Dual Threat QBs are a class of elite QB’s whose mobility is explosive enough that it becomes a part of the team’s offensive strategy. A dual threat QB has elite arm talent, often making them a nightmare for defenses to stop. (This is what makes them a dual-threat – their arm and legs are special).

The combination of their elite arm strength to throw really far (or with great power), and their legs that allows them to run really fast and juke players out, makes it very difficult for most defenses to stop them. Dual-threats avoid needing the perfect play because they can use their fast and powerful running to bail themselves out in case the opposing defense covers all their receivers. And similarly, the threat of their running can make defenses focus on that, and thus leave receivers open downfield. 

These traits allow them to be immediately effective before they have even developed, compared to other QBs.

Manipulation of the Defense

As implied before, Dual-Threat QBs ability to run and pass at a high level is a weapon. It allows them to manipulate the defense, pre or post-snap. Defenses may change their whole gameplan to defend against the QB since he can run and pass.

Lamar Jackson has had plays where he can roll out against defenders in zone, and that alone will cause these zone defenders to run up to him… leaving receivers wide open.

The Read-Option is the signature playcall/offensive strategy that most offenses with dual-threat QBs have. It is a play where the QB can read the defense, and decide to either run the ball himself, or hand it off to a running back (or toss it to a another running back), in real-time. It is a lethal weapon, because the defense now has to worry about the running back and the quarterback running, instead of just the running back.

This is why dual-threat QBs usually help their teams have a stronger running game. 

There is also the run-pass-option, where the QB reads the defense, and can quickly decide to pass it, or run it (where his blockers have cleared a lane to go). And sometimes, the QBs can always just run whenever they want.

All these play calls manipulate defenses greatly. If a defense plays man, then the dual-threat QB can just run if he pleases. If they play zone, the OC can do read-options. And again, dual-threat QBs still have great arms to deliver powerful throws downfield.

And this also helps them elevate middling receiving corps. Because they manipulate defenses and draw so much attention.

Instant Success of Dual-Threat QBs

Dual-threat QBs often come in right away and change their teams fortunes, for the reasons above.

Kaepernick made the 49ers a juggernaut his first-year as a starter.

Lamar Jackson snapped the Ravens 5 year playoff drought – as a rookie.

Robert Griffin III (RGIII) snapped a 5 year playoff drought for the Commanders – as a rookie. 

Jayden Daniels as a rookie took a Washington Commanders team that hadn’t won a playoff game since 2005 to the NFC Championship game.

Notice a trend?

And it makes sense. If you have a QB that can manipulate defenses to such a degree, it’s easy to transform a team even if their weapons aren’t anything special.

This is why teams love drafting dual-threat QBs. Their physical talent allows them to turn teams into contenders very quickly, even if the team isn’t that great, and even if the QB himself has gotten more experience and development.

Dual-Threat QB Review: Ceiling and Floor

Dual-threat QBs are unique in that their floors are very high, and their ceilings are very high, but their ceilings are rarely the best QBs in the league. Only Cam Newton and young Lamar had years where they were the best QB in the league as a dual-threat (2015 for Cam and 2019 for Lamar). 

Colin Kaepernick had a moment in 2012-2013 where he was one of the most electric QBs in thel league and led his team to the Super Bowl. He was very easily a top 10 or top 5 during this stretch (with only Brady, Peyton, Rodgers and Brees firmly ahead of him). But he burned bright.

This is because Dual-Threat QBs, like other QBs to be fair, might not perfect the fundamentals enough (consistent accuracy, coverage recognition). Most QBs don’t perfect these things. And because Dual-Threat QBs have such insane athleticism, there is a chance that these fundamentals were not properly developed by their coaches, nor did the QBs themselves try hard to develop them.

Additionally, Dual-Threat QBs tend to burn bright, and fast – meaning, they don’t last. Some get injured, some slow down, and others – like Justin Fields – don’t develop their passing abilities enough to prevent them from becoming predictable.

Graduation into Hybrids

Like most QBs, teams typically hope their dual-threat can develop and refine their pocket passing skills to make them even more scary, and to sustain success once teams catch up to their mobility. This is because dual-threat offenses are often limited in their playcalls.

Lamar Jackson is an example of a QB who graduated into being a Hybrid QB; he developed his pocket passing skills and became one of the most efficient pocket passers in the league, allowing the team to pivot off of basic dual-threat, read-option playbook, while still maintaining his explosive running when needed. This was important, because the Ravens offense had grown a bit stale in 2021 and 2022.

Cam Newton, by 2017, had started to graduate into a hybrid QB as well. Coach Norv Turner instead used a more conventional offense around the team, and Cam was actually really solid that year despite the (as usual) middling receiving corps around him. What hurt Cam Newton was that… he was hurt. His body broke down at this time, and it started to affect his accuracy. 

Examples

GOATs

Lamar Jackson (2018-2021) – Lamar Jackson started off his career as a quintessential dual-threat QB – he was a fast explosive runner with a strong cannon of an arm, and he played in an offense with built in plays that called for him to run. (This offense was lead by Greg Roman, who also schemed the offense for fellow dual-threat QB Colin Kaepernick.) Lamar Jackson’s improvement as a pocket passer and ability to attack zone defenses allowed him to become a hybrid QB.

Good

Colin Kaepernick – Colin Kaepernick was an electric QB that raised the ceiling for the 49ers and led them to a Super Bowl. He was as explosive a runner and passer as the league had ever seen.

RGIII – RGIII had one of the greatest rookie seasons ever. His accuracy and running ability allowed him to be very efficient. Injuries caused him to decline very prematurely.

Jayden Daniels – Daniels is a marvel, that is very effective with R-P-Os (run-pass-option), extremely talented and accurate as a deep-ball thrower, and his performance against the Eagles in the 2024 NFC title game showed his potential as a hybrid QB due to his ability to attack the blitz.