Editor\u2019s note: This article is part of our NFL QB Stock Report series. Every week, Jeff Howe notes who\u2019s rising and falling at starting quarterback (and why) for all 32 teams.<\/p>\n
Patrick Mahomes could stroll into any gathering of current quarterbacks, place his hardware on the table, flash a smile and not say a word. He\u2019d be the most respected man in a room among peers.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s got three Lombardi Trophies, three Super Bowl MVPs and a couple of regular-season MVP awards to count among his most prized possessions. Still a couple of weeks shy of his 30th birthday, Mahomes has achieved in his relatively young career more than only a handful of other players have ever accomplished.<\/p>\n
In that respect, he still stands alone in the post-Tom Brady era of QB play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are others who rival him,\u201d said a rival team executive, who was granted anonymity so that he could speak openly. \u201cAlthough if I had to pick one for a single drive, I\u2019d take Mahomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, more recent history has told a different story, one in which the Kansas City Chiefs superstar\u2019s numbers have dramatically dipped across the board. And as reigning MVP Josh Allen, two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow have each elevated their games, it\u2019s fair to say Mahomes has company in the QB penthouse.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Mahomes) is in a league of his own because of the winning and championships,\u201danother executive said. \u201cBut the other (three) guys right now are playing better.\u201d<\/p>\n
At this time a year ago<\/a>, Mahomes had so much distance between himself and everyone else that it felt like they were all playing a different sport. So what happened, and how can he reclaim that perch?<\/p>\n \u201cThe talent gap between all those guys is minimal,\u201d the second executive observed. \u201cHe just needs to produce.\u201d<\/p>\n If you take Mahomes\u2019 first five seasons as Kansas City’s full-time starter (2018-22) and prorate his production over 17-game splits, he averaged 5,155 passing yards, 41.3 touchdowns and 10.3 interceptions with a 106.0 passer rating. He added 330.7 rushing yards, 2.6 touchdowns and 22.4 first downs. The Chiefs averaged 30.1 points per game.<\/p>\n Over the past two seasons, however, Mahomes\u2019 17-game prorated splits equated to 4,309 passing yards, 28.2 touchdowns, 13.3 interceptions and a 93.0 passer rating. He added 369.8 rushing yards, 1.1 touchdowns and 26.0 first downs. The Chiefs averaged 22.2 points per game.<\/p>\n In two crucial years of Mahomes\u2019 prime \u2014 both of which resulted in Super Bowl appearances \u2014 his numbers dropped by seismic proportions. He\u2019s taken advantage of defenses\u2019 shell looks by running with a bit more success, but Mahomes\u2019 passing production has alarmingly deteriorated.<\/p>\n Some of it\u2019s easily explainable. The Chiefs haven\u2019t looked the same since trading wideout Tyreek Hill, and tight end Travis Kelce\u2019s skills have eroded in his mid-30s. The roster turnover at receiver, including Rashee Rice\u2019s off-field issues, have disrupted chemistry within the flow of the system.<\/p>\n Coaches and executives recently polled by The Athletic believe it\u2019s far more about the cast around Mahomes than anything else. But they\u2019ve also seen vulnerabilities in his footwork.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re trying to teach footwork to a quarterback, you don\u2019t turn on his tape because it\u2019s such a backyard style,\u201d a coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s so talented that he gets away with it, but last year his feet were the worst they\u2019d been in years, and it was hurting him. Before that, it didn\u2019t matter; he could throw from anywhere. I have a feeling he\u2019ll have a better year this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Another tell: Mahomes finished third in the MVP voting among our annual preseason poll<\/a> of coaches and executives, slipping behind Burrow and Allen. Last year, though, Mahomes finished first with 18 of 26 votes in the most lopsided result ever, as no one else finished with more than two votes.<\/p>\n So, it was worth following up. Is the change due to Mahomes\u2019 decline or the others\u2019 improvements?<\/p>\n No one believed Mahomes\u2019 skills were declining aside from some correctable nitpicks. They just believe he\u2019s been managing with too many unknowns around him, while his peers have caught up.<\/p>\n There might be a much younger QB ready to push for the top tier this season, too.<\/p>\n \u201c(Jayden) Daniels might be my favorite quarterback right now,\u201d a coach said. “He\u2019s an extremely talented QB who happens to be Bambi. He can dart everywhere and make plays. I would go for it every fourth down if I had him, too. He\u2019s going to gain yards. He\u2019s very hard to defend because he\u2019s very accurate, and he can run around.\u201d<\/p>\n Ultimately, quarterbacks are judged by winning on the greatest stage, and Mahomes is 6-1 against Allen (4-0), Jackson (1-0) and Burrow (1-1) in the postseason.<\/p>\n The performance reviews have led to fun discussions among coaches and executives. But until a top-tier QB can routinely slay Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs, there\u2019s one debate that\u2019s not yet worth the energy.<\/p>\n The future is (not quite) now<\/p>\n Cam Ward is the only rookie quarterback who won a starting job, as teams stuck to their long-term plans<\/a> with their draftees.<\/p>\n Ward was an easy choice to start for the Titans. General manager Mike Borgonzi and his staff began to focus their attention on drafting Ward with the No. 1 selection<\/a> by February at the combine, so they\u2019ve had a jumpstart on their plans. They intended for Ward to start the opener, and the Miami product reinforced everything they believed about him throughout the offseason.<\/p>\n So when will rookies Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough and Shedeur Sanders (or Dillon Gabriel) make their starting debuts?<\/p>\n