The 5 Least Efficient Red-Zone Quarterbacks in 2017

DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns

Passing NEP per drop back: -0.82

It shouldn’t require much thought to guess that the NFL's least efficient starting quarterback that played on an 0-16 team might've also struggled in the red zone. DeShone Kizer was certainly successful in living down to these lofty standards.

It was in the red zone that the Cleveland Browns rookie attempted one of the most bizarre plays of the modern era against the Detroit Lions, but this was far from his only blemish. He tossed 8 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 42 total pass attempts, making his 19.05% touchdown rate the ninth-lowest among our group of 31 passes, while his 14.29% interception rate led the way.

Kizer’s Passing Success Rate was 25.00%, with only the almost equally hapless Jacoby Brissett less successful on a per-drop back basis. He did avoid getting sacked a lot, as he was taken down in the red zone just once. However, Cleveland may have benefited somewhat if he’d taken a few more sacks and thrown fewer interceptions.

As bad as some of the players on this list were inside the red zone, Kizer was on a whole other level in terms of inefficiency. His -0.82 Passing NEP per drop back dwarfed the -0.52 amassed by Brissett, his closest challenger.