First rule of NFL analysis: Never compare anyone to Patrick Mahomes.
Second rule of NFL analysis: Never compare anyone to Patrick Mahomes, unless you have a chance to cheer up the frustrated Vikings fan in your life.
Let’s remember exactly how Mahomes became the starting quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs and perhaps the greatest quarterback we’ve ever seen.
The Chiefs were a perennial playoff team. Their quarterback, Alex Smith, had been the first pick in the draft for another franchise, and he thrived in the offense of a renowned offensive guru, but the Chiefs went 1-4 in the playoffs with him at quarterback.
So they used a first-round pick, the 10th, on an athletic quarterback who was projected to be taken later. Mahomes spent most of his rookie season watching from the sideline. The rest has been Mahomes rewriting history.
How does that compare to the Vikings’ current quarterback predicament?
The Vikings were a competitive team and frequent playoff participant. Their quarterback, Sam Darnold, had been the first pick in the draft for another franchise, and he thrived in the offense of a renowned offensive guru, but Darnold and the Vikings collapsed in the last game of the regular season and the first game of the playoffs.
The Vikings used a first-round pick, the 10th, on an athletic quarterback who was projected to be taken later. Because of a knee injury, J.J. McCarthy spent his first season watching from the sidelines or a safe place.