Are Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts More Similar Than Most Think?

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Like we mentioned in yesterday’s article with the Kelce brothers, the quarterbacks for Super Bowl LVII will make NFL history. Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will be the first pair of black quarterbacks to square off in a Super Bowl.

Historically, we are used to seeing an older veteran quarterback as part of the Super Bowl. The good news for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL, is that these are a pair of younger quarterbacks. Mahomes has either reached the conference championship or the Super Bowl every year as a starter. Yet, he is still just 27 years old. As for Hurts, he is only 24 years old and in his second season as the entrenched starter of the Eagles.

Both quarterbacks could very well be the top two vote-getters in NFL MVP voting this year. On the other hand, Mahomes and Hurts have only been getting better over the last handful of years. Most people may think they operate with different styles. However, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts may be more similar than most people think.

Consummate Pros

First and foremost, the leadership of these two quarterbacks is rare for players of their age. Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts each want all of the pressure on their shoulders. So much so, that it is hard to protect these passers from themselves, here and there. We just saw how frustrated Mahomes was to have to leave the Divisional Round playoff game, in order to go take an x-ray on his ankle. Hurts is also still running the football and taking major blows in the open field, despite dealing with a nagging shoulder injury.

The wisdom of Mahomes and Hurts is far beyond their years and experience in the NFL. With both the Chiefs and the Eagles, these quarterbacks know how to motivate their teammates. They constantly say the right things. They constantly rise up in high-pressure situations. And when the game is on the line, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts seemingly become more comfortable. They understand how their actions are relied upon greatly by their teammates. For Kansas City and Philadelphia respectively, Mahomes and Hurts are the exact kind of people that you want leading your franchise.

Star Pupils

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Beyond that leadership, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are constantly learning and piecing that together with their expanding games. The smart plays and instincts of these two will not always grab as much headlines as their highlight-reel plays. Nevertheless, you are seeing this area of their careers improving on a consistent basis. Mahomes, for example, has become the most comfortable that he has probably ever been from within the pocket. That was definitely evident in last week’s AFC Championship Game.

Whereas with Hurts, you see him learn from his occasional mistakes extremely quick. Once he sees something for the first time, his recall is visually on display, as he looks to make the smarter play and protect the football. That is paramount for Hurts, given his dual-threat ability as a rusher in the open field.

The instincts of Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts has begun to translate in areas that are often taken for granted with top quarterbacks. From Mahomes’ perspective, his release as a passer is truly wicked. Once he sees an opening to attack, there is no hesitation to hitting his target. Combine that with his accuracy and velocity, and it certainly leaves defenses guessing. Finally, Hurts is honestly underappreciated with his instincts pre-snap. It appears that he recognizes advantages in leverage before the ball is even snapped. Post-snap, you rarely see him caught off guard, as a result.

Otherworldly

Obviously, there are other quarterbacks near the top level of the NFL hierarchy. Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are arguably among the best, though, when it comes to having any club in their bag, so to speak. We mentioned that once they see one thing, Mahomes and Hurts can figure out the answer to best beat that or adjust. However, this duo of quarterbacks simply has any trick that they can pull out of their back pocket.

Mahomes will always be known for making any type of pass look simple from any type of arm angle. Hurts is starting to become more well known for his accuracy and touch to all areas of the field. When it is all said and done, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts can anticipate just about anything. That includes how the defensive line is looking to pressure, how the secondary is looking to play them and where the hot routes are going to be.

Other items like using their legs, toughness and reading defenses or the field continues to improve. Mahomes is almost forgotten about for his rushing skills. Though, he is extremely challenging to corral and bring down. Meanwhile, Hurts does not seem to get enough credit for his ability to understand and read defenses. He is simply cerebral in how he attacks certain defensive backs. On top of that, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are otherworldly with their ability to come through and make any throw when having to face or elude pressure.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles and analysis throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.