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Football Insights put together composite rankings from various analysts and outlets, which landed the Rams at No. 3. No one ranked them lower than sixth, and one outlet even put them second behind only the Broncos.
Denver ranked first, followed by the Eagles, Rams, Bears and Buccaneers. The 49ers came in at No. 8, the Seahawks were 15th and the Cardinals ranked 21st.
Last season, the Rams allowed just 23 total sacks, which was tied with the Broncos for the fewest in the NFL. Stafford had plenty of time to throw from the pocket, which is a major reason he was so successful throwing down the field to his receivers.
from PFF, NFL quarterbacks are holding the ball longer than ever: The trends behind time to throw: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-quarterbacks-are-holding-the-ball-longer-than-ever-the-trends-behind-time-to-throw?utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=null&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
PFF times every dropback throughout the NFL season, and we can use that data to gain insight into how quarterbacks’ tendencies change over the course of their careers. Focusing on the last four seasons in particular, it is interesting to note that no quarterback has reduced their time to throw every year since 2022.
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[Looking at] quarterbacks who have increased the time they hold onto the ball with each passing season.
The most surprising name on the list is reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, whose time to throw has increased every year since 2022, albeit at a modest pace. Stafford still gets the ball out quicker than most NFL quarterbacks, but much of the extra time he has gained in recent years can be attributed to the improvements the Rams have made along the offensive line.
At 38 years old, Stafford obviously isn’t a scrambler. Therefore, his increased time to throw isn’t a consequence of avoiding oncoming rushers and breaking out of the pocket. Instead, Stafford has used that extra time to target receivers further downfield. There is a clear correlation between his time to throw, average depth of target and percentage of throws that travel beyond the sticks.
While the Rams’ passing attack has undoubtedly become more aggressive in part because of the emergence of Puka Nacua, Stafford has done an excellent job of keeping turnover-worthy plays and sacks to a minimum. The 2024 and 2025 seasons marked the first time in Stafford’s 17-year career that he recorded back-to-back seasons with single-digit interceptions.
Stafford isn’t the only quarterback taking more time in the pocket in recent years. A significant group of passers is taking longer than ever to get the ball out, including Joe Burrow, Brock Purdy, Kyler Murray, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert.
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Offensive line quality, wide receiver talent and, most importantly, play-calling all influence how long a quarterback holds the football over the course of a season, and those factors rarely remain constant. Despite coaching staffs placing a greater emphasis than ever on avoiding negative plays, quarterbacks are generally becoming more comfortable extending plays.
