Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is getting some disheartening news as he continues to rehab for an ACL injury.
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are in a different place than usual heading into the 2026-27 season. Mahomes and the Chiefs aren’t used to being the underdogs, but after rounding out last season with a 6-11 record and no trip to the playoffs, Kansas City is in rebuilding mode, and that includes their quarterback, who’s coming back from an ACL and LCL injury that required surgery.
Now, for the first time in his career, really, Mahomes is feeling the sting of being the underdog. There’s no denying that he’s one of the best quarterbacks in his generation and has won the Kansas City Chiefs three Super Bowls, but that’s not helping him right now as the team gears up for the next season.
According to research from ESPN, for the 2025-26 regular NFL season, Mahomes notched 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 14 games. That’s not a weak showing, but it wasn’t enough to get him into the top tier of signal-callers going into the 2026-27 run.
Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes Gets Disrespectful News
Pro Football Focus has released its final edition of quarterback rankings going into the new season, and in the feature, Nick Akridge has Mahomes at No. 20, according to Bob McCullough of Chiefs Roundtable. Yes, you read that right. Mahomes is in the bottom half of NFL quarterbacks on the roster.
PFF ranks these based on quarterback passing grade more than any other factor. At the end of the 2025 season, Mahomes notched a passer rating of 70.7.
Whether or not the ranking is fair, it certain makes one thing. Did he really deserve to be that low on the tally?
“Was Mahomes really that bad? Yes and no,” McCullough says in a Sunday, February 15, piece. He had some stretches in the first half-dozen games when the Chiefs offense looked like a juggernaut, but when the cracks in the roster began to surface, he was unable to work his usual magic.”
He adds of Mahomes, “The problems are familiar by now. Key injuries in the offensive line forced Mahomes to run for his life in too many games, especially when rookie offensive tackle Josh Simmons added to the problem by taking a leave of absence for personal reasons.”
Questions About Patrick Mahomes’ Offense for the Kansas City Chiefs
In an ESPN piece out on Friday, February 13, Nate Taylor discusses the question facing the Kansas City Chiefs: “Can the Chiefs offense make sizable improvements while quarterback Patrick Mahomes rehabs?”
“Once again, the Chiefs will likely have to release some veterans to create salary cap space,” Taylor states. “While Mahomes continues to recover from a torn ACL, Kansas City must find a way to improve the running back depth, and it would be wise to find a difference-making pass catcher in the draft.”
He adds, “Plus, the Chiefs are hoping to re-sign tight end Travis Kelce. When the offseason is over, success will be determined by whether coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach acquired talented skill-position players to help Mahomes once he returns.”