The idea of the Kansas City Chiefs trading Patrick Mahomes or the Buffalo Bills moving on from Josh Allen belongs firmly in fantasy territory. Neither franchise would seriously consider parting with the face of its organization and the player around whom everything has been built.
Still, hypothetical discussions often reveal just how valuable elite quarterbacks truly are.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently attempted one of the NFL’s most difficult exercises: assigning trade value to the league’s biggest stars. When it came to Mahomes and Allen, the conclusion was simple — their value exists in a category almost entirely of its own.
According to Barnwell’s evaluation, both quarterbacks would command the equivalent of seven first-round draft picks in a trade package. That price tag would not only shatter previous NFL records but would likely require teams to acquire additional assets simply to create an offer large enough to begin negotiations.
No franchise has ever surrendered that level of draft capital for a single player. Even the most aggressive blockbuster deals in league history have fallen well short of such a number. That alone illustrates the extraordinary impact both quarterbacks have on their organizations.
Barnwell argued that Allen currently deserves consideration as the best quarterback in football after consistently performing at an elite level over the last several seasons.
“I’m of the opinion that Allen is the best quarterback in football at the moment, having outplayed Mahomes over the past three seasons,” Barnwell wrote.
At the same time, Mahomes continues to possess advantages that few players in NFL history can match. His postseason résumé, championship pedigree and ability to elevate his play in the biggest moments make him uniquely valuable in the eyes of league executives.
Barnwell noted that Mahomes’ playoff success and sustained excellence would still make him irresistible to virtually every front office in football.
“Mahomes’ postseason halo and remarkably consistent success before 2025 would undoubtedly charm teams, too,” Barnwell explained.
There are, however, small factors that might slightly impact Mahomes’ theoretical value compared to previous years. The Chiefs superstar turns 31 this November and is currently recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season. While neither issue significantly changes his standing among the league’s elite, they could create minor hesitation if a trade ever somehow became possible.
Even then, Barnwell believes teams would still view Mahomes as a player capable of delivering another decade of elite football.
“But that could still mean a decade of high-level quarterback play from arguably the best player of his generation,” Barnwell added.
Of course, none of this is rooted in reality. The Chiefs are not trading Mahomes, and the Bills have no intention of moving Allen. Both organizations understand that finding quarterbacks of this caliber is almost impossible, and replacing them would be even harder.
The comparison between the two stars has defined the modern AFC landscape for years.
Allen has enjoyed more success against Mahomes during the regular season, consistently delivering some of the best performances of his career against Kansas City. Mahomes, meanwhile, continues to hold the edge when the stakes are highest, repeatedly eliminating Buffalo in the postseason and adding to his championship legacy.
That contrast fuels endless debate about which quarterback truly deserves the top spot in the NFL hierarchy.
What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that the conversation no longer has a wrong answer.
Whether a franchise prefers Allen’s physical dominance and explosive playmaking ability or Mahomes’ unmatched postseason résumé and championship success, both quarterbacks occupy a level of value that the rest of the league simply cannot reach.
In today’s NFL, seven first-round picks might sound impossible.
For Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, it might not even be enough.