Is Jordan Travis the Next Patrick Mahomes?

FSU quarterback (QB) Jordan Travis most closely resembles the playing style of Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes in the 2024 NFL Draft class.

Not USC QB Caleb Williams.

For the record let me say it loud enough for the people in the back to hear – – I am not saying Travis is the next Mahomes.

I’m saying his playing style most closely resembles Mahomes in this upcoming draft class.

It comes naturally for Travis.

Elite athleticism, mobility and arm strength

This is Travis’ game.

This is how he most closely resembles Mahomes.

He shows elite pocket mobility, escapability, and running ability on game film.

Travis slides around in every which direction and throws without setting his feet, and he loves to throw off platform.

This FSU QB is best rolling to his right and firing a laser beam down the right sideline, but he can roll to his left and do likewise

He’ll be climbing the pocket, then at the last second, he’ll flip it or throw out laterally to his left.

Travis is fun to watch.

Playmaker

He’s unorthodox and instinctual.

Those two characteristics combined with how aggressively he stretches the field, his big-league arm, and his top-shelf athleticism make him dangerous.

However, this is where the story goes sideways.

Ball security

Travis does a lot of things exceptionally well as outlined, but taking care of the football is not one of them.

He’s downright reckless with the football.

In this block of six-game film study, opposing defenses got their hands on the football 22x when it was in the air.

22x.

Out of those 22x, six of those passes were tipped at the line of scrimmage.

That’s not all…

Travis additionally fumbled 5x when he got sacked.

That’s a total of 27x in six games.

There’s no possible way he will make it in the NFL with those numbers.

That kind of lack of ball security alone will completely derail him at the next level.

Some of the throws I thought to myself, “What are you thinking?”

Deep ball problems

Travis is best in the short to intermediate route levels when he is on target.

His deep game is a whole other issue.

This is another area of his game that doesn’t match Mahomes.

Granted, Travis takes a lot of deep shots, but his accuracy was like watching someone at a shooting range wearing a blindfold.

Yes, he did hit one every now and again, but not nearly enough to be taken seriously as a starting QB in the NFL.

Upside?

That’s the big question here.

How high is Travis’ ceiling?

Normally, in the past it was a lot easier to see developmental upside in prospects, but now that 3-5-7 steps drops are practically obsolete for quarterbacks in college football, it’s a lot harder to see now.

His ball security and deep game issues are footwork and timing problems, but his game is built on unorthodox footwork.

The real issue is Mahomes is in fact, Mahomes, and no one can replicate that.

How can Travis correct these major flaws when there’s no footwork structure to work on?

#13 Jordan Travis 6-foot-1, 201 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Spring 2023 Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 3.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 16, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Wake Forest, LSU, and Florida (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 226/353 (64.0%), 3214 yards, 24 TD, 5 INT, 15 sacks, long-78

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic tough dual-threat playmaker who looks the part, but has ball security and deep ball issues. Leads with an up-tempo pace. Relatively quick decisions. Can get out of jams and turn nothing into something. Flare for the dramatic. Inconsistent going through his progressions. Strong enough arm to not need to set his feet. Most accurate short-range, decent intermediate. Tendency for the ball to sail high intermediate and overthrow deep. Can deliver under pressure. Spreads the ball around. Makes some big-time throws into the intermediate range when he’s on point. Can pick up sizable chunks of yardage running the ball on a regular basis.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season:

1. Ball security?

2. How does his deep passing game look?

3. Does he stay healthy as much as he runs?

4. Does he slide or run out of bounds when he’s running?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.