NFL quarterbacks are under more pressure than ever from rushers. Why?
Quarterbacks are being hit on 15.1% of dropbacks this season, the highest rate since 2006, as NFL defenses pressure passers at unprecedented levels.
The Baltimore Ravens are preparing to start their fourth quarterback this year, Jacoby Brissett, against the Los Angeles Chargers due to injuries to Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano. This puts them dangerously close to the NFL record of five quarterback starts in a single season, shared by the 1984 Bears and 2023 Browns.
Through nine weeks, quarterbacks have been hit on 15.1% of their dropbacks, the highest rate since 2006 when hits were first logged in official box scores. This season has seen 47 quarterbacks start games, falling behind only 2019 (48), 2010 (48) and 2007 (49) over the past 20 years.
Rising Pressure Rates
Despite offensive advantages over the years, defenses are pressuring quarterbacks more than ever in recent NFL history. Pro Football measures the pressure rate at 36.1%, the highest in their dataset since 2006. Sports Info Solutions' data shows the second-highest rate since 2016, while Next Gen Stats finds the third-highest since 2018.
Contrary to popular belief, offensive line play hasn't significantly declined. Top linemen like Trent Williams, Penei Sewell, and Quenton Nelson remain elite, and quantitative measures show pass-block win rates haven't changed much over the years.
Time in the Pocket
The primary reason for increased pressure is that quarterbacks are holding the ball longer than ever before. The average time to throw is 2.83 seconds, the longest since the stat has been charted. Clean-pocket time to throw is also at a record high of 2.45 seconds, up from 2.38 over the previous 10 years.
The share of dropbacks lasting 2.5 seconds or longer is 57.6%, a record high. These extended dropbacks face pressure at a 50.5% rate, compared to just 16.6% for quick dropbacks.
Quarterbacks are better at extending plays and invite pressure when they do so.
Defensive Strategies
Teams are increasingly using two-high safety looks (Cover 2 and Cover 4), which deter deep shots at a greater rate than any time in the past 20 years. Coverage quality has improved, with quarterbacks declining their first read more often and tight-window throws at their highest rate since 2020.
Contested targets have reached 52.4% of all targets this year, with only one other season (2024) exceeding 50%. While blitz rates have increased, they don't account for the majority of the pressure increase, as rates remain high even on unblitzed downs.
The combination of longer pocket times and improved defensive coverage has created perfect conditions for increased quarterback pressure, with offenses attempting more deep throws but finding them increasingly difficult to complete.
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