Elsa/Getty Images

Most people would consider Tom Brady the greatest quarterback to ever live, with players like Joe Montana, Peyton Manning or perhaps John Elway at least entering the conversation.

But Marquez Valdes-Scantling believes Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers are the two best to ever do it, as he told reporters Tuesday:

“I’ve played with the two best quarterbacks to ever play this game, especially when it comes to arm talent. Obviously Brady has all the statistics, but I think Pat’s getting pretty close to breaking some of those. But when it comes to arm talent, between Aaron and Pat, they’re equal, so having those two guys being my quarterbacks for my career has been nothing but life-changing. I’m grateful for both those guys, I’ve got great friendships with both those guys. I hope I can finish my career with Pat.”

It’s certainly fair to argue that from a pure talent standpoint, Mahomes and Rodgers are more talented than Brady. The genius of Brady was always in his preparation, his ability to process information incredibly quickly, dissect any look a defense gave him and accurately hit the correct target.

But watch him scramble and you wouldn’t say he was an athlete on par with Mahomes or even Rodgers, and certainly didn’t have that level of arm strength.

Plenty of criteria goes into determining the GOAT, and if Mahomes even gets close to Brady’s seven titles, his overall talent advantage may ultimately give him the nod. But he has plenty to prove until that point.