Patrick Mahomes is arguably the best signal-caller in the NFL right now since the post-Tom Brady era. The Kansas City Chiefs have already won several championship games under his leadership. After starting with a lackluster season last year, the quarterback once again bounced back incredibly by boosting his playoff record and ultimately winning the Super Bowl LVIII.
Mahomes is now set on three-peat Super Bowl Champions. However, in 2017, he was still waiting eagerly for the answer to his destiny in the NFL. Let’s revisit this young QB’s draft combine.
What was Patrick Mahomes’ record at the NFL Combine?
Patrick Mahomes stepped onto the NFL Combine stage with high expectations but left some doubters in his wake. His performance didn’t dazzle across the board, but it was clear that Mahomes possessed qualities that would make him a standout in the league.
The QB’s draft combines include “a 30-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot, 6-inch broad jump, and a 6.88-second 3-cone drill,” per Sportskeeda. These results, combined with a 6.30 grade from the NFL, suggested he would likely be a first or second-round pick. However, it was his arm that stole the spotlight. During throwing workouts, the signal-caller clocked a 60 mph throw, matching the record for the fastest throw ever recorded at the Combine.
However, not all of Pat’s test results were impressive. His 40-yard dash time of 4.80 seconds wasn’t exceptional, placing him joint-7th among participating QBs. With speedsters like Anthony Richardson leading the class with a blazing 4.43-second 40-yard dash, Mahomes’ time seems pedestrian in comparison.
The Chiefs saw something special in Mahomes regardless of his performance in the combine. They traded up 17 spots to select him 10th overall in the first round. This decision has proven to be a stroke of genius, as the QB has since become one of the most successful QBs in the NFL.
Exploring Patrick Mahomes’ college career
Patrick Mahomes chose Texas Tech for his college career, and quickly made his mark both on the football field and the baseball diamond. He displayed his raw talent in his freshman year, passing for 1,547 yards, 16 touchdowns.
However, it was in his sophomore and junior years that the young star truly shone. He dominated the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA Division I FBS.
Patrick Mahomes threw for 4,653 yards and 36 touchdowns during his sophomore campaign. His junior year was even more spectacular, as he led all FBS players in passing yards with a staggering 5,052 and total touchdowns with 53.
His final college game against Baylor epitomized his brilliance, throwing for 586 yards and six touchdowns.