Patrick Mahomes is widely recognized as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
He’s led the Kansas City Chiefs to five-straight AFC Championships, winning the Super Bowl twice.
Mahomes has also won the league MVP on two separate occasions during this timespan.
Recently, Warren Sharp posted an interesting evolution of Mahomes’ game, particularly when it comes to air yards per touchdown pass.
truly wild stat
average length of Patrick Mahomes TD passes:
2019: 17.3 air yards
2020: 13.0 air yards
2021: 8.5 air yards
2022: 4.5 air yardslast year Mahomes threw 41 touchdowns
only ONE (1) traveled more than 19 yards
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 4, 2023
Over the last four years, the average air yards of Mahomes’ touchdown passes have decreased significantly.
In 2019, the average length of his touchdown passes was 17.3 air yards, which shrunk to 4.5 in 2022.
Mahomes threw 41 touchdowns last season, meaning that they were all either short passes in the red zone or a short pass accompanied by a long run to the endzone.
While Mahomes’ touchdowns were short, he certainly passed for a lot of yards last season.
His 5,250 yards were the highest amount in his career, and they also led the league.
Mahomes’ 41 touchdown passes also led the league and was his highest total since his first MVP award, when he had 50.
Ultimately, it appears that Mahomes can be efficient in whatever capacity the team needs him to be, whether that is 40-yard long passes or short 4.5-yard touchdown passes.
The Chiefs’ receiving corps lost JuJu-Smith Schuster and Mecole Hardman throughout the offseason.
Whether they are able to replace that production remains to be seen, however, Mahomes seems to make his options work, no matter their draft capital or previous success.
Will that success follow him into the 2023 season?
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