A young Patrick Mahomes was once compared to a quarterback who was hated by NFL fans and became a social media meme.

Let that sink in as the NFL Combine begins, with 32 pro teams studying, analyzing and intricately critiquing young players in the pressure-packed build up to the 2024 NFL Draft.

Patrick Mahomes was once knocked by a draft critic for struggling to throw deep balls
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Patrick Mahomes was once knocked by a draft critic for struggling to throw deep ballsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

While Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye go through the pre-draft process this year, it was just seven years ago that a raw and unproven QB from Texas Tech was scrutinized under the microscope during the Combine.

Some of the critiques about Mahomes were right.

He spent his rookie year sitting and watching behind veteran QB Alex Smith.

Mahomes later acknowledged that he needed to study film more to learn defensive tendencies, instead of just relying on his natural athletic talent.

But the most negative complaints about Mahomes entering the 2017 draft are now laughable, if not completely embarrassing.

The NFL’s official website still has Mahomes’ pre-draft bio, which mentions that “he’s developed some bad habits and doesn’t have a very repeatable process as a passer.”

Three Super Bowl MVPs and one Kansas City Chiefs dynasty later, Mahomes is laughing in the face of his 2017 critics, doubters and haters.

Before Kansas City traded up to draft its future franchise face at No. 10 overall, Mahomes was supposedly “inconsistent in his approach” and needed “to play inside the offense and show more discipline.”

Smoking Jay Cutler giving a press conference looks completely natural

(Video via NFLMemeGuy/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/VVfpdKX8LO

— YourSports (@YourSports) August 9, 2017

His “willingness to default to playground style appears to limit his ability to get into a consistent rhythm,” while Mahomes’ “decision making can go from good to bad in a moment’s notice.”

He’s 74-22 as a starter and has already made six Pro Bowls, so Mahomes’ decision making appears to be just fine.

But those weren’t the biggest misses in the draft report.

Mahomes was supposedly “impatient” and “needs better touch on intermediate and deep balls.”

He’s thrown 219 touchdowns since becoming a full-time starter in 2018.

Jay Cutler became a running joke in the NFL because of his perceived lack of caring
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Jay Cutler became a running joke in the NFL because of his perceived lack of caringCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Then there was the pre-draft QB comparison that becomes more ubelievable with each passing year.

Jay Cutler was listed as the NFL QB that Mahomes was the most comparable to.

While Cutler made one Pro Bowl, he went 74-79 as a starter and became a bad joke to Chicago Bears fans.

“The good thing is I play quarterback so I don’t have to be in that great cardiovascular shape,” Cutler said in 2017.

“Jay Cutler didn’t reach half of his potential,” former teammate Brandon Marshall said.

In his post-playing days, Cutler has been known more for his ties to reality TV and Kristin Cavallari than being an NFL QB.

Kristin Cavallari and Cutler during their old days together before parting ways
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Kristin Cavallari and Cutler during their old days together before parting waysCredit: Getty