Patrick Mahomes was one of the top top quarterbacks drafted in the 2017 NFL draft, being taken 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs and went on to lead the Chiefs to a Superbowl victory over the San Francisco 49er in 2020.
Patrick Mahomes scored a 24 on the Wonderlic which is about middle-of-the-pack when looking at the score of quarterbacks. Because most teams generally consider Wonderlic scores if they are below average, and given Mahomes’ proven on the field talent, his Wonderlic test score was not significantly affected on draft day.
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More on Patrick Mahomes’ Wonderlic Score
Looking at the quarterbacks in Mahomes’ class, he was drafted second in his draft class behind Mitchell Trubisky. Using the table below, you can view all Wonderlic scores of quarterbacks drafted in 2017, organized by their draft position.
| Quarterback | Wonderlic Score | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitch Trubisky | 25 | Round 1 – No. 2 | Bears |
| Patrick Mahomes | 24 | Round 1 – No. 10 | Chiefs |
| Deshaun Watson | 20 | Round 1 – No. 12 | Texans |
| Deshone Kizer | 28 | Round 2 – No. 52 | Browns |
| Davis Webb | 25 | Round 3 – No. 87 | Giants |
| C.J. Beathard | 26 | Round 3 – No. 104 | 49ers |
| Josh Dobbs | 29 | Round 4 – No.135 | Steelers |
| Nathan Peterman | 33 | Round 5 – No. 171 | Bills |
| Brad Kaaya | 34 | Round 6 – No. 215 | Lions |
| Chad Kelly | 22 | Round 7 – No. 253 | Broncos |
None of the Wonderlic test scores were outstanding in 2017, so it did not seem to play a big factor in 2017. For comparison, Jared Goff scored a 36 and Carson Wentz scored a 40 the year before the 2017 draft. Both of their scores are higher than any QB Wonderlic score in the 2017 draft.
Mahomes’ score is also above average when compared to the general population. As you can see in the graph below, a very small percentage of the population scores 35 or higher, and the average is close to 20.
About Patrick Mahomes
Pat Mahomes played his College football at Texas Tech, where he was known for putting up big stats through the air and on the ground. Mahomes won the starting position his freshman year and had impressive numbers for both his Freshman and Sophomore seasons. However, his Junior season was his most impressive year and caught the eye of many NFL scouts. He threw for 5052 yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 12 rushing touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also proved to be a more composed quarterback, recognizing open receivers, controlling the tempo of his offense and consistently making accurate throws.
Mahomes also seems to have the talent required at the NFL level and shows a great deal of promise as a starter in the NFL. His arm strength may be the best in this year’s quarterback class, and he has been known to throw bullets to receivers in tight windows (which will only get tighter in the NFL). In fact, he is known to throw 93 mph fastballs as a baseball pitcher.
With most college quarterback being drafted, there will be many adjustments that Mahomes will need to make at the NFL level. Many of the plays he ran in college, including screens, quick passes and quarterback runs, will not be reliable in the NFL. While Mahomes was excellent at scrambling and extending the play, he will now be up against the strongest and fastest defensive football players in the world. He will need to learn the fine line at the NFL level of when to scramble and how to avoid costly sacks or interceptions when under pressure.
About the Wonderlic Test
The Wonderlic test is a cognitive ability test given to all participants of the NFL Scouting Combine. All test takers must complete the entire 50 question test in under 12 minutes, meaning they are given only about 14 seconds per question. Questions are similar to what you would expect to find on an IQ test and calculators are not allowed to solve math related questions.
While many argue that it is not a good measure of future success for all position players, many consider it to be particularly important for quarterbacks. Because good quarterbacks at the NFL level must memorize opposing defensive players and schemes along with knowing their own offensive information, some form of cognitive ability testing seems appropriate for the position. Because the Wonderlic is a test of both smarts and quick thinking, it also seems appropriate for a football position that demands the ability to think fast.
Because quarterbacks are at a premium during this particular offseason, a great deal of attention will be given to Patrick Mahomes and his Wonderlic test score, along with other statistics coming from the NFL combine.
Image courtesy Thomson200, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons