KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Only minutes after boldly trading up to choose quarterback Patrick Mahomes II in the first round of the NFL draft, Chiefs coach Andy Reid walked into a cramped interview room and explained that his new young protégé might be a couple of years from contributing.
He also was confident that the upside Mahomes brings to the Chiefs was worthwhile.
It was an assessment Reid could easily have made about their day two selections, a raw defensive end out of Villanova and a record-setting running back out of Toledo.
Tanoh Kpassagnon and Kareem Hunt may be counted on to provide more next season than Mahomes, but the true value of the two picks might not be realized until they have a year or two in the league.