The 2017 NFL Draft has a lot of question marks surrounding the quarterback class, and now we can add a slightly unexpected name. Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes announced on Tuesday he will forego his remaining eligibility and enter the draft. Mahomes had wrist surgery in early December, and also reportedly played eight games this season with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder.
Mahomes decision to enter the draft is not a stunning one, but I think there were mixed opinions about if he was prepared to declare. Opinions are mixed on just how he will be evaluated in the coming months. One anonymous AFC scout said the Air Raid offensive system is not doing him any favors, and said it was like he was playing a different sport. Matt Miller spoke with an NFC scout who ranked Mahomes fourth behind DeShone Kizer, Mitch Trubisky, and DeShaun Watson.
Mahomes played in a wide open Texas Tech offense that involved him playing entirely from the shot gun and averaging 49 pass attempts per game. He completed 65.6 percent of his passes this season for 5,052 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He stands 6’3 and weighs 230 pounds, so size is certainly not an issue.
The NFL Draft Advisory Committee provided a second round assessment for him. The assessment is based on the average of projections. The tweet above says Mahomes heard first, second, and third from people with whom he has spoken.
As I said, opinions are varied, and these two tweets might sum it up best:
He's an absolute loose-cannon and could be one of the worst QBs in the league, but the upside of Patrick Mahomes is far more appealing to me
— Ian Kenyon (@IanKenyonNFL) December 21, 2016
Mahomes could be Blake Bortles/Brock Osweiler bad. But he's only going to be 21 years old on draft day. If he takes to coaching...
— Ian Kenyon (@IanKenyonNFL) December 21, 2016