Former NFL players come out with random and shocking takes every once in a while. However, what Carson Palmer just said has a ton of people scratching their heads as to what makes him believe it. It all started when he took on a question during a podcast and said, “I think Joe Burrow is the best quarterback in the league. I know Patrick Mahomes is phenomenal, but I just think Joe’s more consistent. He’s more consistent.” I think that even the most casual fan would understand that saying Burrow is more consistent than Mahomes is a strange statement. Especially after the latter just won a second Super Bowl. The former quarterback apparently doesn’t think it’s so far-fetched.
Palmer Kept Going
Palmer continues later on in the podcast by saying, “Joe is just, talk about not having a weakness. Mentally strong, physically tough, accurate, can throw it far enough, fast enough, gets the ball out quick, and then he can actually do a lot with his legs.” The bottom line is that Palmer, former quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, believes that Burrow is a better quarterback than Mahomes at this moment in time.
He even implied that Burrow is more impactful on the ground. Which might only be because his offensive line has been worse. Mahomes has been excellent when making plays happen with his feet. He might even be the king of creating something when there’s nothing. Just look at that play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a few years ago. Had that pass been completed, it could have been the greatest improv play of all-time from a quarterback.
Despite losing three out of four matchups against Burrow in the NFL, Mahomes has a far better resume. He threw for 10,089 yards, 78 touchdowns and just 25 interceptions throughout just 34 games in the regular season. Burrow has thrown for 9,086 yards, 69 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions in two fewer games. The statistics show that Mahomes is better straight away. When looking at the claim that Burrow is more consistent and reliable than Patrick, that’s simply untrue considering Mahomes has made it into five straight AFC Championship games. Burrow has been great in the past few years, but what Mahomes has done is nothing short of outstanding.
Questionable Statement From Carson Palmer
Burrow has flashed all the potential in the world. With swagger that is simply through the roof. The problem with this argument is that he just doesn’t have the resume or the hardware necessary to back that up. Besides beating Mahomes three out of four times of course. Mahomes has more accolades, better numbers, and an overall larger presence in the pocket.
Palmer wasn’t a bad quarterback in the league though either. Which makes his statements more shocking. He was a former number one overall draft pick by the Bengals and helped them gain a superior reputation after six strong years with them. He didn’t spend his whole career with them though, as he threatened to retire if he wasn’t released or traded from the team in the middle of his career. That was when he spent two years with the Oakland Raiders and then another five years with the Arizona Cardinals before officially retiring.
We will be watching another regular season matchup between Mahomes and Burrow in the 2023 season. It’s not out of the ordinary to suggest that they might meet up in the postseason. Marking the third straight year that it’s happened. The comparisons between these two will keep on growing. Though saying anybody is better than Mahomes right now is an argument that you just can’t make at the moment.