The day the Buffalo Bills could've drafted Patrick Mahomes
“He, without a doubt, would have given his firstborn for Mahomes." Go Long catches up with Doug Whaley, the GM who knew how much Terry Pegula coveted the Texas Tech QB in 2017.
Throughout history, fan bases in all sports love to claim that they “almost” — emphasis on those air quotes — landed a legend. History is often revised by the parties involved, too.
But as you know here at Go Long, it’s unequivocally true that the Buffalo Bills easily could’ve drafted Patrick Mahomes at the No. 10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The man who owns the team — Terry Pegula — loved the quarterback out of Texas Tech more than anyone else. Long before the QB was even getting mocked in the first round by the draft industrial complex, Pegula had a notion. We launched the site with this two-parter in November 2020:
Suffice to say, the team’s consolation prize (Josh Allen) has proven his worth.
If you’re going to miss on the NFL’s version of Michael Jordan, it sure helps to find a great of your own. Allen has been spectacular. And on Sunday evening at Arrowhead, Allen and the Bills will get another chance at dethroning Mahomes. Several players shared how they plan to slay the king in our Friday Feature this week.
The context for this budding rivalry is forever fascinating.
On April 27, 2017, the Bills inadvertently ushered in NFL royalty by trading their 10th overall pick to the Chiefs. It wasn’t easy for the team’s owner. Far back as October ’16, he was studying film of Mahomes and telling everyone who’d listen that this kid would be special. Yet, by draft day, Pegula had also given first-year coach Sean McDermott final say and did not want to meddle. All Mahomes has done since then is reach the AFC Championship Game in all seven of his seasons as the KC starter, win three Super Bowls, go 105-26 a starter and accelerate his pursuit of Tom Brady as the greatest player in the history of the sport. Mahomes has been the immovable object lodged between the Buffalo Bills and Lombardi Trophies.
McDermott understandably opted not to relive that draft in our 1 -on 1 interview. But ahead of this fourth heavyweight fight between Kansas City and Buffalo, the GM those days has no problems reminiscing.
Doug Whaley remembers just how much his boss wanted Mahomes.
“He, without a doubt, would have given his firstborn for Mahomes,” Whaley says. “Not only was he looking at him, but he had all of his numbers guys running analytics. Watching every game. Every throw. So he was steadfastly, unequivocally all about Mahomes.”