NFL’s top 100 players list of 2024 is here with some surprises. The No. 1 spot is occupied by Tyreek Hill, with Lamar Jackson and Christian McCaffrey at No. 2 and No.3, respectively. Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is ranked 4th despite winning two consecutive Super Bowls. Last year, he was No. 1. This has sparked a debate among fans and critics. Chiefdom didn’t appreciate their star being snubbed in such a way. An analyst even called it a massive disrespect to the Grim Reaper.

Discussing Mahomes’ 4th rank on the First Things First show with Nick Wright and Kevin Wildes, Chris Broussard cautioned Chiefs’ rivals. He claimed that teams often have to fight complacency after winning one championship, whereas the Chiefs have won two consecutive trophies. However, this rating gives them a reason to be angry and go all-in for wins. The analyst added, “All right, that is the thing when you’ve won two championships, even one championship you have to fight taking your opponents lightly. Whatever it is, they don’t have to fight any of that. All right, their motivation within themselves, but they have external motivations.” Then he took the discussion to a different sport.

Comparing the situation to when Michael Jordan was going for a 3-peat in the NBA, Broussard said that everyone called the GOAT the best in the world. Similarly, when Kobe and Shaq became NBA champions, everyone called them the best. LeBron and his teammates got the same respect when the Miami Heat won the championship. But the Chiefs are still being disrespected, and it will make them fired up to win more. He added, “Now the chiefs have so much external motivation. You got this obviously.” However, he said Patrick Mahomes has to win more or match the football GOAT, Tom Brady.
Pointing out that with seven Super Bowl wins, TB12 has set the bar for QBs. Broussard added that if Brady hadn’t won those championships, Mahomes’ mentality would have been different. He mentioned, ” If Brady had never won seven say won two or three I don’t know how much Mahomes thinks can I keep winning more you, so I think that this is great for Chiefs.” If you are wondering what the QB has to achieve to earn the NFL’s respect, the analyst hinted at a reason behind not being ranked in the Top 3.

The timing of the poll might affect the placement. Let’s explore that scenario.

How is the NFL Top 100 rankings compiled? Would it have affected Patrick Mahomes’ rank?

Broussard said the vote collection happens between Thanksgiving and New Year. So, it means that voting for this year’s list took place in December 2023. That month, Mahomes was not at his best with six touchdowns and five interceptions. He picked up his performance as the playoffs approached. According to him, voting at the end of the season would yield different rankings. To make it clear, let’s explain the process of voting

Senior talent producers Erin O’Toole and Kaley Campen physically go to the locker rooms of different teams, handing over paper ballots to the players, who write the names of 20 players. The No. 1 spot has 20 points, No. 2 has 19, and so on. A computer processes all the data after which they declare the rankings. Over the years, the duo has also witnessed some trends.
They claim that most athletes would hype up their old college mates instead of their rivals, and they would vote for the players who beat them in recent games. While there’s a chance that the timing played a role, it sure has fired up the Chiefs. Will they be able to silence everyone by completing their 3-peat? For them, this season will be monumental, and Mahomes is the key.