Lamar Jackson, Ravens Brady's second-reaction throws look nothing like those of the younger guys in the league, but he is still among the best at problem-solving when pressured. He is blowing away the field. The pass went incomplete near the back of the end zone, but it was still notable: It was the farthest-thrown football in terms of actual distance by any quarterback on any play in the regular or postseason over the past four years. Lamar Jackson, Ravens -- Hasselbeck, Snubbed: Just because Tom Brady does not often put himself in position to need a second-reaction throw, it does not mean he can no longer do it. Matt Ryan, Falcons Watch: Philip Rivers Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) For the first time in Deep Ball Project history, Kirk Cousins is a top 10 deep passer. 1 in the country at his position. 5. Watch: Patrick Mahomes 6. Russell Wilson, Seahawks But how about a shoutout for someone who didn't make the cut: Guess who has the most wins over the past five seasons in games in which they at some point had less than a 10% chance of winning? -- Walder, Riser to watch: This is another list dominated by veteran guys because it takes years to develop great mechanics and adjust those mechanics to the NFL. But according to NFL Next Gen Stats, another quarterback led the league in expected points added per play and completion percentage over expectation on throws on the run over that span: the Saints' Jameis Winston, who missed our top 10. Note: For teams forced to start more than one QB, we went with the player who attempted more passes. Finally, we pointed out snubs who probably should have cracked each ranking. The Chiefs' signal-caller ranks third all time in NFL history in passing yards per attempt. 7. 8. He was the only quarterback to breach the 45.0% mark. Daniel Jones, Giants 10. Deshaun Watson, Texans* Burrow ranks fifth in the NFL with an accuracy percentage of 59.01% after ranking 31st last season with 32.43%. Matthew Stafford, Rams There's luck involved there, but it's still remarkable and partly why he takes this category. 2. The Super Bowl runner-up averaged 15.8 yards per deep pass attempt, fifth among the league's starters. Matthew Stafford, Rams In 2019, Allen completed just 58.8% of his passes, but that number jumped to 69.2% this past season, which was good for fourth in the NFL. All premium content with the best insights + analysis in the game, NFL Draft Guide, Big Board + Mock Draft Sim, Fantasy Draft Kit and Nathan Jahnke's award winning rankings, Bet smarter with PFF player mismatches and expert betting insights, NFL and CFB player grades and premium stats, Unlock all PFF data trusted by all 32 NFL teams, top quarterbacks in deep passing situations. Tua Tagovailoa had the highest adjusted completion rate on deep passes (20+ yards) in 2021 at 55.2%. The seven-time Super Bowl champion earned the top spot in deep-pass accuracy percentage, placing the ball in the right spot 52.1% of the time. 2023 NFL Draft: Every team's best, worst and most interesting pick in Most interesting pick (C+): QB Max Duggan, TCU (Round 7, Pick 239) Duggan fell further than many anticipated. As I mentioned, the deep ball was a concern. Embrace debate. The other three quarterbacks I listed rank 10th, 11th, and seventh in the NFL respectively in Intended Air Yards per Pass Attempt (IAY/PA), meaning they throw the ball deep pretty often. Time will tell if he can replicate that in 2021. He completed 32 of these attempts for 962 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions during the regular season. His numbers are outrageous. You can never count out the players who made this top 10. T8. 3. He does not have any margin for error to make up time with his velocity. 9. -- Riddick, Biggest surprise: Allen has to be higher on the list given his noticeable development as a pocket thrower. Dak Prescott has earned layers of criticism from NFL faithful for his turnovers, but on the deep ball he got away with just one turnover all season. Jimmy G completed 76.4% of his 199 attempts for 1,424 yards, six touchdowns and just two interceptions. Does he get stuck on his first read too often and stare down receivers, making it easy for the defense? -- Schatz/Klassen, Others who received at least one vote: Justin Herbert, Ben Roethlisberger, Derek Carr, Ryan Tannehill, Joe Burrow, Matt Ryan, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins, Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Teddy Bridgewater and Tua Tagovailoa. Based on last season, I would expect his improvement to continue. The words that come to mind with this category are competitiveness and leadership. 