Colin Kaepernick had kind of an off year last season. His completion percentage dipped and he took too many sacks.

When looking at those numbers, however, we must factor in degree of difficulty. He’s not checking the ball down for 5-yard completions on third-and-12. He’s driving the ball downfield far more often than most quarterbacks.

Two years in a row, he’s averaged over 13 yards per completion. Only three other quarterbacks in this century have done that (Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers and Cam Newton). And only 36 quarterbacks in the last 14 years have done this (at least when also completing 100 passes).

I’m not arguing that this metric is the key number to look at when grading a quarterback. Skimming over the list below, I see some lesser passers. Tim Tebow, Patrick Ramsey, Josh Freeman, Matt McGloin and J.T. O’Sullivan.

But the stat helps put what Kaepernick was doing into context. He played better than what some of the traditional stats suggest. (And also give him props for working most of the year without Michael Crabtree).

QUARTERBACKS AVERAGING OVER 13 YARDS PER COMPLETION
YearTeamPlayerCompYardsAvg
2006Phil.Donovan McNabb180264714.71
2000St.L.Kurt Warner235342914.59
2013Phil.Nick Foles203289114.24
2000St.L.Trent Green145206314.23
2005Pitt.Ben Roethlisberger168238514.20
2011Hou.Matt Schaub178247913.93
2011Oak.Carson Palmer199275313.83
2012Car.Cam Newton280386913.82
2011NYGEli Manning359493313.74
2011Den.Tim Tebow126172913.72
2004Ind.Peyton Manning336455713.56
2011G.B.Aaron Rodgers343464313.54
2004Den.Jake Plummer303408913.50
2009S.D.Philip Rivers317425413.42
2000N.O.Aaron Brooks113151413.40
2011Ariz.Kevin Kolb146195513.39
2004Pitt.Ben Roethlisberger196262113.37
2008Car.Jake Delhomme246328813.37
2012S.F.Colin Kaepernick136181413.34
2010Pitt.Ben Roethlisberger240320013.33
2009Phil.Donovan McNabb267355313.31
2012T.B.Josh Freeman306406513.28
2000Minn.Daunte Culpepper297393713.26
2002St.L.Marc Bulger138182613.23
2006Dall.Tony Romo220290313.20
2010S.D.Philip Rivers357471013.19
2013S.F.Colin Kaepernick243319713.16
2002Was.Patrick Ramsey117153913.15
2013G.B.Aaron Rodgers193253613.14
2013Oak.Matt McGloin118154713.11
2008S.F.J.T. O’Sullivan128167813.11
2011Car.Cam Newton310405113.07
2013Sea.Russell Wilson257335713.06
2005Car.Jake Delhomme262342113.06
2011Phil.Michael Vick253330313.06
2011N.E.Tom Brady401523513.05

—Ian Allan