NFL Draft rumors: Patrick Mahomes visiting Houston Texans

Patrick Mahomes will be meeting with the defending AFC South champions as they look to fix their quarterback hole this offseason.

Former Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes is expected to be one of the hottest names among quarterback prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft. After posting two highly productive seasons for the Red Raiders, Mahomes’ upside will surely interest plenty of quarterback-needy teams.

The Houston Texans are among these teams. It should come as no surprise that they will be meeting with the projected early pick over the next couple of days, according to John McClain.

Mahomes particularly impressed NFL scouts during his 2016 season with Texas Tech. He threw for 5,052 yards with 41 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions with a 65.7 completion percentage. Mahomes’ production and incredible arm strength make him a first-round pick candidate.

However, Mahomes will have to prove many doubters wrong. Texas Tech quarterbacks do not have a great track record in the NFL. No Red Raiders quarterback has been drafted in the first round. The San Diego Chargers selected Billy Joe Tolliver in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft, but his career did not prove to be memorable. Texas Tech is notorious for employing a pass-happy system that does not translate well to the pros.

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Mahomes’ upside cannot be denied, though, and neither can the Texans’ need for a quarterback. The Texans have been considered a team that is a quarterback away from becoming Super Bowl frontrunners. It’s hard to argue this since they managed to win a playoff game with Brock Osweiler as their starting quarterback. Tony Romo will not be an option, though, and it’s hard to imagine the Texans wanting to sign Jay Cutler or Colin Kaepernick.