2. According to PFF's ball-location data, the Oklahoma product also threw 48.5% of his deep attempts in the perfect spot for a receiver. While his overall accuracy needs improvement, Willis is by any measure one of the most accurate deep snipers in this class, ranking No. 8. -- Yates, Biggest surprise: Wilson at No. Win or lose, you can shop jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more to support your favorite team. Dak Prescott, Cowboys The vet beat other quarterbacks in most metrics by a country mile. Aaron Rodgers might be the most accurate quarterback in the league, and he's certainly one of the most careful. If opponents want to sit back with two deep safeties and dare him to either check to a run play or hit a checkdown option for a short-to-medium gain, Dak will just keep doing exactly that over and over again. Scrambling | Rushing | Second-reaction. Rankings season is in full swing at PFF, and analysts are working around the clock to bring you lists on every measurable statistic that we track. Ready for these figures? He has 11 straight seasons with single-digit interceptions, taking care of the ball, making the decision every time, and moving in the pocket to keep the play alive and create a big play downfield. He is the standard. The former Rams quarterback threw just one interception on short attempts. 2. 7. 4 is higher than I would have expected. 4. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. With the amount of defined reads there, Carr can be smart with the football and attack the windows that Gruden dials up. That was his only turnover-worthy play, which contributed to a lowly turnover-worthy play rate of 0.4% the best non-zero mark. Bills sign veteran RB Murray to one-year deal, LB Barrett's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Sources: NFL eyes May 11 to release schedule, Jets coach Saleh: Rodgers making 'presence felt', Cowboys scout emotional as team drafts his son, Rams use 'Mr. Josh Allen, Bills Last season, Mahomes converted 66.7% of his third-down scrambles (12 of 18) while also registering a QBR of 82.2, with eight touchdown passes, on scramble-attempt throws. Athleticism. Tom Brady, Buccaneers Kellen Mond Texas A&M. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky. 6. The next-closest players in each category, respectively, have 34 throws, 21 completions, 268 yards, and five touchdowns. 2021 NFL QB Rankings: Everyone is Chasing Mahomes Jalen Hurts, Eagles He's the top traditional pocket-passing prospect in the class with his deep ball-accuracy, smarts and maturity. Tyreek Hill Called Tua Tagovailoa 'One Of The Most Accurate QBs In The April 30, 2023. Rodgers is 42 of 69 for 579 yards and two touchdowns when targeting Adams, who is lapping the entire field in PFF's yards per route run (3.49; the next-closest player is Deebo Samuel and 3.2 and Cooper Kupp is the only other player in the league over 3.0). . Ryan has been one of the most accurate deep ball QB most of last 5 years. That takes a special blend of understanding protections and defenses, as well as some innate instinct and athletic traits. Allen finished the season with 77 deep-ball attempts, totaling 1,051 deep-passing yards and finishing fifth among starters in PFF grade throwing deep. 2. -- Kimes, Stat to know: Jackson blew away the field in expected points added on designed rushes in 2019. He also averaged just 8.8 yards per deep attempt. But the quarterback who ranked No. Watch: Andrew Luck FREE to play! He is a dynamic player who is big, fast and tough. But a pair of rookies -- Lawrence and the 49ers' Trey Lance -- have a good case for at least the No. When Dallas gets Michael Gallup (the team's best perimeter ball-winner on downfield throws) back in the lineup, look out for even more of this. Deshaun Watson, Texans* Herbert is making a second-year leap to superstardom, and he's doing it by routinely making some of the most difficult throws in all of football. Avoiding turnovers, protecting the football, not taking unnecessary risks and keeping an offense out of harm's way lead to better efficiency. An improved offensive line should help Herbert better showcase his rushing talent. -- Walder, Riser to watch: A lot is asked of Murray, including nearly 560 pass attempts and more than 130 rushes last season. 7. 