Who Can Be the Next Patrick Mahomes in the 2020 NFL Draft?

Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl success in 50 years when his side defeated the San Francisco 49ers 30-20 in Miami

12:49 12 February 2020

Mahomes is part of a new breed of quarterbacks who are taking the league by storm. Last season’s regular season MVP Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson are both part of that bracket as they are equally as effective with their feet as they are with their arms.

Given that the NFL is a copycat league, the teams which go into the 2020 NFL Draft looking for a quarterback will be after the next Patrick Mahomes. A player who has the X factor and can have immediate success in the role.

Here are three college stars who are sure to be in hot demand in April when the 32 teams choose their players of the future.

Joe Burrow

After the season he has just had for LSU, Joe Burrow has been tipped to be a future superstar of the NFL. The 2019 Heisman Trophy winner is being unanimously projected to be the number one overall pick in the Draft.

Burrow and LSU were unbeaten in the 2019-20 campaign. They went 15-0 in the regular season and won the national championship courtesy of a 45-22 success over Clemson.

The former LSU player threw for 60 touchdowns last season. He is comfortable outside of the pocket and at exploiting holes with his feet when he sees them.

Justin Herbert

Oregon finished 2019 with a 12-2 record with Justin Herbert as their quarterback. The Tigers, who have American football odds of +5000 for the national championship next season, will miss their Rose Bowl Offensive MVP who is now eligible for the NFL Draft.

At 6’6”, Herbert will be one of the biggest quarterbacks available for selection in Paradise, Nevada. In his side’s victory over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, he had three rushing touchdowns, including a 30-yard TD in the fourth quarter.

Herbert could drop to as low as number six on the draft board with the Los Angeles Chargers likely to be the most interested in his services to replace Philip Rivers.

Tua Tagovailoa

If the 2020 NFL Draft had been held last November, there would have been little doubt that Tua Tagovailoa would have been the first overall pick. A serious hip injury later that month put the Alabama QB out for the season though.

Tagovailoa is a dual-threat QB who has put up some incredible numbers for Alabama over the last three years. He looks destined to follow in the footsteps of Mahomes, Jackson and Watson as one of the next young stars of the sport.

Rehabilitation has been going well for the 21-year-old so his injury is unlikely to be a barrier to stop him from being drafted as a top-five overall pick. The Bengals, Dolphins, Chargers, Panthers, Jaguars and Colts are all on the lookout for a QB in the upcoming draft, and Tagovailoa is certain to be of interest to them.

With the Combine and many more scouting opportunities taking place from now until April, all 32 NFL teams will be running their eyes over their targets to ensure they get the right fit for their roster.