Confidence in Patrick Mahomes plummets after 2023 NFL Draft, according to new poll
The Kansas City Chiefs are unlikely to defend their Super Bowl for a plethora of reasons, especially for bungling the recent draft.
They have football's best quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, as well as a top-tier receiving target in tight end Travis Kelce. However, according to a recent poll, the Chiefs Kingdom thinks that general manager Brett Veach may have bungled the recent draft.
Ahead of the draft, Sportsbook Review graded fans of 32 NFL teams on a scale of 1 to 10 with the question "How well do you think your team will draft?" The final results had the Chiefs at 7.32, the second highest score just behind the Seattle Seahawks and the highest in the AFC.
However, in a follow-up poll that asked "How well do you think your team drafted", Sportsbook Review found that satisfaction in the Chiefs had significantly fallen to 6.85 - at .47 points the second-biggest drop, only behind the Jacksonville Jaguars, who lost .57.
Why did Kansas City Chiefs lose many points in the post-draft poll?
Judging by their draft class, the Chiefs looked to have nailed their defensive needs.
Only two of their selections were on the offensive side (wide receiver Rashee Rice and offensive tackle Wanya Morris). Their highest pick (31st) overall went to defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who could complement Chris Jones.
Meanwhile, the team's offense still leaves something to be desired, besides the passing game. The departures of Orlando Brown Jr. (Cincinnati Bengals) and Andrew Wylie (Washington Commanders) have proven to be a major blow to the offensive line.
The Chiefs' running game remains average, at best, even with solid performances from Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon last year
Which teams scored the highest in the post-draft poll, and why?
In contrast to the Chiefs, the Eagles were the biggest winners in the poll, rising to a league-high 8.04.
Much of that can be attributed to the drafting of Georgia's Jalen Carter, among others, improving an already stacked defense filled with Pro Bowlers like cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry and linebacker Haason Reddick.
The Houston Texans were also big winners, with a league-high 2.17-point gain from 5.28 to 7.44. The consecutive selections of quarterback CJ Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. definitely helped their progress
