It may be just one season, but nearly everyone who follows the NFL is convinced that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the league’s next great superstar. Of course, it wasn’t that long ago that just about every team had a chance to get him in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Nine teams passed on him before the Chiefs traded up to draft Mahomes with the pick that originally belonged to the Bills, something any other team could have done if they saw in Mahomes what apparently only the Chiefs saw. Of course, let’s not forget those nine players who somehow came off the board before Mahomes in 2017.
As a bonus, at the end of the article we’ve also included five All-Pro players who were drafted after Mahomes.
1. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
What Was Said At the Time: “Projected to be one of the first players selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, Myles Garrett brings a lot to the table. Despite being amongst one of the strongest defensive classes analysts have seen in recent NFL Drafts, Myles Garrett stands out as the brightest blue chip prospect available. An athletic freak, similar to Jadeveon Clowney, Garrett is expected to follow the path of Clowney as the number one overall pick. The first time I watched Garrett, I thought he looked like LeBron James in pads with his 6’5, 270 pound frame.” -George Stockburger, FanSided
Measurables: 6-4, 271 lbs
Position:Defensive End
College: Texas A&M
Where Garrett is now.
It was always going to be difficult for Garrett to live up to being the first overall pick in the draft, but he’s done okay for himself. An injury held him back a little as a rookie, but he accumulated 13.5 sacks on his way to the Pro Bowl and Second-team All-Pro honors in 2018, so he’s starting to come into his own. Garrett was also named defensive captain in his second pro season, so he’s clearly made a positive impression on the Browns in a short period of time. Cleveland also managed to draft Baker Mayfield last season, so they aren’t kicking themselves too bad at missing on Mahomes.
Pro Bowl selections: 1
2019 salary: $8.3 million
2020 salary: $9.7 million
2. Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears
What Was Said At the Time: “Despite being a one-year starter, Trubisky is very polished as a passer playing with good balance and consistent mechanics, which leads him to throw with great accuracy in the short/intermediate passing game. Although he comes from a version of the spread in his college offense, he was asked to do many full field progressions and showed he can click from receiver to receiver quickly and efficiently. Will need to work on hitting his deep shots with more consistent accuracy to keep defenses from sitting at the break point. Shows all of the tools to develop into a very solid NFL starting quarterback and appears to be the safest option of the 2017 quarterback draft class.” -ProFootballFocus
Measurables: 6-3, 222 lbs
Position: Quarterback
College: North Carolina
Where Trubisky is now.
Surely, the Bears would trade Trubisky for Mahomes in a heartbeat if they could. That being said, Trubisky definitely made some strides in his second pro season, even making the Pro Bowl as an alternate. However, the Bears won the NFC North in 2018 primarily behind their defense with some help from their running game. In other words, they won with Trubisky, not because of him.
There’s still some good potential for Trubisky, especially with a head coach like Matt Nagy, but he certainly doesn’t appear to have the upside and star power that Mahomes possesses.
Pro Bowl selections: 1
2019 salary: $7.9 million
2020 salary: $9.2 million
Solomon Thomas, San Francisco 49ers
What Was Said At the Time: “Although it’s almost a sure thing that Myles Garrett becomes a member of the Cleveland Browns when they spend the first overall pick on the Texas A&M product, teams in search of an equally impressive talent will have to look no further than Stanford’s Solomon Thomas. While Thomas may not defy the laws of physics as Garrett does, he may be more pro-ready than Garrett. He ran a 4.69-40 and threw up 30 reps on the bench press. Just because Garrett is a freak doesn’t mean Thomas isn’t an anomaly himself.” -Dylan Huberman, NFLMocks.com
Measurables: 6-3, 280 lbs
Position: Defensive End
College: Stanford
Where Thomas is now.
For someone who was the 3rd overall pick, Thomas has largely been forgotten about by most NFL fans outside of Northern California. He’s started 25 of 32 games over the first two seasons of his career but has made little positive impact for the San Francisco defense. According to his pre-draft scouting report, he was more pro-ready than Myles Garrett, but while Garrett has started to mature and develop, Thomas has just four sacks over his first two seasons.
He was such a disappointment that the 49ers didn’t hesitate to draft another defensive end 2nd overall in Nick Bosa in 2019. They also traded for Dee Ford, likely making Thomas a backup just two years after going 3rd overall.
