

Pro Football Focus decided to breakdown the top NFL quarterbacks by time to throw in 2024, it sure will resound on fans of the sport, and, most importantly, Chiefs fans. A lot of names were mentioned, but there is one that stood out the most. Not for leading the list, but for his surprisingly low ranking: Patrick Mahomes.
Although the Chiefs quarterback is labeled as a top tier, elite, premier NFL quarterback, Mahomes ranks just 7th in PFF’s sub-2.5 second throw group, with noticeably average production on quick-realease plays. Precisely, what has made number 15 be categorized so low in these ranking?
Tom Brady and the Raiders’ alarms go off after seeing their starting quarterback behavior
Mahomes’ time-to-throw numbers reveal a shift
In the present era of the NFL, a quick release is defined as a throw within 2.5 seconds; this typically represents a well-timed, rythm-based passing game. Patrick Mahomes didn’t crack the elite tier in 2024 regardinng this department. PFF mentioned that Mahomes had only a 2.0% turnover-worthy play rate on quick throws, but struggled to generate explosive plays. He ranked near the bottom in big-time throws and yards per attempt in that category.
It surely is a surprising take on one of the quarterbacks that is known for his creativity and improvisation. Every NFL fan knows the great ability ‘Pat‘ has when the play breaks down, where he takes advantage in and outside the pocket. It also raises questions as to how the Chiefs‘ offense has evolved.
Is it Mahomes? The scheme? The supporting cast?
Maybe it’s a little bit too harsh to put it all on Mahomes‘ plate; the lower rankings won’t necessarily reflect the limitants of his skills. Just maybe, it better reflects the whole Chiefs offense’s struggles in 2024:
- Inconsistent WR play meant fewer separation-based routes.
- A reliance on longer-developing plays minimized the value of a quick game.
- Mahomes was often forced to extend the plays, looking for open targets late in progressions.
PFF indicates that Mahomes was better and more effective in throws over 2.5 seconds. He relied on the trademark we mentioned before: escapability and field vision to find chunk plays.
What this means for Mahomes and the Chiefs
It’s now been a trend in the NFL that defenses are playing more and more coverages with a two-high safety look. This forces quarterbacks to throw more underneath stuff and even the elite ones must adapt. The numbers may suggest that Mahomes and the Chiefs should revolutionize their quick-game strategy.
Patrick Mahomes‘ low ranking needs to be seen, not as a red flag or a weakness in his game, but as a roadmap. It highlights where Kansas City‘s offense must evolve and where defenses are succeeding in limiting his play. While Mahomes remains one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league, the data suggests that the quick game is an are where he’s currently beatable.
This news was originally published on this post .
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