Come watch and analyze all of Kyler Murray’s 20+ yard open throws in 2024
@FantasyPtsDate has pinpointed the area of Kyler Murray’s passing game that needs the most improvement, thanks to the relay here by Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23):
Kyler Murray delivered a 51% catchable ball rate on throws of 20+ air yards without pressure in 2024.
QB24 out of 33 qualifiers
(Source: @FantasyPtsData)
Only Mac Jones had a worse highly-accurate throw rate when targeting an open receiver on such passes. https://t.co/cztuyWWeJN pic.twitter.com/JRiATubrRs
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) May 20, 2025
Do yourself a favor and take the time and effort to watch the short video of every one of Kyler’s 20+ yard passes in 2024 while he was under no or very limited pressure.
Essentially, for every good, on-target pass, Kyler has an off-target throw.
- Catchable: 51%
- Off-target: 49%
Commentary:
- Credit the Cardinals’ offensive line and their blocking schemes. Further evidence of the under-rated quality of their performance.
- Credit the Cardinals’ receivers for creating consistent passing windows. Further evidence of their much-scrutinized ability to get a step or two ahead of the coverage.
- Credit Kyler Murray’s nifty feet for creating his launching points via drop backs, sprint outs, bootlegs and waggles.
- The stat that is most impressive (combination of OL, WRs. TEs, QB) —- QB10 on 39 open pass attempts. Doesn’t that stat surprise you? Strong credit here goes to Drew Petzing and the offensive coaches.
- This 20+ yard open passes tape corroborates Drew Petzing’s insistence that the scheme isn’t poor, it’s more a matter of the players achieving more consistent execution.
- When Kyler Murray steps into his throws, his completion percentages are higher and his passes arrive quickly and more on time.
- When Kyler Murray arches backward and loop throws off his back foot, his completion percentages are significantly lower —- because the ball tends to float long enough that defenders are able to recover.
- The point is —- these are throws made with limited are no pressure —- and therefore, Kyler’s throwing off his back foot is often avoidable. The adjustments here are immediately correctable.
- Michael Wilson and Trey McBride deserve credit for the percentages of “contested catches” that they make in these situations.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. was not as consistent at making contested catches as a rookie. However, this has a very good chance to become one of the real strengths of his game. He and Kyler have been working consistently every passing session on 50/50 balls. Marvin’s added strength this off-season could make a significant difference. Kyler having another off-season to meld with Marvin should make a significant difference. Combine that with more throws that Kyler can make stepping into his passes and the results this year could be magnificent.
- Furthermore, as the chart suggests, imagine what the Cardinals could accomplish if Kyler and crew can cash in on secondary targets. You know, the old “look one way and throw the other.” Percentage of throws targeting “first read” receivers was 82%, which was 25th in the NFL.
- It feels very wise of MOJO and Drew Petzing to focus this off-season on improving Kyler Murray’s timing and chemistry with the trio of the Cardinals’ talented, young receivers: TE Trey McBride (R2 2022), WR Michael Wilson (R3 2023) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (R1 2024). This video is a showcase of their vast potential.