Pro Bowl selections: 0
2019 salary: $7.6 million
2020 salary: $8.9 million
4. Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars
What Was Said At the Time
“Fournette is a remarkable talent. His occasional frustrating games and need for adequate offensive line play at the second level shouldn’t drop him. If he can land with a team that can harness his upside, Fournette could quickly become the most talented running back in the NFL.” -Tadd Haislop, Sporting News
Measurables: 6-0, 228 lbs
Position: Running Back
College: LSU
Where Fournette is now.
Fournette appeared to be living up to the hype during his rookie season. Despite missing three games, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, carrying the Jacksonville offense at times as the Jaguars reached the AFC Championship Game. However, he played just eight games in 2018 due to injury, and when he did play, he averaged a measly 3.3 yards per carry.
In addition to now having the label of an injury-prone player, Fournette has clashed with the Jaguars brass at times. Given all that, the Jags surely wish they could have cut ties with Blake Bortles two years sooner and taken Mahomes.
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
2019 salary: $7.4 million
2020 salary: $8.6 million
5. Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans
What Was Said At the Time: “Davis can be a Day 1 starter opposite a true primary receiver who he can complement. Initially he will heavily need to rely on his sharp route-running as he is unlikely to outmuscle or outrun defensive backs in the early stages of his career. He is also capable of making big plays by using double moves and exploiting open holes in zone coverage.” -Pro Football Focus
Measurables: 6-3, 191 lbs
Position: Wide Receiver
College: Western Michigan
Where Davis is now.
Like most wide receivers, David had his struggles as a rookie, failing to find the end zone for the first time until the playoffs. However, there was considerable growth in his second season, as Davis caught 65 balls for 891 lads and four touchdowns. That’s not bad for a young receiver, but he still has a long way to go to justify the top-5 selection. Obviously, the Titans weren’t ready to give up on Marcus Mariota at the time, so no one’s going to blame them for passing on Mahomes and trying to give their young quarterback a top-notch receiver.
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
2019 salary: $6.9 million
2020 salary: $8 million
6. Jamal Adams, New York Jets
What Was Said At the Time: “The people who have been at that program the longest think he might be the best leader LSU has had in years. He’s a no-doubt first-rounder. He can play all over the field and he could have an immediate impact on defense just like Landon Collins did coming out. I love him. I think he’s a winner.” -AFC Scout, via NFL.com
Measurables: 6-1, 213 lbs
Position: Safety
College: LSU
Where Adams is now.
Adams isn’t the best safety in the NFL, yet. As most expected, he immediately started for the Jets as a rookie before taking things to another level in his second pro season, being named to the Pro Bowl and being a second-team All-Pro honoree. He was even Defensive MVP of the Pro Bowl. The Jets are surely going to continue to build their defense around him and will probably try to lock him up beyond his rookie contract. If Sam Darnold works out, there will be no second-guessing about Mahomes, but if Darnold ultimately fails, some will remember that the Jets could have had Mahomes.
Pro Bowl Selections: 1
2019 salary: $6 million
2020 salary: $7 million
7. Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
What Was Said At the Time: “Mike Williams was possibly the deciding factor in Clemson claiming revenge against Alabama in a rematch of the 2015 National Championship. He displayed all the qualities that make him such an exciting prospect against NFL-caliber defensive backs. As well as presenting opponents with a matchup problem, Williams also represents a reliable target underneath. He projects as a receiver capable of using his body to move the chains while adding a downfield component to the passing game due to his ability to win at the catch point with strong ball skills.” -Pro Football Focus
Measurables: 6-4, 220 lbs
Position: Wide Receiver
College: Clemson
Where Williams is now.
At one point, the Chargers expected Williams to miss his entire rookie season due to a herniated disc, so the fact that he played in 10 games and caught 11 passes means he exceeded expectations. Things got better in 2018, as Williams played in all 16 games and had 10 touchdown receptions despite only catching 43 passes. With Keenan Allen around, the Chargers don’t need Williams to be their no. 1 receiver, which takes some of the pressure off him. Since he missed most of his rookie season, his development is almost a year behind, so he’s not exactly a bust, even if he still has a lot to prove as a former top-10 pick.
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
2019 salary: $5.3 million
2020 salary: $6.2 million
8. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
What Was Said At the Time: “Multidimensional runner with flex appeal for teams looking for a player who can carry the ball 20 times or catch it 10 depending on the game plan. McCaffrey’s size, power and speed are just average, but he is able to create yardage for himself with his vision and elusiveness. McCaffrey’s ability to return punts and kicks could be the value sweetener that pushes his name into the first round.” -Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Measurables: 5-11, 211 lbs
Position: Running Back
College: Stanford
Where McCaffrey is now.
