Lofty comparisons in any professional sport are common, but the NFL probably takes the cake in the early summer months.
This year is no different, as one big head-turning parallel has already been drawn in Arizona, where Cardinals players are currently raving about rookie quarterback Kyler Murray's arm.
The player Murray reminds them of?
None other than Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes, the league's reining MVP.
"You could compare it to that. It's very unique, for sure," wide receiver Christian Kirk said, via Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. "I've talked about it before. Obviously, everyone knows what he can do with his legs, but what he's able to do with his arm and just the way it comes off his hand. It's never a duck; it's always a spiral.
"It's just so quick coming off his hands and the ball is usually never late and it's usually never under-thrown."
Running back David Johnson echoed Kirk on the resemblance of Murray's arm to Mahomes' skillset.
"I think you can say that, yeah. That's a good comparison," Johnson said. "It's high praise, but I think it's a good comparison. Kyler's got one heck of an arm, that's for sure."
Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who coached Mahomes for three seasons at Texas Tech, pointed out during a recent "Kingsbury Chronicles" podcast on the Cardinals' official website that the two quarterbacks' background in baseball has a lot to do with their throwing mechanics.
"It's just a quick, efficient release," Kingsbury said of Murray. "He can drop it down. Pat was the same way and is the same way. They can drop it down and not lose accuracy, not lose touch. They're so used to throwing from different platforms, different angles in baseball and it just translates over to football for them."
Meanwhile, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein pointed out in a pre-draft profile that Murray possessed a "lively arm" and the signal-caller is "effective and accurate when throwing on the move," traits that definitely sound familiar to Mahomes.
While there is plenty to like about Murray, consider tempering enthusiasm surrounding the hype coming out of Arizona in late May, which typically kicks off the official start of trope season.
Keep in mind that teams around the league are conducting unpadded and no-contact practices during the install period of the NFL offseason. Given those factors, it's not uncommon for players to stand out and they should look good given the restraints on the on-field work before training camp.
Now, instead of the "Quarterback X reminds Veteran Player Y of Brett Favre" trope narrative of the past, it is logical to replace Favre with current superstar Mahomes, whose arm strength was linked to Favre.
Mahomes, though, more than lived up to the hype, while Murray still has a lot to prove as the No. 1 overall pick of the draft in order to meet the high praise, which also brings lofty expectations.
Nevertheless, Murray is aware of the comparisons to Mahomes and the Cardinals rookie embraces the compliments.
"I mean, he obviously won MVP," Murray said, via the Arizona Republic. "I respect his game a lot, obviously. I think for me, it's just working to be myself and just be the best me I can be. But no, I take it as a compliment."
