I love it when a few quarterbacks make “the leap” every year. Quarterback is the most important position in sports and breakout performances are one fascinating and impactful facet of that.
I recently logged every quarterback leap since 2000 to find the most common factors linking them together as we look ahead to project breakout (or improved) performances in 2024.
The primary factors leading to quarterback leaps can be placed into four buckets: development, coaching, supporting cast and a change of scenery.
Today’s focus is the supporting cast. I’m talking about instances like Donovan McNabb in 2004 and Tom Brady in 2007. McNabb went from 16 touchdown passes in 2003, to 31 in 2004 after the Eagles traded for Terrell Owens. Brady had never even had a 30-touchdown season prior to the Patriots trading for Randy Moss. He proceeded to throw for an NFL-record 50 in his first season with Moss in the Patriots’ 16-0 regular-season run in 2007.
Now trading for veteran pass catchers is the hot trend in the NFL’s copycat league. Getting top-flight wide receivers worked wonders for Josh Allen (Stefon Diggs), Joe Burrow (Ja’Marr Chase), Jalen Hurts (A.J. Brown) and Tua Tagovailoa (Tyreek Hill) in the last few years. Justin Fields was an exception to the recent trend, as he stayed in neutral last season after the Bears traded for D.J. Moore. On the other hand, Matthew Stafford was a surprise leap, thanks in part to the historic rookie year from Puka Nacua.
Editor’s note: This is Part 4 of a five-part series that dives deep into NFL quarterbacks making sudden, massive improvement, which we’ve dubbed ‘Quarterback Leap Week.’ Here’s what’s been published so far:
QB leaps since 2000 due to improved supporting cast
There were a lot of fascinating offseason moves that could be the primary factor for a quarterback leap. Here are four candidates, not including Jalen Hurts (after the Saquon Barkley…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/chiefs-patrick-mahomes-cardinals-kyler-murray-poised-to-improve-with-new-supporting-cast-in-2024/
Author : Douglas Clawson
Publish date : 2024-06-27 12:10:08
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
