Who Leads The NFL In QB Pressures 2021?
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The NFL season is in full swing and we’re starting to see which teams and players are really stepping up to the challenge. One important stat to keep an eye on is quarterback pressures. Who leads the NFL in QB pressures so far in 2021?
NFL quarterbacks under pressure in 2021
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
In 2021, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys leads the NFL in quarterback pressures with a total of 101. This is more than double the amount of pressures that Prescott faced in 2020, when he was sacked 56 times. The increased pressure on Prescott is due to the loss of several key offensive linemen, including All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith. The Cowboys have also struggled to run the ball effectively, which has put even more pressure on Prescott to make plays.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray was the most efficient quarterback in the NFL under pressure in 2020, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
The Cardinals quarterbacks was pressured on 34.7 percent of his dropbacks last season, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL, but he still managed to complete 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,606 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions while being under duress.
Murray’s passer rating of 90.7 when under pressure was the best in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks last season.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
In 2021, Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was under pressure on 38.5% of his dropbacks, the second-highest rate in the NFL behind only Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky (39.6%). Wilson was also sacked on 9.0% of his pressured dropbacks, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.
Top three NFL quarterbacks under pressure
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott was under pressure on 41.3 percent of his dropbacks in 2020, the second-highest rate among quarterbacks. He was also sacked on 8.1 percent of his pressured dropbacks, the sixth-highest sack rate in the NFL.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray was under pressure a total of 244 times in 2020, the most of any quarterback in the NFL. He was only sacked 47 times, however, meaning he had the fourth-highest sack percentage in the league. Murray’s overall QBR under pressure was 42.3, which ranked 14th out of 34 quarterbacks with at least 200 passing attempts.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was under pressure on 45.7 percent of his dropbacks last season, the highest rate in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. And while Wilson was sacked a career-high 47 times in 2020, he also earned the second-highest grade under pressure among quarterbacks, behind only Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers.