A lot of people were surprised McCaffrey went in the 1st round, much less the top-10, but he’s lived up to the billing thus far. He was good as a rookie, but he was something else in his second season. Despite missing the Pro Bowl, McCaffrey was named a second-team All-Pro after rushing for over 1,000 yards and catching over 100 passes for over 800 yards.
With Cam Newton in the fold, the Panthers were right to brush past Mahomes, and now with Newton’s shoulder creating some questions, Carolina should feel all the more justified in taking a running back that averaged over 20 touches a game and produced nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards in 2018.
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
2019 salary: $4.7 million
2020 salary: $5.5 million
9. John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals
What Was Said At the Time: “If teams look past Ross’ small stature, they’ll be getting a special receiver. While his speed is obviously his biggest asset, it’s not all Ross has. He knows how to get open using his footwork and can beat press coverage off the line with both his feet and his hands. He catches the ball consistently and once it’s in his hands, there’s very few better at seeing the field and finding open space. Ross can line up all over the field and make plays. Couple all of that with his return abilities and Ross has the potential to be one of if not the most exciting receiver to come out of this draft.” -Pro Football Focus
Measurables: 5-11, 190 lbs
Position: Wide Receiver
College: Washington
Where Ross is now.
The word “oops” is probably the most appropriate for the Bengals when it comes to Ross. He was sixth on the depth chart heading into his rookie season and fumbled the ball on his first-ever NFL touch, which was a 12-yard rush. He was subsequently benched and either injured or a healthy scratch the rest of the season, failing to catch a pass all season. Ross managed to bounce back in 2018, starting 10 games and catching 21 passes, including seven touchdown grabs.
Considering he was a top-10 pick, he’s hard not to see him as a bust, especially after the glowing report listed above. With the Bengals still relying on Andy Dalton, it has to hurt a little that they took Ross one pick before Mahomes came off the board.
Pro Bowl Selections: 0
2019 salary: $4.6 million
2020 salary: $5.4 million
10. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
What Was Said At the Time: “He’s got a great arm, big balls and he’s mobile. He is going to drive his head coach crazy for the first couple of years and there is no getting around that. If it clicks for him and he’s coachable, I think he could become a special quarterback.” -NFC Executive, via NFL.com
Measurables: 6-3, 230 lbs
Position: Quarterback
College: Texas Tech
Where is Mahomes now.
Well, it appears as if everything has clicked for Mahomes. After spending his rookie season sitting (what a concept) behind Alex Smith, Mahomes exploded onto the scene in his sophomore campaign. He threw four touchdowns in Week 1 and never looked back, finishing with over 5,000 yards passing and 50 touchdowns.
A questionable defense and a 41-year-old Massachusetts resident were the only things preventing Mahomes from leading the Chiefs to the Super Bowl in his first season as a starter. Of course, he did win league MVP and will likely spend the next decade as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.
Pro Bowl Selections: 2
2019 salary: $4.4 million
2020 salary: $5.2 million
If Mahomes continues down the current path, all signs point towards him becoming one of the all-time greats. With that in mind, keep reading as we countdown the 15 greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
15. Terry Bradshaw
On paper, Bradshaw’s stats aren’t very impressive; a TD-to-INT rate of merely 212-to-210. But with “TB,” stats only tell part of the story, as he remains the only quarterback in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls not once, but twice. Unlike some of the quarterbacks on this list, Bradshaw did not enjoy early success; in fact he wasn’t the starting signal caller at the start of the Steelers first Super Bowl-winning season in 1974.
Terry had to scratch and claw to put his hands under center for the team that would go on to be the NFL’s dynasty of the ‘70’s, winning four Super Bowls in six years, a feat still unmatched by any franchise.
14. Fran Tarkenton
If you (or your Dad) were fortunate enough to grow up in the greatest decade of them all, the 1970’s, then you might have some sweet memories of Monday Night Football’s Howard Cosell delineating the greatness of “Sir Francis” leading the Vikings to victory after victory.
