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To play quarterback in the NFL, it helps to be tall—but not too tall.
The average height for a quarterback is a little over 6-3. Some of the best in the league—Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger and Carson Palmer—stand an inch or two taller than that.
But quarterback height seems to reach a point of diminishing returns. Joe Flacco aside, go ahead and name a quarterback taller than 6-6 that has ever been any good. For every Flacco, there’s a JaMarcus Russell, Ryan Mallet and Dan McGwire.
Nick Foles, 6-6, whom the Bears defeated last Sunday, has had pretty good numbers in his short career and still might outgrow the “tallness syndrome.”
Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler, who will fill in for Manning this week against the Bears, is 6-7. The fourth-year player from Arizona State has never started an NFL game. In limited action he has completed 31-of-54 passes for two TDs, one pick and a passer rating of 78.1. Not bad compared to the bad, tall quarterbacks who have come before him.
Will Osweiler stand taller than the rest? I wouldn’t “fanduel” on it.
