The modern NFL quarterback has to do more than stand in the pocket and deliver accurate passes. Defenses are faster, pressure packages are more sophisticated, and the best offenses are constantly looking for ways to make opposing coordinators account for one more threat.
Mobility has become one of the most valuable weapons a quarterback can possess. Some players can turn a broken play into a 40-yard gain. Others punish defenses with designed runs, escape pressure to find receivers downfield, or use their movement to create an entirely different passing angle.
There is more than one way to be a mobile quarterback, and rushing totals alone do not tell the whole story. Pocket awareness, acceleration, scrambling instincts, and the ability to make accurate throws on the move all matter.
These are the 10 most dangerous mobile quarterbacks in the NFL right now, ranked from No. 10 to No. 1.
10. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix might not have the explosive running ability of the quarterbacks higher on this list, but his mobility is an important part of what makes Denver’s offense difficult to defend.
Nix has recorded 116 rushing yards, including a 62-yard run, demonstrating that he can punish defenses when they give him an opening. His athleticism is particularly useful in play-action situations, where his ability to get outside the pocket gives Denver another way to attack the edges.
He also benefits from an offensive structure that emphasizes movement. Sean Payton’s use of rollouts and bootlegs allows Nix to change the launch point, put pressure on defenders horizontally, and create opportunities to throw or run.
Nix is not necessarily looking to become a running back every time a play breaks down. His value comes from making defenses respect the possibility that he will take off while remaining capable of delivering the ball downfield.
That combination makes him a worthwhile inclusion, even if his rushing ability is not yet in the same category as the quarterbacks above him.
9. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is not a traditional running quarterback, but leaving him out of a ranking of NFL mobility would miss one of the most important parts of his game.
His greatest strength is his ability to manipulate space after the original structure of a play disappears. Mahomes can slide away from pressure, escape through an opening, and keep his eyes downfield while defenders scramble to recover.
The supplied data puts his EPA per dropback at +0.18 when forced outside the pocket. That speaks to the value of his movement: Mahomes is not simply escaping pressure to avoid a sack. He is looking for opportunities to turn a compromised play into a productive one.
His spatial awareness is exceptional. He understands where defenders are coming from, how much room he has to maneuver, and when to move laterally rather than immediately taking off.
Mahomes ranks below the more dangerous rushing threats on this list because his mobility is primarily a tool for extending passing plays. But when it comes to making a defense defend a play for several seconds longer than it expected, few quarterbacks are more dangerous.
8. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams brings a different kind of mobility to the position. He is not simply a quarterback who takes off when a defender gets close. His ability to escape pressure and keep a passing play alive is a major part of his appeal.
Williams’ movement can be particularly frustrating for defenses because he is comfortable throwing from awkward positions. The supplied figures include an 83.7 PFF passing grade on off-platform throws and an average time to throw of 3.12 seconds on extended plays.
That extended time can be a double-edged sword. Holding the ball gives receivers more opportunities to uncover, but it also gives pass rushers additional time to reach the quarterback. Williams’ challenge is knowing when to keep searching for a throw and when to use his legs to secure positive yardage.
His best plays often come when the pocket begins to collapse and he finds a way to create something that was not available when the ball was snapped.
Williams is still developing as an NFL quarterback, but his combination of athleticism, arm talent, and improvisational ability gives him a high ceiling as a mobile playmaker.
7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy does not look like the prototypical mobile quarterback, which makes his movement skills easy to overlook. That would be a mistake.
Purdy’s mobility is more about efficiency than explosiveness. He has accumulated 161 rushing yards, with a 7.22% scramble rate, and his quickness helps him escape pressure before it becomes a major problem.
He is not going to consistently outrun linebackers in the open field or turn routine scrambles into spectacular gains. Instead, Purdy understands how to recognize an opening and take the yards a defense gives him.
That ability matters in San Francisco’s offense. A quarterback who can escape the pocket and pick up six or eight yards can keep an offense ahead of the chains. More importantly, Purdy’s movement can prevent a promising passing play from turning into a negative one.
His pocket evasion is a significant part of his value. He can move within the pocket, reset his feet, and find a passing lane without needing to abandon the play entirely.
Purdy is not an elite rushing threat, but he is a much more capable athlete than his reputation might suggest.
6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts belongs comfortably among the NFL’s most dangerous mobile quarterbacks. His value as a runner is not limited to occasional scrambles. He is a genuine part of Philadelphia’s rushing attack and a player defenses must account for on virtually every designed run.
Hurts has recorded 107 rushing yards, with 41% of his rushes ending in either a first down or a touchdown. Those numbers underline the situational value of his running ability.
The most obvious example is his effectiveness in short-yardage situations. When Philadelphia needs a critical conversion, Hurts gives the offense another option that can be difficult for defenses to stop. His physical running style and ability to follow his blockers make him a threat near the goal line.
There is also a strategic benefit to having Hurts in the backfield. Defenses cannot simply overload the box to stop the running game without considering the passing options available to Philadelphia. His presence forces opponents to make difficult decisions before the ball is even snapped.
Hurts might not have the open-field explosiveness of Lamar Jackson or Kyler Murray, but his strength, power, and situational effectiveness make him one of the most valuable running quarterbacks in football.
5. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray’s mobility is built around suddenness. He can change direction in an instant, accelerate into open space, and make defenders look completely out of position when they believe they have him contained.
Murray has recorded 167 rushing yards at 5.8 yards per carry, with a reported maximum speed of 20.4 mph. Those numbers reflect the athleticism that has made him such a difficult quarterback to defend throughout his career.
His running ability is not just about straight-line speed. Murray’s change of direction is particularly dangerous, allowing him to slip through narrow openings and turn a seemingly ordinary scramble into a substantial gain.
He also creates problems for defensive coordinators because his movement can change the geometry of a play. A defender who commits to stopping Murray from running may leave an opening elsewhere, while a defender who stays in coverage risks allowing the quarterback to escape.
There are quarterbacks who can run when a play breaks down. Murray can make a defense account for his legs from the moment the ball is snapped.
That ability keeps him among the NFL’s most dangerous mobile quarterbacks.
4. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye has the physical tools to become one of the NFL’s most complete mobile quarterbacks. His running ability is already an important part of his game, but what makes him particularly interesting is how his movement complements his passing.
Maye has recorded 219 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He can pick up yardage on designed runs, escape pressure, and use his athleticism to make defenses pay when they leave an opening.
His ability to operate outside the pocket is especially valuable. Designed rollouts and movement-based concepts give him opportunities to throw on the run, while his size and athleticism make him difficult to bring down when he decides to run.
The supplied data also highlights his QBR when navigating moving pressure, placing him at the top of that measure. That is an important distinction: Maye’s mobility is not just about how many yards he can gain with his legs. It is also about how effectively he can maintain a passing threat when the pocket is no longer stable.
His 11 interceptions are a reminder that there is still development ahead, and mobility cannot compensate for every decision-making mistake. But Maye’s physical tools give New England a quarterback who can threaten defenses in multiple ways.
He is already a dangerous athlete at the position, with plenty of room to become even more difficult to defend.
3. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels is one of the most dynamic open-field athletes in the NFL. His ability to turn a passing play into a rushing opportunity makes him a nightmare for defenses, particularly when opponents are forced to defend him for an entire game.
Daniels has averaged 8.1 yards per carry, with a 10.91% scramble rate. Those figures highlight just how efficient he can be when he decides to use his legs.
What separates Daniels is the combination of speed, vision, and composure. He does not need to force a run every time he leaves the pocket. Instead, he can wait for an opening, recognize when a defense has turned its back, and accelerate into space.
His fourth-quarter production is another important part of the discussion. The supplied figures place him second in fourth-quarter EPA per play, while his ability to generate chunk runs as defenses tire adds another layer to his late-game threat.
Daniels also creates a difficult assignment for defensive players. Linebackers and defensive backs must remain disciplined in coverage, but they cannot afford to ignore the possibility that Daniels will take off. One missed assignment or overaggressive rush can create a huge gain.
His combination of rushing efficiency and game-changing athleticism makes him one of the league’s premier mobile quarterbacks.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is arguably the most physically imposing mobile quarterback in the NFL. He combines the size and strength of a power runner with the arm talent of an elite passer, creating a matchup problem that few defenses can consistently solve.
Allen has recorded 270 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. His ability to produce in the red zone is particularly valuable, as Buffalo can use him as a legitimate rushing threat when the field becomes compressed.
He is not simply a quarterback who can scramble for a few yards when necessary. Allen can run through contact, finish plays with physicality, and make defenders pay when they fail to account for him.
His performance against the Rams, which included 107 scramble yards in one game, illustrates how disruptive he can become when a defense cannot contain him. The supplied Next Gen Stats figure also puts his short-yardage and goal-line rushing success rate at 84.2%.
That is a remarkable weapon for an offense to possess. When Buffalo needs a critical yard, Allen can create an advantage that is difficult to replicate with a conventional running game.
Allen’s physicality is what separates him from most quarterbacks. He can beat defenses with speed, power, or improvisation, and his ability to threaten as both a passer and runner makes him one of the most difficult players in football to defend.
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
There is no better mobile quarterback in the NFL than Lamar Jackson.
Jackson is not merely an excellent athlete who happens to play quarterback. His movement is a defining part of his game, and it changes how opposing defenses have to approach every snap.
His supplied numbers include 7.58 yards per carry, an 8.77% scramble rate, and a league-leading +0.32 EPA per designed rush. Those figures capture the efficiency of his running, but they do not fully explain the stress he places on a defense.
Jackson can beat defenders with acceleration, make them miss in tight spaces, and turn a small opening into a major gain. He is also dangerous when a play breaks down, with the speed and instincts to punish defenses that lose track of him.
His presence creates problems even when he does not carry the ball. A linebacker who steps forward to account for Jackson can open space for a receiver or running back. A defensive end who crashes too aggressively can give him an escape route. Defenses must constantly account for the possibility that he will keep the ball.
That is what makes Jackson so special. His mobility is not an occasional escape hatch. It is a central part of the Ravens’ offensive identity and a weapon that influences the entire defensive structure.
Allen might be the more powerful runner, and Daniels has the explosiveness to make any defense nervous. But Jackson’s combination of efficiency, acceleration, vision, and ability to dictate defensive decisions puts him at the top of this ranking.
He is the NFL’s most dangerous mobile quarterback.
Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won’t be able to guess my favorite team.