One breakout candidate for each NFL team in 2018

The Kansas City Chiefs won their second straight AFC West title last season, and entered the AFC Playoffs ready to make a serious run. However, they once again could not take care of business in the postseason, losing a home game in the Divisional Round to the Tennessee Titans.

That game proved to be the last for quarterback Alex Smith as a member of the Chiefs, as he was traded away to the Washington Redskins early in the offseason. That move cleared the way for Patrick Mahomes II to take over as the starting quarterback, and he gained a ton of knowledge playing behind such a professional last season.

The Chiefs traded up in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft to get Mahomes, so obviously it was only a matter of time before he stepped in for Smith. In Mahomes, they have a very talented signal-caller, and one who has the arm strength, and football IQ to make every necessary throw at this level.

In 2018, this Chiefs offense is going to be explosive, but there are also some question marks. Their offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy, is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, and he was a big reason why guys like Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt have exploded onto the scene over the past few seasons. Mahomes has a lot of weapons to utilize this season, and stands behind one of the better offensive lines in the AFC.

The AFC West is going to be an interesting battle in 2018, as many believe the Los Angeles Chargers will unseat the Chiefs as the best team in the division. However, if Mahomes is as good as advertised, they will not be letting go of the crown any time soon.