The 10 Fastest QBs in the NFL

The scrambling quarterback isn't the NFL commodity it once was, but few could argue that having speed at that position is a bad thing.

In a pass-heavy league, the ability to avoid a rush is key. And being able to take off down the field when the opportunity arises gives a defense another thing to think about.

The fastest quarterbacks in the NFL either possess those traits already or have the potential to develop them over their careers.

To determine who the fastest are in 2016, we used a simple formula borrowed from Grantland's Bill Barnwell: take the player's combine or pro-day time in the 40-yard dash and add "two-hundredths of a second for each year since a player’s arrival into the league." This, according to Barnwell, adjusts "for the ravages of time."

We'll call the final number "age-adjusted 40." It's not a perfect measure, but as with any unfamiliar stat, if the results make some sense, it has merit.

What follows are the 10 fastest quarterbacks (pulled from starters and their primary backups) in the NFL based on age-adjusted 40.

10. Derek Carr

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.73

The Oakland Raiders' Derek Carr has been throwing all over NFL defenses this season because of his arm and vision, but the 25-year-old quarterback could resort to his feet if he necessary.

At the 2014 combine, Carr posted an official time of 4.69 in the 40-yard dash. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller responded to Carr's runs by tweeting, "Knew he was a good athlete, but that's impressive speed." ESPN's Josina Anderson added, "Derek Carr has very even technique from top to bottom when he runs."

Carr's speed and technique as a runner haven't translated to many NFL rushing yards (253 yards in two-plus years), but it hasn't really needed to. He's developing into one of the league's top quarterbacks because of other important variables. His general athleticism is just part of that equation.

9. EJ Manuel

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.71

Prior to the 2013 NFL draft, ESPN Analytics' Sharon Katz broke down why the Buffalo Bills drafted EJ Manuel in the first round.

Among the reasons was Manuel's ability to "create things with his feet":

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In addition to passing on the move, Manuel scrambled for first downs when he chose to. In 2012, Manuel scrambled for 199 yards and 10 first downs on 28 scrambles, averaging 7.1 yards per scramble. On third downs, Manuel scrambled for six first downs and averaged 7.7 yards per scramble.

He also rushed for 208 yards on designed running plays, including six rushes for 45 yards on zone-read options.

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In part because of that speed, Bills coach Rex Ryan has been using Manuel (who typically backs up Tyrod Taylor) in a few short-yardage situations this season.

8. Blaine Gabbert

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.71 

When the San Francisco 49ers' Ahmad Brooks was asked whether he thought Blaine Gabbert was a mobile quarterback last year, the veteran linebacker had plenty to say, according to 49ers.com:

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I always thought Blaine was a mobile quarterback. You know, even in practice. He always wanted to run. He always wanted to, you know, show off his legs and how fast he can run. He had a chance to do that this past Sunday, scoring that... 44-yarder... Blaine, man. He's the man.

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In his eight starts with the Niners in 2015, Gabbert ran for 185 yards and a touchdown. This season, he's on pace for 400 yards.

7. Cam Newton

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.69

Now for a quarterback who puts his speed to more measurable use. Cam Newton, the reigning NFL MVP, picks up rushing yards like a running back.

Through his first five seasons in the NFL, Newton piled up 3,207 yards and 43 touchdowns on the ground. Needless to say, no quarterback has ever come close to hitting either of those marks in his first five years.

In terms of yards, second-place Michael Vick is well behind with 2,820 yards. Second in touchdowns belongs to Daunte Culpepper, who had 26.

Still in just his sixth season, Newton may already be the greatest dual-threat quarterback of all time.

6. Geno Smith

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.65

Before the 2013 draft, NFL.com's Adam Schein wrote, "Geno Smith is a franchise quarterback" and didn't mention his speed once in the piece.

That's because Smith, despite being fast, wasn't known for his speed at West Virginia.

"Smith's 4.59-second 40-yard dash was best among quarterbacks timed at the 2013 NFL draft combine and fifth-fastest for all highly drafted signal-callers since 2006, according to the NFL," Michael Salfino of the Wall Street Journal wrote. "Yet Smith averaged just 1.4 yards on 245 rushes at West Virginia."

He put that speed to use in the NFL, though, as he was a more effective runner than passer before the New York Jets benched him in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

In the two-season stretch from 2013 to 2014, Smith ran for 604 yards, good for seventh among quarterbacks. Combining the runner he was in those years with the passer he was in college could be a recipe to get back on the field.

5. Brett Hundley

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.65

Brett Hundley, Aaron Rodgers' backup for the Green Bay Packers, was one of the most prolific players in UCLA football history.

Despite playing only three seasons for the Bruins, Hundley ranks first in passing touchdowns, second in passing yards, sixth in rushing touchdowns and 21st in rushing yards in school history.

