10 Strongest Quarterback Arms in the NFL TodayBy Jerry Langton 2 minutes ago RSS NFL fans these days are lucky. One of the reasons is because we are seeing some of the best quarterback arms ever to play the game. While we may have fond memories of John Elway, Bret Favre, and others throwing rockets, the stories about their legendary arms grow more and more into tall tale territory every year. And some of the guys playing today will get the same treatment years from now. But it’s important to keep in mind that a strong arm doesn’t necessarily translate into a great quarterback. Joe Montana and Johnny Unitas had comparatively ordinary arms — especially by today’s standards — while guys like Jeff George and Ryan Leaf could throw a ball through a brick wall. So, whether they are attached to great quarterbacks or not, here are the NFL’s ten strongest arms:
#1. Jay Cutler, Chicago BearsWhen it came to the 2006 draft, the experts were arguing about who was the better quarterback prospect — Texas’ Vince Young or USC’s Matt Leinart. It was only late in the process that Vanderbilt’s Cutler entered the discussion, and many commentators wrote him off as a big arm, a funny haircut, and little else. Of course, Cutler is a former Pro Bowler starting for the contending Bears, while Young and Leinart are out of the league, unlikely to return. While Cutler isn’t at the top of the NFL’s quarterback fraternity in accolades or wins, nobody has a stronger arm. Cutler riled Broncos fans back in 2008 when he claimed his arm was stronger than Elway’s, but the man himself replied: “His arm is pretty special, might even be as good as mine when I was his age. Certainly, it’s better than mine was at the end.”
#2. Matt Stafford, Detroit LionsBack in 2006, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. scouted a senior quarterback at a Texas high school and was so impressed with the kid he predicted he’d be a No. 1 draft pick. And just three years later, he was. The kid in question was Stafford, who had just led Georgia to a victory in the Capital One Bowl before becoming a Lion. Stafford’s tenure in the Motor City has been up and down. The team has not provided him with a top-tier offensive line, any notable receivers aside from Calvin Johnson, coaching stability, or a reliable defense. But Stafford has generally put up big numbers anyway, going over 4,000 yards three times and 5,000 once. Although he has a solid all-around game, Stafford’s standout ability is his ability to put the ball anywhere he wants downfield.
#3. Joe Flacco, Baltimore RavensEven the most ardent draft faithful were shocked when Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens took this skinny kid from Delaware (of all places!) in the first round. But, as usual, Newsome knew what he was doing. The kid, Flacco, had a live, electric arm capable of spectacular throws in wind, rain, or snow. I could tell you about it, but a higher authority might illustrate the power of Flacco’s arm better than me. “You’ve always got to make sure you have your hands at the right angles,” said Ravens tight end Ed **CENSORED**son, one of his favorite targets. “If you don’t, you’re definitely going to break your fingers dealing with Joe.” That big arm has led Flacco to a 62-34 regular-season NFL record and a Super Bowl win and MVP nod after the 2012 season.
#4. Cam Newton, Carolina PanthersWhile watching him win a BCS National Title for Auburn in 2010, fans saw exactly how strong Newton’s arm is. Easily capable of flicking 50-yard deep outs while running off-balance, the former No. 1 pick has only gotten better. Big — 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds — and naturally gifted, Newton has always been able to throw deep. But with maturity and coaching, he has refined his technique and learned the proper way to step into his throws, making his longer offerings even more accurate. The problem with Newton, though, is that he’s always been receiver-deprived in his NFL career. Maybe 2014 first-rounder Kelvin Benjamin can help Newton here.
#5. Ryan Mallett, New England PatriotsNFL fans have barely seen Mallett outside of the preseason, but it’s hardly a secret that he possesses one of the strongest arms in the league. Just one look at the 6-foot-7, 253-pound rawboned Texan should give an indication as to his power, but it’s when you see the ball rocket away from his arm that you realize exactly how strong his arm is. While he’s spent all of his NFL career carrying a clipboard and watching Tom Brady, his name is usually the first to be mentioned when trades are discussed, and he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season, so maybe we’ll get a chance to see what Mallett can really do when given a chance.
#6. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay PackersWhile the Packers’ timing-based offense doesn’t really call for many deep throws, it’s not because Rodgers isn’t up to it. Despite not being very tall, the Super Bowl XLV MVP is blessed with a big-time live arm, and is capable of making any throw. Of quarterbacks who threw 35 or more passes of more than 20 yards in the air, he was the only one to complete more than 50 percent of them. What’s more, the 2005 first-round pick makes those throws playing on “the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field” for his home games, rather than some comfy dome or balmy southern stadium. Dealing with the swirling winds off Lake Michigan and the bitter cold of Wisconsin is no problem for Rodgers, who can push the ball through a distant window like few others.
#7. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh SteelersGrowing up, Roethlisberger idolized Elway, and developed an arm almost as great as that of the legendary Bronco. A first-round pick by the Steelers in 2004, Roethlisberger burst onto the scene; leading his team to 13 wins and the first of two Super Bowl titles in his career. The complete opposite of an efficient game-managing quarterback many coaches look for, Roethlisberger makes up for the inevitable problems that result from his devil-may-care approach to passing with confidence in the strength of his arm. Especially dangerous on broken and unscripted plays, Big Ben’s arm strength is a factor that defensive co-ordinators have to consider when game-planning against the Steelers.
#8. Chad Henne, Jacksonville JaguarsAfter breaking all of Jim Harbaugh’s records at Michigan, Henne has not really established himself as an NFL quarterback and is likely to lose his starting job for the Jaguars to 2014 first-round pick Blake Bortles by the time I finish typing this sentence. But you can’t blame Henne’s right arm. Easily one of the most powerful deep throwers in the NFL, Henne’s ability to get the ball downfield is a big part of why the Jags and Dolphins started him 50 times, despite other glaring holes in his overall game. If he didn’t take so long to set up and deliver his throws — often resulting in costly sacks — he’d be better known as one of the top deep throwers in the league.
#9. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ersFans and the media tend to concentrate on how Kaepernick’s legs can change a game, and ignore what a great arm he has. And they’re forgetting that he was a top-flight baseball prospect because of it. As a high school senior, his fastball was clocked at 92 mph, and he was even selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 2009 Major-League Baseball entry draft despite the fact that he was already the starting quarterback for the University of Nevada and drawing NFL interest. As a pro, Kaepernick has not shown a great deal of consistency on deep passes, but that’s hardly because of a lack of arm strength. As he matures as a quarterback and depends less on his legs and more on his arm, you’ll see Kaepernick make more and better deep throws.
#10. Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay BuccaneersGlennon is far from polished, and might not ever become an elite starting quarterback, but you certainly can’t fault his live arm. A third-round pick by the Bucs in 2013, Glennon was a successful starter at North Carolina State after learning behind Russell Wilson, who later transferred to Wisconsin, opening up the starting spot. What attracted scouts to Glennon, unlike Wilson, was his ability to make any throw the game demands in any environment. And the stats show that he put it to good use as a rookie starter. On attempts on which the ball traveled 20 or more yards in the air, Glennon threw seven touchdowns and was intercepted just once. That compares very favorably to the 12 touchdowns and eight picks he recorded on shorter throws.LINK
