I like Tyrod Taylor’s ability to throw the deep ball. I’ve noticed multiple times over the last two years that he seems to throw those passes more accurately than most quarterbacks. When they’ve been able to get receivers open deep, he’s hit them.
Taylor’s average touchdown pass last year covered 26.1 yards – highest in the league. The previous year, he averaged 25.2 yards per touchdown – No. 2. He can throw them.
Over the past two years, in fact, Taylor is not only No. 1, he’s about 4 yards ahead of all but two other quarterbacks.
I won’t say that this is scientific proof that Taylor is the best long-ball thrower. Aaron Rodgers, for example, is down near the bottom, and he makes the long throws effectively enough. The numbers here are affected by how offenses are structured, particularly in the red zone (the more short touchdowns a quarterback throws, the more it brings down his average).
But Taylor passes the eyeball test. He can accurate launch the bombs when those opportunities are there. And his touchdowns have come from the longest average distance over the last two years.
| AVERAGE LENGTH OF TD PASSES (2015-16) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | TD | Avg |
| Tyrod Taylor, Buff. | 37 | 25.6 |
| Eli Manning, NYG | 61 | 23.1 |
| Colin Kaepernick, S.F. | 22 | 23.0 |
| Jay Cutler, Chi. | 25 | 21.8 |
| Ryan Tannehill, Mia. | 43 | 21.8 |
| Kirk Cousins, Wash. | 54 | 21.2 |
| Russell Wilson, Sea. | 55 | 20.6 |
| Cam Newton, Car. | 54 | 20.6 |
| Alex Smith, K.C. | 35 | 20.1 |
| Derek Carr, Oak. | 60 | 19.7 |
| Sam Bradford, Phi.-Min. | 39 | 19.6 |
| Joe Flacco, Balt. | 34 | 19.5 |
| Drew Brees, N.O. | 69 | 19.3 |
| Tom Brady, N.E. | 64 | 18.6 |
| Andy Dalton, Cin. | 43 | 18.6 |
| Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt. | 50 | 18.3 |
| Philip Rivers, S.D. | 62 | 18.1 |
| Matt Ryan, Atl. | 59 | 18.1 |
| Andrew Luck, Ind. | 46 | 18.0 |
| Dak Prescott, Dall. | 23 | 17.7 |
| Brock Osweiler, Den.-Hou. | 25 | 17.6 |
| Carson Palmer, Ariz. | 61 | 17.4 |
| Jameis Winston, T.B. | 50 | 15.4 |
| Blake Bortles, Jac. | 58 | 15.3 |
| Marcus Mariota, Tenn. | 45 | 15.1 |
| Aaron Rodgers, G.B. | 71 | 14.4 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ | 43 | 14.2 |
| Brian Hoyer, Hou.-Chi. | 25 | 13.5 |
| Matthew Stafford, Det. | 56 | 12.6 |
—Ian Allan