Former teammate names what Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes 'doesn’t get enough credit for'

Before Alex Smith began working as an ESPN NFL analyst, he mentored Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as a rookie during the 2017 season. 

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Smith discussed how Mahomes is more than just a generational athlete playing the sport's most important position. 

"He continues to change and find different ways to get you," Smith said about Mahomes, The Athletic's Nate Taylor shared. "That is the mark of an unbelievable quarterback and competitor. I think it actually deserves more credit. He doesn’t get enough credit for [being] such a grinder on the little things. He’s so hungry and so unchanged despite all his success. It’s just awesome to watch." 

Shortly after Mahomes became a three-time Super Bowl champion and a three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player last February, he left little doubt that he wanted to at least match living legend Tom Brady and earn a minimum of seven championship rings. While Mahomes then guided the Chiefs to a 15-1 record before Kansas City punted on Week 18, he and his club flew somewhat under the radar as Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills emerged as regular-season MVP favorites. 

Per Pro Football Reference, Mahomes ended this past regular season ranked eighth in the NFL among qualified players with a 67.7 adjusted QBR, seventh with 3,928 passing yards and ninth with 26 passing touchdowns.

During his Hall of Fame career, Brady built a reputation for being a ferocious competitor who lived in the film room when he wasn't on practice fields during midweeks. According to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, that's another way Mahomes and Brady are similar. 

"[Mahomes] is a film junkie," Veach explained. "There’s mutual respect. He knows how much time our [personnel] guys put into it. It’s almost like a coach. He’ll go through [a receiver’s] entire season of tape. There are no shortcuts with him. He does the work."

As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Chiefs as 8.5-point favorites for the Saturday afternoon home divisional-round playoff game versus the Houston Texans. If nothing else, Mahomes should be ready for whatever is thrown his way by Houston coach DeMeco Ryans at Arrowhead Stadium.