Patrick Mahomes Trade? Did Washington Commanders Really Call Chiefs?

The headlines that have Washington "inquiring about trades for 42 different NFL QBs''? Tap the brakes.

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Washington Commanders Saturday for their second preseason contest.

The meeting comes after there was a supposed call between the two franchises about a possible trade this offseason.

The Commanders were looking for a quarterback, but before settling on Carson Wentz, the team searched far and wide for any and every option.

The Chiefs were never trading Mahomes, obviously, but according to the headlines that have Washington "inquiring about trades for 42 different NFL QBs,'' it seems your favorite team did call about the idea … just in case.

But we think the brakes need to be tapped here.

First, here's what general manager Martin Mayhew actually said about the search ...

"We feel we have canvassed the league effectively," Mayhew said at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "We've spoken to every club that has a quarterback who might be available."

Second, ESPN's John Keim wrote, "One source told ESPN that the Commanders had compiled an initial lengthy list of around 40 quarterbacks to at least discuss or investigate, including those in college.''

That's a different message than the one Keim offered on March 1, when he wrote, "Washington has reached out to every team to inquire about a quarterback's availability and the cost.''

That second paragraph from the respected Keim is a shift away from what he'd written earlier in the week.

Did they "compile a list''?

Or did they "reach out to every team''?

Big difference.

And now along come the second-hand aggregated reports that now insist, "The Commanders called every NFL team about a trade for their quarterback – including the Chiefs and Mahomes.''

That's not what Mayhew said. At all.

And by the time Keim had revised his early-week claim, that's not what ESPN is saying now, either.

Review the logical facts again: a) In the end, ESPN is actually talking about the 40 QBs include college prospects, not just NFL guys. b) The group only includes those who "might be available'' - not "every QB.'' c) The research did not include 40 phone calls, but rather, 40 QBs to "discuss or investigate.''

There is no solid indication there that 31 teams have been contacted, or that, as is being written, "Washington has reached out to every team to inquire about a quarterback’s availability and the cost.''

So while upon first glance it could've been assumed that Washington placed a call to the Chiefs to ask about Mahomes. ... and while it indicates Washington must've called the Dallas Cowboys about Dak Prescott? Called the Los Angeles Chargers about Justin Herbert? Called the Jacksonville Jaguars about Trevor Lawrence? ...

More factually, in terms of headline-grabbing, it meant Washington "discussed or investigated'' available QBs. "Available,'' like ... Aaron Rodgers (staying in Green Bay?), Russell Wilson (who ended up not playing nice with the Seahawks) and Deshaun Watson (with a door closed as he moved to. Cleveland.) And Jimmy G. And Teddy Bridgewater. And more.

But it does not mean the Commanders wasted their time and their dime actually making "42'' trade proposals. At all. 

Mahomes is scheduled to play in Saturday's preseason visit at Kansas City, and that is about as close as Washington is going to get to being involved with the perennial MVP candidate.