Quarterback battles are always intriguing and even more so when they’re between players taken in the same draft. Pundits and fans will debate which player a team should have taken over the one they actually did, but the true answer to the question will play out on the field.
Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson already faced off on Thursday night in the second matchup between the two 2017 first-round picks, but they won’t be the last in Week 1. For the first time since 1967, there will be five total quarterback matchups between gunslingers from the same draft class this week, according to Elias Sports.
Two sets of matchups come from the 2018 draft, which featured five first-round picks. The other two games – excluding Mahomes vs. Watson – include a bout between quarterbacks taken far apart from each other and a battle between quarterbacks drafted within four picks of each other.
Sam Darnold vs. Josh Allen
Darnold and Allen were the second and third quarterbacks taken in the 2018 draft, with Darnold going five picks earlier to the Jets. Though Darnold has the 2-1 series lead over Allen, the Bills quarterback has had the overall better career and better stats (and barely played in the duo’s final 2019 game). Allen’s 15-12 career record is better than Darnold’s 11-15 record, and Allen also has one more playoff game appearance, 215 more total yards and eight more total touchdowns to his name despite playing in two fewer games thanks to his rushing ability.
Despite the on-the-field rivalry of playing in the same division, Darnold and Allen maintain a close friendship and practiced together this summer during the coronavirus pandemic.
Deshaun Watson vs. Patrick Mahomes
The Chiefs selected Mahomes two picks before Watson in the 2017 draft, but Mahomes has played in seven fewer games than Watson after not seeing action his rookie season. Despite this, the two have very similar stats. Mahomes beat Watson in career passing touchdowns (79 vs. 72), but Watson has the edge in total yards (11,229 to Mahomes’ 11,123), total touchdowns (87) and a slight lead in career completion percentage (66.7 vs. 66.1).
The major differences come in head-to-head and overall win record, where Mahomes is 2-0 against Watson and has won 77.41 percent of his games to Watson’s 64.86 win percentage. Mahomes is also 4-1 in the playoffs with a Super Bowl and an MVP trophy, while Watson is 1-2 in the playoffs.
Baker Mayfield vs. Lamar Jackson
Mayfield and Jackson were the bookends of the first round of the 2018 draft, with the Browns taking Mayfield first overall and the Ravens taking Jackson 32nd. But so far in their careers, Jackson has far outplayed Mayfield. He leads Mayfield 2-1 in head-to-head matchups and has a better overall record (19-3 vs. 12-17), more total touchdowns, a better completion percentage and far fewer sacks and interceptions.
Jackson also has an MVP trophy to his name.
Jared Goff vs. Dak Prescott
Prescott went 134 picks after the Rams drafted Jared Goff first overall in 2016, but the two have had very similar careers. Prescott has actually played in 10 more games than Goff and has seven more wins, 1,500 more total yards and 25 more total touchdowns.
Though Goff has a better playoff record (2-2 vs. Prescott’s 1-2) and a Super Bowl appearance, Prescott has superior stats overall. The two only played each other once in their career’s and Prescott’s Cowboys won in a big 44-21 showdown that featured a better outing from Prescott but an even better rushing attack by Dallas.
Derek Carr vs. Teddy Bridgewater (2014)
This career comparison is a little warped considering Bridgewater missed almost two seasons with a devastating knee injury. While Carr’s career has outpaced Bridgewater to this date – both in wins and stats – Bridgewater actually has a better career winning percentage (64.71 percent to Carr’s 41.48 percent) and career completion percentage (65.2 percent to Carr’s 64.0 percent).
Carr heads into his seventh season as the Raiders’ starting quarterback after a truly up-and-down career, while Bridgewater will play for his third team but is finally the unquestioned starter again in Carolina with the Panthers. The only time the two faced off was in 2015 when Bridgewater played for the Vikings. Bridgewater won 30-14 despite a 300-yard game from Carr.
