New Orleans Saints

24 hours with QB Patrick Mahomes as he tries to make his NFL dream come true

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

Emily Kaplan/Sports Illustrated via MMQB

The MMQB continues a series of inside-inside, multimedia football stories for the 2017 season with a view into the life of top quarterback prospect Patrick Mahomes in advance of the most important audition of his career: Texas Tech’s pro day. In the series, we’ll spend a full day with an important person in the football world. We’ll have players, coaches and other figures integral to how the game is played and consumed. Give us feedback — and ideas for future 24 Hours subjects — at talkback@themmqb.com.

The lead-up to a prospect’s pro day audition is stressful enough. But for Mahomes, just 21 years old and one of the most intriguing players in the 2017 draft class, there’s even more pressure. This draft class of quarterbacks does not include a surefire franchise player; each of top prospects must take full advantage of this on-campus test and use it as a statement that he should be the top passer chosen on April 27. With a sturdy frame (6'3", 225 pounds), pro athlete pedigree (his father, Pat Mahomes, pitched in the majors for 11 seasons), big arm and natural charisma, Mahomes is a legitimate first-round candidate. Says one AFC personnel man: “No doubt he has all the traits you’re looking for. He may be a project, but you can see him having tremendous upside, perhaps more than any of the guys in his class.”

On March 31, representatives from 28 teams traveled to Lubbock, Texas, to watch Mahomes perform a 68-throw script. The MMQB’s Emily Kaplan followed Mahomes for a 24-hour period before his pro day, a peek into the preparations of a top quarterback prospect.

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Though Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury made Mahomes take snaps from under center every practice, the quarterback rarely did it aside from short-yardage situations in games. And during the draft process, Mahomes has a significant disadvantage to overcome. On Oct. 22, in the Red Raiders’ 66-59 loss to Oklahoma, Mahomes broke his left wrist in the first half. (He would ultimately attempt 88 throws in that game, amassing 734 yards and five touchdowns, as well as an NCAA single-game record 819 yards of total offense.) He didn’t miss any time last season due to the injury, but he underwent surgery in December. Many around Lubbock believed the injury would force Mahomes to return to school for his senior year.

Even though it’s his non-throwing hand, the injury is significant: When taking snaps under center, the left hand stabilizes the ball. He had a cast for a month and didn’t get the screws out until mid-January. He couldn’t throw the football much during that span. Texas Tech scheduled its pro day as late as possible just in case Mahomes needed the extra time to heal. “In the end, though, we probably didn’t have to push it back,” says Mahomes, in his thick Texas drawl, as he shows off a gnarly five-inch scar stretching from his wrist to knuckles. “My wrist healed much faster than I thought, and once [I got the screws out] I felt like I could throw just fine. Maybe it put me behind a little bit, but I’m 100 percent now.”

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Kingsbury and Mahomes were inseparable over the last three years. The coach trusted his quarterback so much that he let Mahomes change any play at the line of scrimmage, a rarity in Kingsbury’s system. The dynamics have shifted now that they’re not longer coach and pupil, and today Kingsbury doesn’t have time to hang out. Even though Mahomes threw for 5,052 yards and 41 touchdowns last season, Texas Tech finished a disappointing 5-7. Through spring ball, Kingsbury makes everyone in the football building — players and coaches — put masking tape over the double-T emblem because, according to the coach, their poor play in 2016 meant they “haven’t earned anything.” (Mahomes is allowed to wear his Texas Tech gear, unmasked).

Mahomes looks at himself in the reflection of a glass display in the lobby. “Hey,” he says, to two nearby staffers. “How’s my hair? Should I get a haircut?” He pats down on his curly locks. He stares at his reflection for a good 30 seconds then tells Bell, “OK, let’s go get something to eat.”

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8:01 p.m.

On TV, NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, the draft expert of draft experts, is previewing Texas Tech’s pro day. Mahomes perks up. Mayock: “He runs around like he thinks he’s Johnny Manziel.” To this, Mahomes chuckles like a little kid. “Come on,” he says. “That’s a funny line.”

Mayock finishes the segment saying, “Is he disciplined to play in a true NFL system?” Mahomes barely reacts. Fabian the barber takes offense: “We’ll show them!”

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11:31 a.m.

Sheppard and Mahomes enter Jones AT&T Stadium. It’s 75 degrees and sunny, with a slight breeze. Sheppard knows there’s always a wind factor in this stadium. In 1989 (six years before Mahomes was born) Sheppard was the head coach at New Mexico and his team played here. “I’ve been wondering how the wind will be tomorrow,” Sheppard says. “But I know he’ll have to make throws with the wind and against it tomorrow, because that’s what the NFL guys want to see.”

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The quarterback gets in formation. “Set, hut!” He goes through the motion of stepping back and throwing the ball. And he keeps going.

After play No. 30, a five-step drop and corner route, Sheppard yells: “Good timing, Patrick!” Later, he’ll yell “good throw!” It seems comical with no ball in sight.

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