Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 pounds
School: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.8 seconds
Vertical jump: 30 inches
Broad jump: 9 feet, 6 inches
Three-cone drill: 6.88 seconds (third among quarterbacks)
20-yard shuttle: 4.08 seconds (first among quarterbacks)
Patrick Mahomes 2017 NFL Draft Profile
Patrick Mahomes has been putting up big stat lines since his spotty playing time as a freshman. The 2014 season saw him put up 1,547 yards along with 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions. These stats were put up in six games with four total starts. In those four starts his freshman year, while he filled in for an injured Davis Webb, Mahomes amassed 1,428 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He also picked up his first 500+ yard passing performance against Baylor, a game in which he also threw six touchdowns. After such eye-popping numbers in so little time, Texas Tech handed Mahomes the starting job and he never looked back.
In 2015, the Red Raiders named Mahomes the full-time starter and, as expected in an air raid offense, the numbers were huge. He completed 364 of 573 passes (63.5 percent) on his way to 4,653 yards and 36 touchdown passes. On the ground he showed off his wheels, running for 456 yards and ten touchdowns. He never went a game without throwing for over 200 yards and at least one touchdown.
His second season as starter was mightily impressive. His 5,052 yards, 41 pass touchdowns and ten interceptions were arguably the most impressive quarterback stat line in college football. In addition to the 41 scores through the air, Mahomes also ran the ball into the end zone 12 times, making him responsible for 53 total touchdowns. That’s more than any other player in college football, including Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson.
Air raid offense or not, the stats posted by Mahomes were nothing short of insane. One of the most notable games of the season was when Mahomes threw a mind-boggling 88 passes against Oklahoma, completing 52. He amassed 734 yards through the air and churned out another 84 on the ground along with another pair of touchdowns for a truly dominant performance in every sense. This earned him the all-time record for most all purpose yards in a single game.
Strengths
- Elite arm strength;
- Extremely mobile in the pocket;
- Can make any throw all over the field;
- Throws deep extremely well;
- Good throwing under pressure;
- Adept at throwing on the run;
- Can make plays with his legs;
- Consistently makes big plays.
Weaknesses
- Extremely sloppy mechanics;
- Unorthodox throwing motion/release;
- Tendency to make bad decisions while chasing big plays;
- Forces ball to downfield receiver into coverage too often;
- Comes from an “air raid” offense;
- Wasn’t asked to go through progressions or call plays in huddle much.
NFL Comparison: Aaron Rodgers
Teams with Need a Position: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals
Projection: First round
Bottom Line
How will Patrick Mahomes’ game translate to the NFL? He has insane stats and an arm that rivals any guy in the league, but he comes from an “air raid” offense. He wasn’t asked to make reads or call plays in the huddle often, two skills vital for NFL success. In addition, there are questions about his mechanics, another problem for a potential NFL quarterback. But just how much of a problem do these things pose? If he’s forced to start day one, likely a big one. If Mahomes is allowed to sit and learn? Give him a year or two and he will blossom into a potential All-Pro player. The former Texas Tech quarterback has a cannon for an arm, fluid mobility in and out of the pocket, and a gunslinger mentality reminiscent of guys like vintage Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers.
