If Chicago would’ve drafted Patrick Mahomes he would’ve been out of the NFL by now

In an alternate NFL reality, where the Chicago Bears made a different choice in the 2017 NFL Draft, the football world might never have seen the rise of Patrick Mahomes as the generational superstar we know today.

During a recent interview on a popular NFL podcast, a former Bears scout dropped a jaw-dropping take:

“If Chicago would’ve drafted Patrick Mahomes, he would’ve been out of the league by now.”

It sounds outrageous — even laughable — given Mahomes’ MVP awards, two Super Bowl rings, and his status as the face of the NFL. But when you dig deeper, the statement opens up a compelling discussion about how environment, coaching, and franchise culture play just as big a role as talent.

A Tale of Two Franchises

In 2017, the Bears had the No. 2 overall pick. They famously passed on both Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson to select Mitchell Trubisky, a relatively unproven quarterback from North Carolina. Meanwhile, Mahomes was taken at No. 10 by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he sat behind Alex Smith and learned under offensive mastermind Andy Reid.

The Bears, at that time, were in disarray. Their offensive system was inconsistent, their coaching staff was on the hot seat, and the franchise lacked the infrastructure to develop a young quarterback.

“He would’ve been thrown into the fire right away,” said the former scout. “With no real system, no support, and a staff that didn’t know how to groom quarterbacks, Mahomes would’ve struggled — badly.”

Mahomes Needed Kansas City… and Kansas City Needed Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes didn’t just become great on his own. He was put into a perfect situation: a patient franchise, a loaded offensive roster, and one of the best QB tutors in the history of the game in Andy Reid. He sat for a year, learned, developed, and exploded in his second season with 50 touchdown passes.

Now imagine him being forced to start Week 1 in Chicago in 2017 — with a shaky offensive line, no elite weapons, and a coaching carousel. There’s a strong chance he would’ve been labeled a bust before he even had a chance to grow.

Fans React

NFL fans had mixed reactions to the hot take. Some Bears fans painfully agreed:

“Look what we did to Trubisky. No way Mahomes thrives here.”

Others dismissed it as revisionist history:

“Great players rise no matter what. Mahomes is too talented.”

But many analysts admit that Mahomes might not be Mahomes if not for the unique support system in Kansas City.

The Bigger Question

This debate isn’t just about Mahomes and the Bears — it raises a larger point about quarterback development. How many careers have been wasted by poor franchises? How many “busts” were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?

As Mahomes continues to carve out a Hall of Fame legacy, Bears fans are left with the haunting possibility of what could’ve been — and perhaps the comfort that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t meant to be.