The 2017 Patrick Mahomes Trade-Up: Kansas City Paid Three Premium Picks and Changed NFL History
Kansas City moved from No. 27 to No. 10 for Patrick Mahomes. Buffalo received Tre'Davious White and major draft value, but the Chiefs secured a dynasty quarterback.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2017 1st round pick (27th overall, Tre'Davious White), 2017 3rd round pick (91st overall subsequently traded, John Johnson ) and 2018 1st round pick (22nd overall subsequently traded, Rashaan Evans )
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 2017 1st round pick (10th overall, Patrick Mahomes)
Trade Summary
Kansas City's trade up for Patrick Mahomes became one of the most important draft moves in NFL history. The Chiefs paid a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and a future first to move up for their quarterback. Buffalo received real assets, but Kansas City acquired the player who launched a dynasty. Buffalo received useful assets, but Kansas City acquired the defining quarterback of the era.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Kansas City moved from No. 27 to No. 10 in the 2017 draft and selected Patrick Mahomes. Buffalo received the 27th pick, the 91st pick and Kansas City's 2018 first-round selection. The Bills used No. 27 on Tre'Davious White and continued moving the other assets through later transactions.
Why Kansas City Was Willing to Jump 17 Spots
The Chiefs already had a playoff-caliber roster and a stable veteran quarterback in Alex Smith, which allowed them to treat Mahomes as a long-term investment rather than an emergency starter. Their scouts and coaches saw traits they believed could support a higher offensive ceiling, and the organization chose conviction over waiting for the board to come to them.
That decision became franchise-defining. Mahomes developed behind Smith for a season, took over in 2018 and quickly became one of the league's dominant quarterbacks. By 2026, Kansas City's official franchise history credits him with multiple championships, repeated Super Bowl appearances and statistical production unmatched by any quarterback through a comparable number of starts.
What Buffalo Received
Buffalo's side was good process and produced real players. White became an All-Pro-caliber cornerback, and the additional selections helped a new front office reshape the roster. The Bills were not fleeced in the conventional sense; they accumulated meaningful capital and found a high-level starter.
The problem for any verdict is the player Kansas City selected. When a trade-up produces a generational quarterback and a championship era, almost any normal collection of draft assets becomes secondary.
Why Hindsight Should Not Erase Buffalo's Value
Buffalo made a reasonable trade for its own timeline and later solved quarterback with Josh Allen. That keeps the deal from being a disaster for the Bills.
Final Verdict
Kansas City wins decisively. Buffalo received strong value, but the Chiefs converted three premium picks into Mahomes, the player who altered the franchise's competitive ceiling and became the defining quarterback of a championship era.