There’s lots of different anomalies. The one I initially described was Mahomes’ instant greatness leading to unrealistic expectations for other young QBs. I believe that to be true and people’s impatience with Josh Allen is in part, I believe, because Mahomes and maybe Watson have excelled very quickly. Their success is still, to me, an anomaly and not the norm. May have to put Lamar in with them as this year progresses.
Aaron Rodgers was drafted in the lower part of the first round and sat for a good while behind Farve before getting his shot. His greatness is hard to judge as an anomaly because he had to sit behind a Hall of Famer. I wonder if he would have been instantly great like Mahomes. He was good, not great his first full season after sitting for three years. His second starting season was pretty great.
Brees took a while to become great. Eli, Peyton and Rivers all took some time to become great. Those are becoming dated examples, but the fact is until very recently, young QBs took a while to play at a very high level. That’s why I consider Mahomes an anomaly.