28 teams attended Patrick Mahomes’s pro day last week, and the Buffalo Bills were among them. Now the team plans to hold a private workout with him, according to a report from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The language used suggests that this is a workout near Texas Tech, as opposed to one of Buffalo’s top 30 visits they’re allowed to use pre-draft.
NFL teams can’t help but be intrigued by the Texas Tech quarterback. The passer’s resume includes the FBS records for single-game offense and passing yards, 93 touchdowns against 29 interceptions in his career, and the usurping of the starting job from Davis Webb (another 2017 NFL Draft quarterback prospect) as a freshman. He’s a former two-sport athlete whose father was an MLB pitcher for 10 years, and his freewheeling style evokes visions of a 6’2” 220 pound fastballing version of Johnny Manziel and Doug Flutie.
Mahomes flashes incredible feats of arm talent and play extension, but his abilities to read the field and navigate a pocket are still underdeveloped (or perhaps entirely incompatible with his playing style). He’s considered to be a first or second round prospect by most analysts, but is the riskiest option for today’s impatient NFL landscape.
The Bills met with Mahomes at the NFL Combine. Along with him, the Bills have also shown interest in Deshaun Watson, Chad Kelly, and Nathan Peterman. The team had also scheduled a private workout with Peterman this offseason. While Tyrod Taylor remains under contract for the near future, the team may be looking to add another option that fits Sean McDermott’s profile if the value is right.