6. And Baker Mayfield has clearly benefited from playing in Kevin Stefanski's scheme with Cleveland; he should be in the top 10 in this category next year. He makes up for it with careful ball placement and wonderful touch, doing his best to mimic the success that players such as Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers experienced in the second half of their careers. Jump to: In no particular order (apologies to Russell Wilson, who isn't featured due to injury) Every NFL quarterback performs worse in a muddy pocket. That is, frankly, disgusting and should be outlawed. Fields showed exceptional accuracy from the pocket, displayed elite arm strength, and was a threat on the ground with almost 400 rushing yards in only eight games in 2020. 3. Browns Surprise With 5th-Round QB Selection His 86.0 short passing grade ranked second, and he went 222-of-279 for 1,857 yards and a top-rated 121.6 passer rating at that depth in 2021. 1. The 2021 NFL MVP ranked top-10 in passer rating and accuracy-plus percentage. While turnovers can often be a problem for rookies, Mills' 4.1% turnover-worthy play rate on deep passes ranked fifth among starters last season and he did this with a lackluster receiving corps. Every detail counts for the best to ever do it, and he knows the difference that every inch makes on ball placement. Yeah, go turn on the film from his destruction of the Colts on Monday night. Lamar Jackson, Ravens Yes, Kyler Murray, in his rookie season, was the most accurate deep passer in the 2019-20 Deep Ball Project. The Titans' starting signal-caller completed 193 of his 231 short attempts. Hurts finished in the top half of the league in deep-passing yards (766) a season ago. 10. The 14-year pro and reigning Super Bowl champion averaged 19 yards per attempt and racked up 1,272 yards from deep passes, both of which led the NFL's starters last season. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Mechanics | Field vision | Decision-making Russell Wilson, Seahawks Note: All Brady statistics are prior to Thursday's game against Philadelphia, during which he just added to the ridiculous numbers. Those are pretty strong signs that Rodgers' throws are on the money. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers, Best of the best: Brady's lack of mobility has never been an issue because his processing and understanding of what's going to happen before it actually happens is unparalleled. East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws the ball as New York Jets defensive end Ronald Blair (54) pursues during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. -- Hasselbeck, Snubbed: Not wanting to put rookies in this category is fair, but Trevor Lawrence's pocket management at Clemson was something to behold. Is the Chicago Bears' quarterback of the future in this year's NFL Top 32 Most Accurate Deep Ball 2021 | StatMuse Kirk Cousins, Vikings Most Accurate Deep Ball Qb 2022 | StatMuse Geno Smith had the best completion percentage by a quarterback in 2022, at 69.8 percent. The 2020-21 Deep Ball Project (Part 1/3) - Brick Wall Blitz NCAA College Football FBS current individual Stats | NCAA.com And he ranked first in third-down pass attempts beyond the sticks at 70%, so he didn't have too many empty completions on third down, a sign he is being smart with the football. His 48 passing touchdowns led the NFL, and his 1.0% interception rate (five all season) was tied for the best in the NFL with Mahomes. 2021 Elite 11 Finals QB Superlatives: Strongest Arm, Most Accurate, Best Decision-Maker and More . Ranking the best 2021 NFL starting quarterbacks by accuracy at different target depths East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws the ball as New York Jets defensive end Ronald Blair (54) pursues during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. (Marta Lavandier/AP) Height/weight: 6-3, 211 Jaren Hall was a two-year starter at BYU and started 25 games total. He has a league-high 43 completions of 10 or more air yards and he's taking an average of only 2.86 seconds to throw them, which means he's getting the ball out more than two-tenths of a second faster than the average NFL quarterback on those plays. The NFL draft promised some significant changes behind center and did not disappoint. 