What's Happening?
Former Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan stated that he was 100% planning to draft quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the 2016 NFL Draft if he had not been fired by the team. Ryan, who coached the Bills for two seasons, recounted on the 'Bussin’ With The
Boys' podcast that he was highly impressed by Mahomes' performance at Texas Tech. He believed Mahomes was the best player he had ever seen and had conversations with team owner Terry Pegula about selecting him in the first round. The Bills held the 10th pick in that draft, but after Ryan's departure, the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to the 10th spot to draft Mahomes. Ryan maintains that if he had remained coach, Mahomes would have become a Buffalo Bill.
Why It's Important?
This revelation by Rex Ryan highlights a significant 'what if' moment in NFL history, particularly for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. Had Ryan remained with the Bills and drafted Mahomes, the trajectory of both franchises could have been drastically different. Mahomes has since become one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the league, leading the Chiefs to multiple Super Bowl victories. For the Bills, missing out on Mahomes meant they later drafted Tre'Davious White and then Josh Allen, who has also become a star quarterback. This scenario underscores the immense impact of coaching decisions and draft picks on a team's long-term success and competitive standing in the league. It also illustrates the fine margins that can define an NFL franchise's era of dominance or struggle.
What's Next?
While Rex Ryan's comments are retrospective, they contribute to the ongoing narrative of NFL draft history and the evaluation of coaching decisions. There are no direct 'next steps' from this revelation, as the events transpired years ago. However, such discussions often fuel fan debates and media analysis about alternative historical outcomes in sports. It also serves as a reminder for current NFL teams and coaches about the critical importance of scouting and drafting decisions, especially concerning franchise quarterbacks. The hypothetical scenario will likely continue to be a talking point when discussing the careers of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, and the respective paths of the Chiefs and Bills.
Beyond the Headlines
Beyond the immediate sports implications, Ryan's story touches on the high-stakes nature of professional sports management and the pressure on coaches to identify and secure generational talent. The 'what if' scenario with Mahomes and the Bills illustrates how a single personnel decision, or the lack thereof due to a coaching change, can reshape not just a team's fortunes but also the competitive balance of an entire league. It also subtly highlights the subjective nature of talent evaluation in sports, where one coach's conviction about a player can be overridden by organizational changes. The success of both Mahomes and Allen, despite the Bills missing out on the former, also speaks to the idea that multiple paths can lead to success in the NFL, even if one path is more direct or seemingly obvious in hindsight.
