The reigning Super Bowl champions have five players on Pro Football Focus’ list of the top-50 NFL players heading into the 2020 season. No teams have more players on the list than the Kansas City Chiefs. In addition, all of the Chiefs’ players are listed within the top-25 players.
This particular list seeks to use PFF grades and stats to determine how good a player is, regardless of position, heading into the upcoming season. They projected their outlook for 2020 based on an overview of previous stats and grades. Then they adjusted those projections based injuries and new circumstances surrounding the team.
Below you’ll find a look at what PFF’s Sam Monson had to say about each player and my thoughts on PFF’s ranking.
2. QB Patrick Mahomes
“If there’s a player who has a hope of rivaling Donald as the best in the league regardless of position, it’s likely Mahomes. What we’re seeing from the young quarterback has never been done before — not necessarily statistically, but stylistically. His feel for the game and ability to make special plays as a passer is absurd. Since Mahomes entered the league, his PFF passing grade on third-and-long alone is 91.4, and his passer rating is 125.3 — comfortably the best in the league. Nobody can do what Mahomes can right now, and 2020 should bring about an even better version than last year if he stays healthy.“
I have a feeling that Mahomes would’ve landed the No. 1 spot on this list had he stayed healthy. He only missed two games in the long run, but that shadow of doubt seems to be enough for Monson to rank Rams’ DT Aaron Donald over Mahomes at No. 1. Again, this list doesn’t take positional value into account, it’s merely a measure of how good a player is heading into the upcoming season. With that said, there’s no player in the NFL I’d rather have than Mahomes, regardless of position.