Hundley's production didn't lead to much love in the draft, where he was taken in the fifth round in 2015, but he may have landed in the perfect spot.

Being able to learn and grow behind Rodgers, as Rodgers did with Brett Favre, can only help Hundley's career prospects.

4. Colin Kaepernick

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.63

Colin Kaepernick was once thought to be the future of the San Francisco 49ers, but inaccuracy, injuries and the rise of Blaine Gabbert have relegated him to the bench.

But if he gets another shot to lead the team he once took to a Super Bowl, Kaepernick's speed will be part of the decision.

Since 2012 (when Kaepernick took over for Alex Smith), the only two quarterbacks with more rushing yards are Cam Newton and Russell Wilson.

3. Russell Wilson

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.63

In 2014, Russell Wilson ran for 849 yards on 118 carries. It was the fifth-highest total for a quarterback in NFL history. Only Michael Vick, Bobby Douglass and Randall Cunningham had seasons with more yards on the ground.

Wilson averaged 7.2 yards per carry that year. Regardless of position, that ranks fifth all-time for players who had at least 100 carries.

The fifth-year quarterback knows when to run and when to throw. It's part of why he's always such a threat to break off a big run.

2. Tyrod Taylor

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.61

Tyrod Taylor is on track for a huge season as a runner. If he keeps up his current pace, he'll finish the year with nearly 600 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Both would be slight improvements over last season, his first as the full-time starter for the Buffalo Bills.

In 2015, Taylor showed a developing knack for making the right play. He would tuck and run when he had to and used the threat of his speed in other situations.

His decision-making hasn't been quite as crisp in the early part of 2016, but he has plenty of time to adjust.

1. Marcus Mariota

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Age-Adjusted 40: 4.5

Marcus Mariota didn't run much as a rookie in 2015, but according to NFL.com's Chris Wesseling, he was the fastest quarterback in the first week of that season:

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Mariota recorded the two fastest speeds by a quarterback in Week 1, blazing across the gridiron at 21.42 mph on a scramble and 20.35 mph on a designed run.

For perspective, Cardinals running back David Johnson (22.05 mph on 55-yard touchdown), Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin (21.74 mph on 54-yard touchdown) and Steelers wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey (21.43 mph on a 43-yard reception) were the only ball carriers to clock faster times than Mariota.

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After showing off his speed to start the year, Mariota mostly served as a traditional pocket passer. In Week 12, though, his 87-yard touchdown run reminded everyone of his speed.

Full Rankings

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Here are the full age-adjusted rankings:

Rank	Team	QB
1	Marcus Mariota	4.5
2	Tyrod Taylor	4.61
3	Russell Wilson	4.63
4	Geno Smith	4.63
5	Colin Kaepernick	4.63
6	Brett Hundley	4.65
7	Cam Newton	4.69
8	Blaine Gabbert	4.71
9	EJ Manuel	4.71
10	Derek Carr	4.73
11	Ryan Tannehill	4.73
12	Dak Prescott	4.74
13	Andrew Luck	4.75
14	Carson Wentz	4.77
15	Trevone Boykin	4.77
16	Jared Goff	4.82
17	Brock Osweiler	4.83
18	Paxton Lynch	4.86
19	Josh McCown	4.88
20	Sam Bradford	4.88
21	Carson Palmer	4.89
22	Cody Kessler	4.89
23	Chase Daniel	4.89
24	Colt McCoy	4.89
25	Drew Stanton	4.89
26	Alex Smith	4.9
27	Case Keenum	4.9
28	Luke McCown	4.91
29	Andy Dalton	4.92
30	Matt McGloin	4.92
31	Shaun Hill	4.92
32	Aaron Rodgers	4.93
33	Matthew Stafford	4.95
34	Trevor Siemian	4.96
35	AJ McCarron	4.96
36	Jay Cutler	4.97
37	Blake Bortles	4.97
38	Ben Roethlisberger	4.99
39	Jameis Winston	4.99
40	Scott Tolzien	4.99
41	Joe Flacco	5
42	Mark Sanchez	5
43	Mike Glennon	5
44	Kirk Cousins	5.01
45	Jimmy Garoppolo	5.01
46	Tom Savage	5.01
47	Chad Henne	5.04
48	Matt Ryan	5.05
49	Matt Moore	5.06
50	Landry Jones	5.07
51	Ryan Fitzpatrick	5.08
52	Ryan Nassib	5.08
53	Kellen Clemens	5.09
54	Matt Cassel	5.12
55	Drew Brees	5.13
56	Dan Orlovsky	5.13
57	Eli Manning	5.16
58	Brian Hoyer	5.19
59	Nick Foles	5.2
60	Derek Anderson	5.2
61	Matt Schaub	5.24
62	Philip Rivers	5.32
63	Ryan Mallett	5.43
64	Tom Brady	5.6