The Kansas City Chiefs signed quarterback Patrick Mahomes II to a rookie contract Thursday after trading up in the 2017 NFL draft to select him with the 10th overall pick.
Typically when a team makes a major move in Round 1 it's to select a player they believe can make a serious difference next season. That's not the case for the Chiefs, who are still expected to start veteran signal-caller Alex Smith in 2017.
Instead, Mahomes is an investment in the future, and a costly one at that. Kansas City gave up its first-round picks this year and next year along with a third-round selection this year to move up 17 spots in a draft-day trade with the Buffalo Bills.