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Steinberg client Mahomes is moving up in draft projections

When NFL agent Leigh Steinberg signed Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, he called him the best quarterback in the draft, but not a lot of people in the business agreed with him.

Back in January, Mahomes was not ranked as a first-round prospect. At least three other quarterbacks — North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer — were ranked ahead of him.

“We felt he was the best quarterback in the draft and the fact he wasn’t rated among those first three didn’t really matter,” said Steinberg, who represents Mahomes with agent Chris Cabott. “Because the draft is individual teams selecting individually, so the prognostications that are made by draft projectors are their opinions, but they create an aura and an inevitability that is not always reflective in the draft.”

That was then. Now, Mahomes is moving up on NFL prognosticators’ draft boards. CBS Sports senior draft analyst Rob Rang recently moved him up on his mock draft to the No. 13 pick and the second quarterback selected overall, after Trubisky.

Patrick Mahomes showed off his arm and feet.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES

“Mahomes has a lot of buzz around him right now following impressive performances at the combine and his pro day,” Rang said. “Some in the NFL believe he has the highest upside of any quarterback in this class.”

Mahomes shocked scouts by throwing a 78-yard pass during his pro day late last month. Additionally, he worked out in front of clubs in a pro style offense and not the spread offense he used at Texas Tech.

Mahomes’ initial draft status, Steinberg said, was hurt, in part because Texas Tech uses a spread offense. “The thought is it is a major adjustment to move to taking the ball under center and doing a three-, five-, seven-step drop,” Steinberg explained. So, Steinberg and Mahomes’ trainers and advisers had Mahomes run his whole pro scouting day from a pro set.

“He showed all that footwork,” Steinberg said. “And people are now looking past the fact he played in that spread offense to his actual inherent talent.”

Mahomes’ father is Pat Mahomes, an MLB pitcher for 10 years. Mahomes the quarterback played baseball, too, and had a 93-mph fastball. He could’ve been drafted as a pitcher, Steinberg said, but he loves football more.

To prepare for the NFL combine and pro day, Mahomes worked with longtime coach Mike Sheppard at Exos’ training facility in Carlsbad, Calif., Steinberg said.

Steinberg has 40 years of experience as an NFL agent and has represented more than 60 first-round draft picks and eight No. 1 overall picks.

> CAA SIGNS RAY LEWIS: Creative Artists Agency has signed former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis for representation in all areas, including television, publishing, philanthropy, speaking, endorsements and digital media.
A team of agents across CAA will represent Lewis. He was formerly represented by WME.

Lewis played 17 seasons with the Ravens before retiring from the NFL in 2013 and is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year. Many NFL analysts view him as a likely first-ballot selection.

Lewis was an on-air talent for ESPN from 2013-16 and wrote a book, “I Feel Like Going On.”

> DRAFT CLASS: SportsTrust Advisors’ NFL signees include safety Eddie Jackson and defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson, both of Alabama.

SportsTrust also has signed TCU defensive end Josh Carraway, South Alabama tight end Gerald Everett, Troy offensive lineman Tony Garcia, UNC defensive tackle Nazair Jones, South Alabama wide receiver Josh Magee, Georgia wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, Kentucky running back Stanley “Boom” Williams and Baylor wide receiver Ishmael Zamora.

Agents Pat Dye, Bill Johnson and Ben Setas will represent the players.

Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.

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