Patrick Mahomes is a top five quarterback all-time. Here’s why

Posted By on February 15, 2023

Getty Images

Typically, I am the type of person that says, “pump the brakes” when sports analysts and hot takers rush to say a particular game or player is the “best ever.” Being the best is unique, literally only one person can occupy that spot and often what looks bright and shiny in the moment fades over time. Patrick Mahomes is different. Based on his numbers and the eye test, just five years into his career, Mahomes has established himself as a top five quarterback in NFL history. I highly doubt he’ll ever overtake Tom Brady as the best, but he has a real chance to be number two or three. Right now, I have him fifth.

Why would a 27-year-old be the fifth best quarterback ever? It sounds ludicrous on it’s face. First, let’s look at the numbers. In five seasons, Mahomes has played in five AFC Championship Games, three Super Bowls and won two championships. He has two Super Bowl MVPs and two regular season MVPs. Mahomes is one of only three players to do that: the other two being Tom Brady and Joe Montana.

Despite his youth, he has already thrown for 24,241 yards, 192 touchdowns, has a completion percentage of 66.3, a quarterback rating of 105.7 and 1547 rushing yards to go with 12 rushing touchdowns. The quarterback rating is first all-time, and the completion percentage is 10th. The rest of the numbers might not seem in the same stratosphere as other all-time greats, but he is averaging over 4,800 passing yards and 38 touchdowns per season.

One fair criticism of having Mahomes’ numbers put him high on the list is the rule changes that have added a 17th game and made things easier for quarterbacks to stay healthy and rack up yards. This is why you can’t base any player debate on numbers alone; the eye test is essential. The results of the eye test are staggering. Mahomes has been either the best player or a top three player in the NFL during every season of his career. He’s two Tom Brady losses away from having four Super Bowl wins (sorry, 2018 Rams fans) and has made eye opening plays the norm. Super Bowl LVII is a great example, Mahomes only had 182 passing yards, but it felt like all of them were essential to a Chiefs win. His 26-yard run in the fourth quarter was one of the biggest plays of the game and he did it on a sprained ankle.

Mahomes makes every player on his team better, which is arguably the most important trait for a quarterback. The Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill, lost Mecole Hardman to an injury and still beat the Jaguars, Bengals and Eagles en route to a championship. There is no other quarterback currently playing that’s close to the top five all time. A couple may have potential, but none can sniff the combination of talent, poise and accomplishments of Mahomes. This is no guarantee he will move beyond the fifth spot; a lot can change in a hurry in the NFL. But right now, Mahomes is at worst a top ten quarterback all-time and in my estimation a top five quarterback ever to play.

 

For reference, here is my list:

  1. Brady
  2. Montana
  3. Peyton Manning
  4. Elway
  5. Mahomes