ESPN's QB rankings aren't showing Patrick Mahomes the respect he deserves
Early in his NFL career, you couldn't find many lists that didn't rank Patrick Mahomes as the best quarterback in the league. After backing up Alex Smith as a rookie, Mahomes took the NFL by storm in 2018, throwing for over 5,000 yards with 50 touchdowns in his first year as a full-time starter for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Since then, Mahomes has won two MVP awards and won three Super Bowls (as well as three Super Bowl MVP awards). While he's coming off the worst year of his career, many would argue that Mahomes is still one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL. Yet, when Dan Orlovsky of ESPN put out his rankings of different quarterback traits, Mahomes was not number one in any of them.
Patrick Mahomes not ranked number one in any of ESPN's QB traits
Now, it's worth noting that Mahomes still gets plenty of praise by Orlovsky. He's just not the best ranked signal-caller in any of these traits. The first example of this is arm strength, which went to Josh Allen but Mahomes was ranked second. Orlovsky said, "The best in the game at this is Allen, but the top four on my list -- including Mahomes, Herbert and Jackson -- are collectively in a league of their own."
Ball placement consisted of Mahomes being ranked fifth with Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen ahead of him. Mahomes didn't crack the top 10 in Orlovsky's rankings of mechanics, where he was "looking for a smooth and repeatable throwing motion that doesn't change even under pressure."
When it comes to decision-making, Mahomes was fifth behind the same four he was in ball placement though in a different order (Burrow, Allen, Jackson, Daniels this time). The Chiefs signal-caller was ranked third in pocket presence behind Burrow and Jackson, sixth in rushing ability (Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Allen, Daniels, and Justin Fields were all ahead of him there), and got the silver medal in second-reaction ability behind Jackson.
While it might sting to see Mahomes not ranked first in any of these categories, he has what really matters in the grand scheme of things, which is Super Bowl titles. Allen, Burrow, and Jackson might have ranked first in the majority of these stats and the three of them have a combined zero Super Bowl wins and just one appearance.
Those other quarterbacks would give up being the top-ranked in these traits for what Mahomes has and that's what's important here. That being said, if Mahomes is further motivated from the disrespect he's been receiving this offseason and that helps propel the Chiefs to another Super Bowl win, Chiefs fans will gladly play these rankings up more.
Shedeur Sanders Set to Make Browns Debut - Cleveland’s New Era Begins!
The Browns' quarterback situation continues to evolve as the team carefully plans its next move for the future under center.
The Cleveland Browns have officially turned the page at quarterback. Cleveland has benched veteran Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel. However, another young signal-caller continues to generate significant attention within the organization. Fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders, who is expected to play at some point this season once fully prepared.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns plan to give Sanders his opportunity only after he completes a full week of practice with a game plan specifically designed to match his strengths. The decision reflects Cleveland’s cautious approach to developing the former Colorado star. Sanders entered the league with both elite collegiate production and immense expectations as the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders.
However, after each practice, Sanders reportedly puts in extra work with fellow reserves. He's focused on refining his mechanics and command of the offense. One team source shared that “his development happens every day,” though Gabriel has remained ahead of him since training camp. The Browns believe throwing Sanders into live action without a proper system built around him would be unfair and could hinder his long-term growth.
It's a matter of when, not if, for the Browns and Shedeur Sanders
While Sanders has yet to take a snap, he remains a compelling part of Cleveland’s plans. He made headlines earlier this month for miming his way through a locker room media session following criticism over comments comparing himself to current NFL starters. Behind the antics lies a player eager to prove himself.
Sanders was one of college football’s most efficient passers last season. He completed 74% of his attempts for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Despite taking 94 sacks over his final two years at Colorado, he left with the highest career completion percentage in FBS history at 71.8%.
With Deshaun Watson on injured reserve and the Browns evaluating multiple young quarterbacks, it seems only a matter of time before Sanders takes the field. Cleveland’s staff believes that when the moment arrives, the game plan and Sanders will be ready.
