Do teams need a true sub 4.40 burner to open up their passing games?

Do the Cardinals absolutely need a sub 4.4 burner on offense in order to win in 2025?

Curiously, here were the top 3 ranked QBs in 2024 at 20+ yard passing efficiency under little to no pressure:

* Michael Penix Jr., ATL --- Catchable Ball: 77%, Off-Target: 23% Rank: #1

* Anthony Richardson, IND --- Catchable Ball: 76%, Off-Target: 24% Rank: #2

* Geno Smith, SEA --- Catchable Ball: 73%, Off-Target: 27% Rank: #3

Top 3 receivers on ATL, IND and SEA:

ATL: Drake London (4.56), Darnell Mooney (4.38), Ray-Ray McCloud (4.53) = 2,969 yds, 15 TDs

IND: Alec Pierce (4.33), Michael Pittman Jr. (4.52), Josh Downs (4.48) = 2,435 yds, 15 TDs

SEA: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (4.48), D.K. Metcalf (4.33), Tyler Lockett (4.40) = 2,722 yds, 13 TDs

Geno Smith’s receivers dropped 121 passes in 2024.

Bryce Young, Kyler Murray and Patrick Mahomes 20+ yard throws with little to no pressure in 2024:

• Young: Catchable Ball: 60%, Off-Target: 40% Rank: #10
• Murray: Catchable Ball: 51%, Off-Target: 49% Rank: #24
• Mahomes: catchable Ball: 50%; Off-Target: 47% Rank: #25

Surprising to see Bryce Young passing for higher 20+ yard percentages with clean pockets than Kyler Murray and Patrick Mahomes, isn’t it?

Young was impressively efficient versus the Cardinals during the Panthers’ 36-30 OT win:

• Bryce Young: QBR: 81.9; RTG: 107.5
• Kyler Murray: QBR: 57.7; RTG: 77.9

Top 3 WRs on CAR, ARI, KC:

CAR: Adam Thielen (4.45), Xavier Leggett (4.39), Jalen Coker (4.57) = 1,690 yds, 11 TDs

ARI: Trey McBride (4.54), Marvin Harrison Jr. (n/a), Michael Wilson (4.58) = 2,579 yds, 14 TDs

KC: Travis Kelce (4.61), Xavier Worthy (4,21), Noah Gray (4.62) = 1,898 yds, 14 TDs

Note: both CAR and KC have sub 4.4 burners and yet the Cardinals put up significantly more passing yards with their top 3 receivers than the Chiefs and Panthers**.**

Do teams need a true sub 4.40 burner to open up their passing games?

2024 Top 10 Leaders in 20+ and 40+ “Explosive” Passing Completions:

1. SF —- 77 —- Kittle (4.52), Jennings (4.72), Sanders (4.48)
2. MIN —- 74 —- Jefferson (4.43), Addison (4.49), Hockenson (4.70)
3. DET —- 73 —- St. Brown (4.61), Williams (4.48*), LaPorta (4.59) * pre-draft following injury
4. GB —- 73 —- Reed (4.45), Kraft (4.69), Watson (4.36)
5. BAL —- 70 —- Flowers (4.42), Bateman (4.39), Andrews (4.67)
6. BUF —- 67 —- Shakir (4.43), Coleman (4.61), Kincaid (4.71)
7. TB —- 63 —- Evans (4.53), Otten (4.63), Godwin (4.42)
8. PIT —- 63 —- Pickens (4.47), Freiermuth (4.72), Austin (4.32)
9. ATL —- 62 —- London (4.56), Mooney (4.38), McCloud (4.53)
10. JAX — 62 —- Thomas (4.33), Strange (4.70), Washington (4.49)

Speed at WR is certainly an asset. Interestingly, of the top 10 most explosive passing teams in 2024, the only sub 4.0 WR to lead his team in receiving was Jaguars’ rookie Brian Thomas. Nine of the 10 top passing offenses have a TE as one of their...