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Why we rank quarterbacks by EPA per dropback, and what passer rating still gets right.
Read Article →How Deep Can NFL Quarterbacks Complete a Pass? Completion rate by air yards, 2016-2026
NFL quarterbacks completed 70% of passes thrown 0 to 9 air yards but only 36% of passes thrown 20 or more air yards past the line of scrimmage (2016-2026). Deep throws are 12% of all attempts. The deepest completion in our data had 62 air yards, thrown by PJ Walker in 2022 Week 8.
Completion Rate by Depth of Throw
| Depth | Attempts | Share of throws | Completion % | Touchdown % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behind the line | 31,219 | 15.9% | 80.2% | 2.0% |
| 0-4 air yards | 54,350 | 27.7% | 72.2% | 4.9% |
| 5-9 air yards | 46,016 | 23.4% | 67.6% | 3.8% |
| 10-14 air yards | 24,931 | 12.7% | 56.1% | 4.2% |
| 15-19 air yards | 16,856 | 8.6% | 52.4% | 5.0% |
| 20-24 air yards | 8,904 | 4.5% | 43.0% | 7.0% |
| 25-29 air yards | 5,108 | 2.6% | 34.9% | 8.4% |
| 30+ air yards | 9,056 | 4.6% | 29.4% | 9.5% |
Every pass with a recorded depth, 2016-2026; sacks and spikes are not counted. Air yards are measured from the line of scrimmage to where the pass arrived, not the yards the receiver gained afterward. The 2026 season is included through Week 9.
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Completion percentage over expected gives credit for difficult completions. Here is how ACE measures it.
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