5. He attempted a deep throw on just 7.5% of his attempts, 36th-most among qualifying QBs. Much like 2021, however, his deep accuracy declined significantly beyond throws of 21-30 yards, as he was 6-20 on throws of 31+ yards. He's 97 of 122 for 812 yards, six touchdowns and just one interception on throws inside of 10 yards, with the league's sixth-best passer rating and second-best EPA per pass average on those plays. Wilson ranked inside the top 10 in most of the deep statistics, and was tremendous under pressure (3rd against overall duress and 2nd against interior pressure). Although his overall accuracy rate increased by a modest three percentage points last season vs. 2020, his accuracy in the red zone jumped from 69% in 2020 to. BEST DEEP BALL: QUINN EWERS, OHIO STATE COMMIT . Russell Wilson, Seahawks. He also recorded an 83.5% completion rate, which was the best of the 37 quarterbacks with at least 72 short passing attempts. Jones earned a 16th-ranked 87.7 passing grade on deep throws last year, going 22-of-58 for 690 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. Not every throw needs to be a fastball, and Brady has a mastery of the throws that win with touch. Who can hit the tightest windows? That means the QB has to know what he saw and what he's about to see, before he sees it, in order to get the ball out as quickly as Brady does. 1. 3. Dak is also perfectly content to rip off short completions to his underneath targets. Paired with his rare physical traits at the position, Allen can throw with both accuracy and location, putting him in the upper tier of the NFL's quarterbacks. -- Schatz/Klassen, Others who received at least one vote: Deshaun Watson*, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Derek Carr, Ben Roethlisberger, Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert, Matt Ryan, Tua Tagovailoa and Kirk Cousins. "@DavyJPopNLocka @MitchellRenz365 if only we had a QB that had one of the most accurate deep balls in the league. Just look at some of these bombs. Forcing a pass into double coverage or attempting too many low-percentage plays can get you into trouble in a hurry. 9. Aaron Rodgers, Packers Jeremy Fowler polled a panel of more than 50 coaches, execs, scouts and players to come up with top-10 rankings for 2021: Edge | Interior DL | LB That's just, like, how time and space work. It's a good time to be an NFL quarterback. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Wandering Eyes: Is the 2024 QB Draft Class Better Than 2023's? Bengals QB Joe Burrow was one of most accurate deep ball passers last 5. Pocket presence refers to how a quarterback operates in the pocket. Also appearing in the accuracy percentage short-range category in second place, Tannehill tied for third in yards per attempt (7.2) on short throws. Josh Allen, Bills Some of that is certainly schematic and by design, but he still went 0-of-9 on deep throws under pressure. -- Walder, Riser to watch: Mahomes is incredibly tough and will be even higher in this category in the future. -- Tannenbaum, Snubbed: Herbert's rushing defense-adjusted yards above replacement was third worst in the league last year, but that should be chalked up to a horrific Chargers offensive line. Stat to know: No quarterback was contacted on more plays than Jackson last season (180). Kansas City's offense had some trouble against the Bills last week, but that is not typical of how they or Mahomes have played so far this season, no matter what you've heard. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Matthew Stafford, Rams, Best of the best: What makes Rodgers such a mad scientist in the pocket is understanding when to break it and when to buy himself time. He also has the highest floor of all the quarterbacks in the draft. The Colts-turned-Commanders quarterback ranked seventh among starters in both turnover-worthy play rate (4.5%) and passer rating (107.8) on deep passes last season. But Brady is breaking it. That was actually substantially higher than the winner of this category, Allen, who was contacted 123 times. The clunkiness of Baltimore's passing game last season is much more a product of the lackluster receiving talent and Greg Roman's stale concepts than Jackson's inability to see the field. Cam Newton, Patriots, Best of the best: Every QB on this list is worthy of being at the top of this category, as they will all stand in the pocket and keep firing in the face of pressure, big hits or sacks. -- Riddick, Biggest surprise: I personally had Carr at No. This is one of those cases, as mechanics come down to the eye test more than anything else. 7. CHTV draft guide seems underwhelmed with this QB. 8. -- Kimes, Stat to know: How does one quantify pocket presence? Russell Wilson, Seahawks 9. 