The Quarterback Position: Does Size Matter?

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Being a man of perfectly average proportions, the insistence of prototypical height and weight at the quarterback position has always been of grave interest, in a sort of macabre, self loathing sort of way.

We all know the score.

6’4", check. 225 pounds, check. Big hands, check.

Let’s draft him!

Bearing in mind many, many quarterbacks have probably missed out on having a shot at the NFL, purely because of their height, I was wondering, how much difference does it actually make?

Of course, NFL scouts are known for the thorough approach to identifying talent, so putting it all on how tall a guy is probably a bit obtuse, but I think it will be interesting none the less.

Here’s how it works. I’ve grouped every league quarterback (who’s started at least 16 games in the last three years) into the following three groups:

• Tall  (6’4" or more)
• Medium (6’2"-6’3")
• Short (6’1" and under)

From there, I’ve calculated their average (per season):

• Pass completion percentage
• Touchdown pass made
• Pick thrown
• Sack given up
• Fumble given up

Next, per player and then per group. Hopefully giving us a good average stat for each height range.   

Each group of course contained both the studs (Peyton Manning, Drew Brees) and duds (Joey Harrington, Rex Grossman) of the respective sizes, so we will hopefully get a nice average for each group.

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