Despite facing a challenging Super Bowl exit and being surpassed statistically by other quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes continues to be recognized as the best NFL quarterback. This consensus comes from a recent poll of league executives, coaches, and scouts, who collectively rated the Kansas City Chiefs star as the premier playmaker in the league.
Former NFL quarterback and current analyst Dan Orlovsky discussed the competition among top quarterbacks on Monday’s episode of Get Up, emphasizing just how close the performance levels have become among Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow.
“The gap has never been this ridiculously big gap when it comes to Patrick, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. All three of those guys had better seasons than Patrick did,“ said Orlovsky (Timestamp:0:16).
Comparing Statistical Achievements of Leading Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow led the league last season with 4,918 passing yards, while Lamar Jackson posted the highest passer rating at 119.6. Josh Allen touted the NFL MVP award for his performance. In contrast, Mahomes threw for less than 4,000 yards (3,928) in 2024, marking the first time he fell below that threshold since becoming Kansas City’s full-time starter in 2018.
Orlovsky pointed out a defining trait that likely places Mahomes ahead of these peers despite their standout seasons.
“There is the reality that Patrick not once, not twice, but three or four times has played his absolute best when it’s been needed the most. Those other three guys haven’t necessarily done that,” added Orlovsky at 0:29.
Mahomes has led the Chiefs to three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, securing two victories. Among the group, only Burrow has also reached this level of postseason success, having defeated Mahomes and the Chiefs to win the AFC Championship in 2021.
“Josh Allen’s coming off the best season of his career and an MVP, Lamar Jackson is coming off probably the best season of his career and arguably could have been the MVP, Joe Burrow’s coming off of the best season of his career. So the gap has never been that big, but the difference is, those three haven’t been their very best when it’s been needed like Patrick has,” Orlovsky concluded (Timestamp: 0:53).
Concerns Over Chiefs’ Pass Protection as 2025 Approaches
As the 2025 NFL season nears, the role of Patrick Mahomes as the Chiefs’ leading quarterback may come into question if offensive line issues remain unresolved. Pass protection is widely seen as a pressing problem for the reigning AFC champions, who struggled last year allowing Mahomes to be sacked 36 times and were hindered during a tough Super Bowl performance.
Reports from Marca highlight ongoing worries about how effectively Kansas City can shield their star quarterback. The Chiefs have taken steps by drafting left tackle Josh Simmons and signing Jaylon Moore, yet uncertainty surrounds the left guard position, where Mike Caliendo and Kingsley Sumataia have yet to establish themselves.
The team’s offensive line will face its first preseason test on August 9, when the Chiefs play on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, providing an early look at whether protection improves for Mahomes moving forward.