Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the most popular pick to win the 2024 NFL MVP Award in a poll of coaches and executives conducted by The Athletic this week.
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the majority of those anonymously polled chose Mahomes, with one general manager saying: "It's hard not to say Mahomes. He's Michael Jordan."
Another GM added: "Until someone proves otherwise, it's Mahomes. Until somebody knocks off the king, he stands."
Mahomes finished only seventh in the NFL MVP voting last season, but he is a two-time NFL MVP and led the Chiefs to their second consecutive Super Bowl win last season, while taking Super Bowl MVP honors.
The 28-year-old Mahomes is already among the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history, having earned six Pro Bowl nods, two NFL MVP awards, three Super Bowl wins and three Super Bowl MVP awards in just six seasons as a starter.
While Mahomes' accolades are undeniable, he is technically coming off the worst statistical season of his career.
In six seasons as a starter, 2023 was Mahomes' worst in terms of quarterback rating (92.6), interceptions thrown (14) and passing yards per game (261.4).
He ended up completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,183 yards, 27 touchdowns and 14 picks, and the Chiefs went a somewhat pedestrian 11-6 by their standards, leaving many to wonder whether they would finally crash out of the playoffs early.
Instead, Mahomes and the Chiefs rose to the occasion, shutting down the high-flying Miami Dolphins offense in the AFC Wild Card Round before going on the road to beat the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round and AFC Championship Game, respectively.
Then, in only the second overtime Super Bowl in NFL history, Mahomes orchestrated a game-winning touchdown drive ending with a scoring toss to Mecole Hardman to defeat the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL on CBS 🏈 @NFLonCBSTHE CHIEFS WIN THE SUPER BOWL <a href="https://t.co/0YTNIiX6RU">pic.twitter.com/0YTNIiX6RU</a>
If the league couldn't take down Mahomes and the Chiefs when they were struggling to find offensive consistency all season long, it is difficult to envision things being any different in 2024.
Kansas City took steps to improve the offensive firepower around Mahomes during the offseason, signing wide receiver Hollywood Brown in free agency and selecting speedy wideout Xavier Worthy in the first round of the draft.
Plus, Rashee Rice should be even better in his second season after nearly reaching the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie, and future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce remains Mahomes' most-trusted target.
Mahomes will have stiff competition in reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson of the Ravens, Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, among others, but the pieces appear to be in place for Mahomes to make a legitimate run toward his third MVP.
