Patrick Mahomes: NFL pundit SURPRISED by Chiefs star this season - EXCLUSIVE
PATRICK MAHOMES is looking like a serious MVP contender but former NFL cornerback Jason Bell has been surprised by his rise to stardom for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Patrick Mahomes will lead his side out against the Los Angeles Rams tonight in what is being billed as the game of the season so far.
Both teams boast 9-1 starts with the clash now set to take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after being moved from the Azteca Stadium due to poor conditions in Mexico City.
Mahomes, in his first season as a starter, has taken the league by storm and leads the NFL in passing yards (3,150) and touchdowns (31), while also showing off some incredible improvisational skills.
Bell admits he didn’t foresee Mahomes’ remarkable rise as the 23-year-old prepares to go up against No 2 in the quarterback stats, and tonight’s opponent, Jared Goff.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Bell said: “I’m impressed because I thought he was going to have more struggles.
“The thing is, if you watch him throw, he throws the ball like he’s throwing a little tennis ball or baseball.
“Any angle, any way - it’s unbelievable the way the he can throw the ball and adjust. Its like art.
“I’m highly impressed too by the fact that he’s not making mistakes over and over again.
I’m highly impressed by the fact that he’s not making mistakes over and over again
“Something negative happens to him - he learns from it - and doesn’t usually allow it to happen the next week.”
Mahomes and Goff have been mooted to form the next big rivalry in the NFL when the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees move on.
Asked if that could be the case, Bell added: “I hope so, I really hope so.
“You need that and you need some new blood in these rivalries.
“It would be great to see and we’re going to see (the start of it) tonight.”
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Patrick Mahomes net worth
Mahomes has a net worth of £8.94million ($11.76m), according to HeroSports.
That places the Texan as the 934th wealthiest active NFL player and he doesn’t even break the top five best-paid players on the Chiefs' roster.
The most lucrative contract for the 2018 season was awarded to linebacker Justin Houston, who will pocket £15.66m ($20.6m) for the campaign.
Mahomes is set to earn 20% more next season, though, with his contract due to rise to £3.41m ($4.48m).
His guaranteed money from his four-year Chiefs deal is £12.5m ($16.42m).