Even though Tarkenton always came up short in Super Bowls against superior AFC defenses (the AFC ruled the ‘70’s like the way the NFC would later rule the 80’s and most of the 90’s), there is no denying his greatness. With his combination of sure-fire passing and big-gain scrambling, one could reasonably argue Francis Asbury Tarkenton was the best quarterback in the NFL from 1973-to-1978, his final year.
13. Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly is the only NFL quarterback to take his team–in this case, the Bills of Buffalo–to four straight Super Bowls, and not even Tom Brady has accomplished that feat. Kelly’s misgiving was coming up short in all four ultimate contests, in which he threw but two touchdowns versus seven interceptions.
In our postmodern “win or you’re nothing” culture, it’s easy for cynics to dismiss Kelly, but he actually came oh-so-close to winning the Bills’ first Super Bowl (XXV) versus the New York Giants, and had a halftime lead in their final Super Bowl (XXVIII), a rematch against the Cowboys. Had Kelly but split his four Super Bowls, he would be much more highly regarded, and receive more credit for being a master of the Bills’ “K-Gun” no-huddle offense.
12. Bart Starr
Starr was the biggest winning quarterback during the 1960’s and established the great Green Bay legacy of quarterbacks that eventually extended to Favre and Rodgers. Starr is another QB who doesn’t sport the most gaudy stats, yet his five titles (1961 and ’62, as well as 1965-through-1967) earns him instant credibility like few other passers.
Starr was MVP in the first two Super Bowls, which didn’t really count for much as it does today in the fully merged NFL. The first four Super Bowls were between separate-league NFL and AFL champions just to see who was better and for publicity. Since Super Bowl V (1970-71 season), the game actually determines the NFL champion in a unified league.
11. Steve Young
This two-time NFL MVP (1992 and 1994) was the San Francisco 49ers’ anointed successor to Joe Montana, and was actually more physically gifted and talented than Montana. The main knock on Young is that he only managed to appear in and win a single Super Bowl (XXIX), three less than his predecessor.
Young is the rare left-hander to make this legendary list, and he was also unique in that he was an extremely deft scrambler, but combined that with an ability to stand strong in the pocket and deliver the ball to receivers like Jerry Rice with great touch and deadly accuracy. Most “running quarterbacks” do so due to lack of height or a strong enough arm, but Young had it all.
10. Johnny Unitas
Let’s face reality; without Unitas, we’re probably watching horrifying soccer every Sunday in autumn instead of the greatest sports league in human history, the NFL. Unitas stands alone for the simple but profound fact that he revolutionized the passing game in an era when the rules and regulations did not favor the quarterback.
Unitas threw for 40,000 career yards when such a total was unimaginable. “Johnny U” was also the NFL’s first superstar QB, ushering in the hype and popularity that is now routinely doled out to the Bradys and the Mannings of the post-merger NFL (since 1970).
Unitas was the star and winning hurler of the “greatest game ever played,” the 1958 NFL Championship that ushered in the modern popularity of a game that had previously been subordinate to both baseball and college football for decades. That all changed, thanks in large part to Johnny U, the NFL’s first alpha dog.
9. Brett Favre
Pound-for-pound, Brett Lorenzo Favre had to be the toughest quarterback in NFL history. At 6-2, 222, Favre endured as much abuse as any quarterback to ever play the game, yet he still managed to start 321 consecutive games, regular and postseason combined, for three different franchises, the Packers, Jets and Vikings.
The majority of that time was with Green Bay, as he lead the Pack to their first Super Bowl title in the post-merger era, and first one that really counted (the first two Packer Super Bowl triumphs were basically glorified exhibition games). Favre remains the only player to win three consecutive NFL MVP awards (1995-1997). When Favre retired, he held many NFL passing records that have since broken by Peyton Manning and/or Tom Brady.
8. Aaron Rodgers
Many of the quarterbacks on this list are regarded as being “clutch,” but Green Bay’s starting quarterback is a cut above when it comes to making tying/winning touchdown passes at the end of games. The thing with Rodgers is, he’s the one QB who could still ascend higher when it comes to such a ranking system, it’s truly up to him and his amazing talents as to how far he can go.
Forget the controversy over departed former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy, that train had left the station. Now it’s time for Rodgers to get a fresh start with new head coach Matt LeFleur, as “A-Rod” and his magical arm try to ascend to the top of the NFL mountain once more.