7. Half the battle with being a great scrambler is having the athletic traits, but the other half is knowing your limits. Matt Ryan, Falcons omar sachedina salary. In his last season in Atlanta, Ryan completed 43.1% of his 51 deep attempts, the ninth-best completion rate among starters. Burrow's placement consistently enables yards-after-the-catch opportunities, which is necessary for maximizing his skill set as a passer. Malik Willis, Matt Corral and more: Who is the best QB in the 2022 NFL You name it, he does it perfectly. Now, we'll zero in on that statistic as we examine how NFL quarterbacks performed in 2021 from three different target depths: short (1-9 yards), intermediate (10-19 yards) and deep (20-plus yards). Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 5. Watch: Eli Manning, Stat to know: Over the past three seasons combined, Mahomes had the highest total expected points added on throws on the run. He would be much further up this list if not for his underwhelming accuracy metrics: He finished 23rd in accuracy rate and 26th in accuracy-plus rate. Justin Herbert (66.9%), 9. Heinicke's 52.6 passing grade was 32nd of 32, and he had an ugly, last-place 17.91% turnover-worthy play rate. And he's making defensive backs look ridiculous (and lose their minds) in the process. Daniel Jones, New York Giants 2. -- Bowen. Watch: Baker Mayfield Ryan Tannehill, Titans NFL Quarterback Council 2021 - Ranking the top 10 QBs in arm strength -- Riddick, Biggest surprise: Sam Darnold needs to see it faster as a pocket thrower, and if he can improve there, he will have an opportunity to deliver the ball with more rhythm in Joe Brady's heavily schemed pass game for the Panthers this season. Lance, in particular, has a special blend of velocity and downfield distance that comes out of his hand with ease, not unlike Herbert's. Since 2018, Pro Football Focus states that Golladay has the second-highest contested catch rate of any wide receiver in the NFL with at least 50 targets at 63 percent, trailing only New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas (64 percent). Tua Tagovailoa's deep passing has been lacking for Miami Dolphins NGS | NFL Next Gen Stats Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports. Kirk Cousins, Vikings Allen excels on those throws, but what he really excels on are the even deeper throws. Daniel Jones is the best quarterback in the NFL at throwing the deep ball, per data released recently by Next Gen Stats.. NFL.com's Nick Shook took a look at passer with at least 30 attempts of . Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Taysom Hill, Saints 6. By | March 22, 2023 | 0 | March 22, 2023 | 0 Watch: Tom Brady T10. Few quarterbacks toe the line with "risky" throws without actually putting the ball in danger as effectively as Ryan. That's a 147.3 passer rating. I've always been particularly fond of their work on back-shoulder throws and low red zone routes, but they can still hook up on the deep ball with the best of them as well. Stat to know: Over the past three seasons, Wilson leads all quarterbacks in completion percentage over expectation on passes with 20-plus air yards -- often via his famous rainbow-arc deep balls . 6. This looks at the ability to read the field. In today's NFL, quarterbacks have so many different throwing motions. As Baltimore explores ways to develop him as a passer from inside the pocket, there is room for growth that I would anticipate Jackson meeting. -- Schatz/Klassen, Others who received at least one vote: Ben Roethlisberger, Lamar Jackson, Matt Ryan, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, Andy Dalton and Jimmy Garoppolo. Josh Allen, Bills He's an aggressive player. On deep balls in 2021, the 2021 first . 7. -- Riddick, Biggest surprise: I'd actually put Mahomes at No. Adams has the NFL's most receiving first downs (28), most explosive plays through the air (14), and by far the league's highest targets per route run average, seeing the ball on 36.7% of his routes. 1 here. T8. 1. But among players with at least 20 scrambles last year, Tannehill was actually the most efficient in terms of expected points added per scramble. Ranking the top NFL quarterbacks in 12 skills: Surprises, snubs, risers and the best of the best. If I caught that correctly it was 40-4-1 AFL + 66-16-1 NFL. The story of the Cowboys scout and prospect son Dallas just drafted, Legacy pick: Cardinals take great-great-nephew of team's first-ever draft pick, This NFL record is in jeopardy: How six QBs could break it in 2021 -- and hit 6K yards, The NFL's best quarterbacks: We asked 50 execs, coaches and scouts to rank the top 10, Ranking every NFL position group from 1-32, rushing defense-adjusted yards above replacement. Kyler Murray, Cardinals Wait and see. Kyler Murray, Cardinals, Best of the best: Protecting the football and not giving it to the other team via bad decision-making is priority No.