Patrick Mahomes spent a lot of last year in the training room. That’s not ideal for any quarterback, let alone one who’s used to scrambling, extending plays, and making defenders look foolish. But according to ESPN’s Nate Taylor, the Chiefs QB is in a completely different headspace now that training camp is here.
Taylor joined The Pat McAfee Show and basically said what a lot of Chiefs fans have been hoping to hear: Mahomes looks like himself again.
“He looks to be good, he looks to be in a good place mentally,” Taylor said. “I think that’s something people haven’t talked about enough is that he is really energized by being back on the practice field, not being in the training room 24/7, 365.”
That energy? A lot of it has to do with the guy lined up behind him.
Why Kenneth Walker III Changes Things
The Chiefs added Kenneth Walker III in free agency, and it’s not just another running back signing. This feels different. Taylor pointed out that during offseason workouts, Walker showed something Kansas City’s backfield has been missing.
“He has the explosion, he has the vision,” Taylor said. “What the Chiefs like is he can make people miss in the second level of the defense. That was something the Chiefs missed so much last year was, not only just explosive plays, but being able to break tackles or evade defenders who were coming at a certain angle where it put more pressure on Mahomes.”
Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the rest of the Chiefs running back room did what they could in 2025. But the team averaged just 106.6 rushing yards per game. That’s not going to scare anyone. And when defenses don’t respect the run, they pin their ears back and come after the quarterback.
Walker is the kind of back who makes safeties hesitate for half a second. And in the NFL, that half-second is all Mahomes needs.
The Play-Action Problem Andy Reid Needs to Fix
Here’s where it gets interesting. Taylor said the coaching staff — and yeah, that’s Andy Reid — has to adjust how they use Mahomes to get the most out of this offense.
“You’ve got to find a way to get Patrick Mahomes under center so that you can have the true capability of a traditional, play-action drop back passing game,” Taylor said.
The threat of Walker running the ball makes play-action more viable. That’s been missing. Without a real running threat, defenses just sit on the pass and force Mahomes into tighter windows than he needs to be throwing into. But now? If Walker can force linebackers to creep up even a step or two, the entire middle of the field opens up for Travis Kelce and whoever emerges at wide receiver.
The Chiefs open their first full-team practice on Wednesday, July 29. Mahomes will be out there. Walker will be out there. And for the first time in a while, the AFC might have to worry about Kansas City’s ground game again.
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