There was a time - not long ago - when the idea of Patrick Mahomes landing in the bottom half of any quarterback ranking felt unthinkable. Yet here we are.
In the final quarterback rankings released by Pro Football Focus, Mahomes came in at 20th. That’s not a typo.
The two-time MVP, two-time Super Bowl champ, and face of the league found himself behind names like Marcus Mariota and Tyler Slough.
Let’s break this down.
PFF’s rankings lean heavily on passing grade, though they factor in a range of metrics. Mahomes finished with a passer rating of 70.7.
For context, Matthew Stafford topped the list at 93.3. That’s a significant gap - and one that reflects a season where Mahomes simply didn’t look like the quarterback we’re used to seeing.
But was he really the 20th-best quarterback in the league this year? That’s where the conversation gets interesting.
Mahomes’ season was a tale of two halves. Early on, the Chiefs offense looked like it might be finding its rhythm.
Mahomes was still making jaw-dropping throws, still improvising in the pocket, still doing Mahomes things. But as the season wore on, the cracks in Kansas City’s roster became harder to paper over - and even Mahomes couldn’t magic his way out of them.
The offensive line, which had been a strength in recent years, became a revolving door. Injuries piled up, and rookie tackle Josh Simmons took a leave of absence for personal reasons, leaving Mahomes exposed more often than not. He was under pressure far too frequently, forced to escape and extend plays behind a patchwork line.
And then there was the receiving corps - a group that struggled with consistency all season. Travis Kelce, usually the security blanket, had a rocky start.
One of the pivotal moments came when Kelce collided with rookie wideout Xavier Worthy, resulting in an injury that derailed Worthy’s rookie campaign. Rashee Rice, another young target, had his moments but also battled drops that disrupted the flow of the offense during key stretches.
This wasn’t the high-flying, big-play Chiefs offense we’ve come to expect. Instead, it was an attack that looked disjointed at times - and Mahomes, for all his brilliance, couldn’t do it alone.
Still, seeing him ranked behind quarterbacks like Mariota and Slough is jarring. Kirk Cousins at 14th?
Mac Jones at 13th? That’s where you start to question not just the numbers, but the context behind them.
Mahomes didn’t have a Mahomes year, but he was still better than some of the names ahead of him.
Looking ahead, there’s a shift coming in Kansas City - and it starts with Mahomes himself. After undergoing offseason knee surgery, his mobility may be limited, at least early in the 2026 season. That could mean a more grounded version of Mahomes - one who operates more from the pocket than we’ve seen in years past.
The Chiefs know this. GM Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid have already begun to adjust.
Most mock drafts have Kansas City targeting a running back or tight end with the ninth overall pick - weapons to help Mahomes transition into this next phase of his career. Expect them to be active in free agency as well, especially once they make the necessary cap moves.
The Mahomes we see in 2026 might not be the same off-script magician we’ve watched for the past six seasons. But with better protection, more reliable weapons, and a scheme that evolves with him, it’s hard to imagine he won’t climb right back into the top 10 - where he belongs.
This past season may have been a blip. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that betting against Patrick Mahomes rarely ends well.