There's not much happening on the NFL calendar right now, which means it's peak season for creative rankings and lists heading into the 2022 campaign. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks took part in that tradition last week, ranking the league’s “scariest” quarterbacks for opposing defenses to face, and it should come as no surprise that Kansas City Chiefs' signal caller Patrick Mahomes landed at No. 1.
The 2018 NFL MVP checked in ahead of the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers, Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson and Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert in the rankings.
Here's a portion of what Brooks wrote about Mahomes:
"…Mahomes has the capacity to shred defenses with a variety of laser-like tosses from inside and outside of the pocket. The sixth-year pro has dazzled the football world with his ability to throw the ball down the field, but 2022 could give him a chance to showcase a more disciplined and patient approach. With Tyreek Hill now in Miami, Mahomes might play more small ball and pick apart opponents with a barrage of passes thrown at short and intermediate range. If he continues to refine his approach while maintaining the fearlessness and efficiency (66.1% completion rate, 105.8 passer rating, 151:37 TD-INT ratio) that has made him so hard to stop, the Chiefs' QB1 could go down as the scariest quarterback in NFL history."
Mahomes threw for 4,839 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2021, marking his third career season with 35+ touchdown passes and 4,700+ passing yards. In fact, Mahomes – who has only been a starter for four seasons – is one of just three quarterbacks in league history to hit those marks three or more times, joining Tom Brady (4) and Drew Brees (4). Mahomes has also led Kansas City to at least 11 victories in each of his four seasons under center, racking up the most regular-season (49) and playoff (8) wins of any quarterback since 2018.
He's off to the greatest start for any quarterback in NFL history, and with a revamped wide receiver corps now at his disposal, Mahomes will surely be striking fear into opposing defenses once again in 2022.