7. Roger Staubach
Staubach’s greatest failing was coming up short in Super Bowls X and XIII against Terry Bradshaw’s Steelers, but the original “Captain Comeback” won two Super Bowls (VI and XII) anyway. Staubach was the model for the cool, calm and clean efficiency that was a hallmark of the Dallas Cowboys’ incredible success during the 1970’s.
When he won Super Bowl VI versus the Miami Dolphins, Staubach became the first player to win college football’s Heisman Trophy as well as a Super Bowl MVP award, the feat since matched by three other players. Give Staubach credit for bravery, he could have served his Naval requirements in safe America, but volunteered to serve a year overseas in the death-filled nightmare also known as the Vietnam War.
6. John Elway
The raw talent just dripped off Elway, even if he did have trouble winning a Super Bowl for most of his career. However, it should be noted that those Denver Broncos teams of the 1980’s had no business even attending those three Super Bowls (XXI, XXII, and XXIV) as part of the crowd, let alone playing in them.
Elway personally carried those Broncos teams on his back. Like perhaps no other quarterback before or since, Elway combined a cannon arm with a running back’s legs and a fiery competitive spirit coupled with great football instincts that he picked up from his football-coach father, Jack Elway.
5. Dan Marino
Let there be no doubt, Daniel Constantine Marino, Jr. remains the one of the best “pure passers in NFL history” (if you do question that claim, do a web search on the subject). Marino’s only drawback was his failure to deliver titles like Unitas, Brady, Manning etc. He’s also criticized for reaching but one Super Bowl (XIX), in which he did not play well and was clearly out dueled by a more precise Joe Montana. But one game–win or lose–does not a career make.
When Marino burst onto the scene in 1983–somewhat under the radar due to being drafted only 27th overall by Miami in that iconic NFL Draft that included the likes of John Elway–he immediately turned the formerly turgid, run-heavy Dolphins into an aerial attack the likes of which pro football had never seen. Aided by the “Marks Brothers,” (outstanding wideout pair Mark “Super” Duper and Mark Clayton), Marino helped transform the NFL into the pass-first league we currently experience.
4. Drew Brees
The perfectly named Brees makes everything about being a quarterback seem so easy, just like a cool wind sorely needed during the hottest part of the day. Until Brees came along, the Saints were one of those franchises you thought of as having a legacy of cruddy quarterbacks, as New Orleans’ all-time greatest quarterback had been either Archie Manning or Bobby Hebert, slim pickings there.
Brees has set an incredible standard that any future Saints quarterback may find impossible to challenge, let alone achieve, such as 74,437 yards and 520 touchdowns (versus only 233 picks) and counting. Brees has obviously thrived in the offensive system devised by Saints’ coach Sean Payton, and despite not having the same physical tools as many quarterbacks on this list.
3. Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is as good as an NFL quarterback can get; all the physical tools, a born leader, mastery of the mental game, passion to play and excel, a tireless worker, and relentless competitor. Manning translated those positive qualities into a career that places him among the elite of the elite.
Peyton’s career stats say it all, highlighted by throwing for nearly 72,000 yards (that’s almost 41 miles of completed passes), and an astonishing 539 touchdowns. Manning played in four Super Bowls, winning two of them. Peyton is the best passer from an incredible football family that features father Archie, who mostly overachieved for a terrible New Orleans team in the 1970’s, and brother Eli, who was a very serious contender to make this list.
2. Joe Montana
While three-time Super Bowl MVP Montana lacked the power passing skills of many of the QB’s populating this list, “Joe Cool” was the quintessential catalyst of the “West Coast Offense” system perfected by late 49ers’ head coach Bill Walsh. Montana’s detached precision was the necessary ingredient to manifest Walsh’s sophisticated passing designs.
Together they forged a dynasty in San Francisco that would eventually see their offensive schemes lead to five Super Bowls championships with two different coaches and quarterbacks, the second being Steve Young. When Montana was traded to Kansas City in 1993 to make room for Young to take over, it was an earthquake like no other that hit the Bay Area.
1. Tom Brady
With his accomplishments of the last few years (three Super Bowls won in the past five seasons) combined with his already remarkable body of work, Tom Brady may be no “goat,” but he is one of the finest quarterbacks to have ever stepped on the gridiron.
Having captured six NFL titles (and counting), Brady has won more Super Bowls than most people have had good days in their entire lives. When it’s all said and done, perhaps the only thing eluding TB will be that unblemished season that the Patriots came oh-so-close to in 2007-08 before Eli Manning and the Giants snatched away perfection.