National media have Patrick Mahomes II as the most-selected quarterback for the Texans in early mock drafts.
The 6-2, 232-pound Texas Tech starter threw for 5,052 yards and 41 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions last year as a junior, leading the FBS in yardage and total touchdowns.
With many teams showing interest in him, Mahomes could be selected in the first round of the draft. During his media availability last week at the NFL Scouting Combine, Mahomes confirmed meetings with a number of teams, including Kansas City, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and was scheduled to meet with the Giants and Jets.
However, Mahomes is not preoccupied with when he's drafted, as much as who drafts him.
"I mean, it would definitely be awesome," Mahomes said Friday. "That's the dream. You want to be a first-round guy, but for me it's all about going to the right team, the right organization. I just want to get coached really hard. I want to have every chance to go out there and prove my game every single day."
As a true freshman, Mahomes became the starter for the Red Raiders for the final four games of 2014. He then went on to start his next two seasons under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Despite a 5-7 finish for Texas Tech in 2016, Mahomes had a historic year, including an FBS record-setting game with 734 passing yards against Oklahoma.
"He's made me the quarterback I am today," Mahomes said of Kingsbury. "Just in general, he's helped me improve every single year. He pushes me and it was something that he gave me advice. When you do this – go all in, be all in, all football all the time – and his work ethic and the way he studies, it transcended to me and it's something I'll use going into the NFL."
Mahomes also relied on the advice and experience of his father. Patrick Mahomes pitched 11 years in Major League Baseball with six teams, including five years with the Minnesota Twins during his career.
"It definitely helped me, just seeing professional athletes growing up," Mahomes said. "You saw how hard they worked. When they got to the big leagues, how hard they worked to stay there. Him giving me advice as well as LaTroy Hawkins, my godfather. They really have shown me the way to be a professional athlete and that's definitely something I feel like is an advantage for me."
The 2017 NFL Draft takes place April 27 through 29 in Philadelphia.
Check out photos of quarterback, wide receiver and tight end prospects from the 2017 NFL Combine.
