bowl.
It’s unclear in the event that they obtain that objective, however with Mahomes there’s each chance we’re wanting on the Cardinals profitable in 2020, with Larry Fitzgerald retiring from the NFL with the Tremendous Bowl ring he so deserved.
What different fallout occurs on account of Mahomes going to Arizona as a substitute?
Whereas the change in fortunes for the Chiefs and Cardinals is pretty simple to trace on account of Pat Mahomes enjoying for a unique workforce, the opposite dominoes are even wilder to think about.
- The Chiefs decide up Nick Foles’ second 12 months possibility in 2017 to again up Alex Smith, and see if he can develop into their starter. Consequently he doesn’t go to Philadelphia. The Eagles don’t have a participant they will flip to when Carson Wentz is harm, they usually don’t win the Tremendous Bowl.
- Bruce Arians stays in Arizona, which suggests the Buccaneers don’t have him to be their new head coach in 2019. It’s unlikely Tom Brady elects to return to Tampa Bay with out a longtime and confirmed head coach in place. As an alternative Brady goes to the Dolphins, who have been seen because the second more than likely workforce to land TB12.
- Determined to win now, the Buccaneers may doubtlessly develop into the workforce to commerce for Matthew Stafford as a substitute of the Rams.
- Kliff Kingsbury turns into the pinnacle coach of the Jets in 2019, the place he interviewed previous to Arizona — and New York may have been the workforce to draft Kyler Murray as a substitute.
If Mahomes went to the Cardinals the NFL wouldn’t look remotely the identical
That’s what’s so enjoyable about imagining how one change alters the NFL. It simply occurs that Mahomes, being probably the greatest gamers within the NFL, brought about much more dominoes to shift than anybody else in latest reminiscence.
There are much more questions left unanswered if this got here to cross. Would Andy Reid have lasted in KC? Would Tom Brady have retired if he didn’t succeed once more? The situations maintain mounting and can twist your mind right into a pretzel.
Because it stands the Chiefs are in an incredible place, the Cardinals are in a great spot — and the remainder is historical past.
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