2017 NFL Draft: Texas Tech Patrick Mahomes II Scouting Report

Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes II is one of several intriguing quarterback prospects who’ll be eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft.

Patrick Mahomes II will be one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft because of his raw talent and the fact he plays in a spread system. Texas Tech runs an extremely wide-open attack that looks nothing like the offenses run in the NFL.

This makes evaluation someone like Mahomes problematic because most of the work will be projections. However, Mahomes has enough physical tools to for NFL teams to take notice.

He features good size and bulk for the position which will help stay on the field. While at Texas Tech, Mahomes dealt with his share of hits which came while in the pocket or on designed run plays. His athleticism will be something evaluators notice as he’s capable of extending the play or gaining yards with his legs.

Mahomes’ movement skills play a major part in his success, as a large majority of his throws come while on the run. He does a good job remaining balanced and keeping his eyes down field when working outside the pocket.

His arm strength is good enough for him to deliver the ball to his target with zip at all levels of the field.

The issues with Mahomes’ game centers around his mechanics and mental aspect of the game. He has a tendency to fall off his throws rather than stepping towards his target. His shoulder often flies open which hurts his accuracy.

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He also drops his arm angle to his side from time to time. His lack of footwork consistency makes it difficult for him to repeat his motion and deliver an accurate football.

Mahomes also needs to work on his deep ball accuracy and ability to get proper loft on his throws. His inability accurately attack the deep part of the field will be a concern as he goes through the draft process.

A lot of this is due to the fact he plays in Texas Tech’s spread attack. This system also limits his opportunities to stand in the pocket and go through his progressions. Mahomes is too quick to move off his spot and vacate the pocket.

He needs to learn to avoid the rush while remaining in the pocket by stepping up or making subtle movements.

Mahomes is only asked to take snaps from under center in short-yardage situations. This is usually a bit of an adventure and has resulted in fumbles from time to time. Again, NFL teams will want to see him improve this aspect of his game.

Overall, Mahomes is a talented passer who has the arm strength needed to make all the throws. He is a good athlete capable of avoiding the rush and making plays while on the move. However, he’s going to deal with a steep learning curve as he moves from a spread attack to a pro-style system.

Current Draft Range- 3^rd Round