Darian Mensah’s accuracy this season is hard to miss: the Miami quarterback has completed 76.8% of his passes in 2026. What stands out even more is that none of those completions have come on throws traveling farther than 44 yards in the air.
Mensah’s deep-ball accuracy is impressive too. He’s completed 48.6% of his throws traveling at least 20 yards downfield, a number better than every first-round quarterback drafted over the past decade except Tua Tagovailoa, who sits at 48.7%. Yet, despite this accuracy, Mensah has attempted just nine passes in his entire college career beyond 44 yards and only three between 40 and 44 yards this season, all of which he completed.
His 15 completions on 34 attempts between 20 and 39 yards translate to a 44.1% completion rate, higher than the historical average of 38.8% for first-round picks over the last decade. The contrast between his deep-ball accuracy and scarcity of very long throws has prompted questions about his arm strength, which observers note seemed stronger during his time at Duke and Tulane than in 2026. Still, his understanding of coverage, anticipation, and timing allows him to make difficult throws without needing a cannon-like arm.
On tape, Mensah shows a rhythm and touch that make him one of the best passers in this draft class. His throws on second-level routes like seams, skinny posts, and digs come with precision, even when the pocket collapses. His ability to place the ball in tight windows and his processing speed are major strengths.
The absence of passes over 44 yards is not necessarily a red flag. Fewer than 1% of all college passes in the last decade have travelled that far. For context, only 41 passes have gone 60-plus yards in that span, with six reaching 65 or more and just two hitting 70. Among those two 70-yard throws, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers attempted one and Weber State’s Kylan Weisser completed the other.
Not every first-round quarterback has frequently attempted very long throws in college. Some, like Joe Burrow, rarely took those shots but still thrived at the next level. The ability to challenge a defense can come in many forms, not just through the arm strength to throw 60 yards downfield.
Some quarterbacks in the 2027 draft class have demonstrated stronger arms and more deep attempts. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, sidelined with an elbow injury, showed both accuracy and the ability to challenge defenses beyond 45 yards before going down. Drew Mestemaker has increased his arm strength this year and impressed with his touch on deep throws, remaining in the QB1 conversation despite occasional over-aggression. Notre Dame’s CJ Carr has thrown 59 passes traveling at least 20 yards this season, far more than Mensah’s 37, and combines smart anticipation with quick processing.
Missouri’s Austin Simmons is another example of a quarterback with the physical tools to launch deep passes, including effortless 40-yard bombs, but his long windup and occasional accuracy issues temper his appeal. Simmons recently re-signed with Missouri for the 2027 season.
The comparison with Alabama’s Ty Simpson is instructive. A year ago, Simpson completed 60% of passes between 20 and 30 yards but just 13.3% beyond 30 yards. His struggles were partly due to injuries, and the Rams still took him 13th overall in the 2025 draft. Mensah’s situation is almost the opposite: he has excelled within 40 yards and shown outstanding accuracy there.
NFL teams evaluating Mensah for the 2027 draft will need to weigh how much the lack of passes over 44 yards matters compared to his overall efficiency and pocket presence. His ability to deliver consistently on throws up to 40 yards while managing pressure offers a different profile than quarterbacks who rely on sheer arm strength.
Mensah’s 2026 season remains one of the most accurate performances in recent college football history, even if it comes without the deep bombs that often catch the eye. The next step for him will be how NFL scouts interpret that balance as the draft approaches.
According to CBS.
