Top 5 deep-ball passers in the NFL entering the 2020 season
By Dustin Baker
2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
40+ Yard Completions in 2019: 15
Percentage to Total Pass Attempts: 3.09
Unsurprisingly, the reigning Super Bowl MVP nears the top of these rankings. From the moment Patrick Mahomes was anointed the starting quarterback, he has been a murderous commodity.
In the last two seasons, Mahomes ranks first in touchdown passes, second in passer rating, and trails only Matt Ryan and Jared Goff in passing yards. More importantly, it took him only two years to reach the top of the NFL mountain by winning a championship. And truth be told, he probably could have reached the Super Bowl in 2018 and nobody would have been shocked. He’s just that good.
Additionally, for this deep-ball metric, Mahomes led the NFL in 40+ yard touchdown passes. He accounted for nine such scores, and that outpaces the closest suitors, Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins, in second and third respectively.
With his teammates, Mahomes spread the deep-ball love around commendably. Five players had multiple-40+ yard receptions: Mecole Hardman (four), Tyreek Hill, (three), Travis Kelce (three), Sammy Watkins (two) and Demarcus Robinson (two). No Chief was left behind.
Kansas City’s front office evidently realized Mahomes’ deep-ball prowess, among other traits, as 24-year-old was recently awarded an unprecedented 10-year, $503 million contract.