In late March 2017, Saints coach Sean Payton sent Patrick Mahomes an installation of plays, something of a study guide for the following day.
The next morning in Lubbock, Texas, Payton tested Mahomes, a meeting to measure how quickly Mahomes had processed the information. They progressed to an on-field workout before finishing with a conversation over Mexican food.
With Drew Brees already on the roster, the Saints weren’t much in need of a quarterback, not one projected to go in the first round anyway.
And then they met Mahomes.
“I remember getting on our owner’s plane thinking, ‘Man, that was as good of a quarterback evaluation as I’ve had in my time in the NFL,’” Payton said.