ARIZONA CARDINALS

PFF: Larry Fitzgerald still one of the most sure-handed receivers in the NFL

May 29, 2017, 11:30 AM | Updated: 11:37 am

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a diving catch as San Francisco 49ers s...

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a diving catch as San Francisco 49ers strong safety Antoine Bethea (41) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

After 13 years in the NFL, Larry Fitzgerald has not dropped many balls, just 34 in his career, a mark that has made him one of the most sure-handed receivers in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus’ rankings.

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald has dropped a mere 34 passes on 996 catchable targets in the PFF era (2006-present). That career drop percentage of 3.41 percent is the best among any receiver in the PFF era with at least 150 catchable targets.

An impressive piece of context to Fitzgerald’s low drop percentage is considering the quarterbacks that were throwing to him.

With more than 15 signal-callers throwing to him in 13 years, Fitzgerald has really only had two rock solid quarterbacks in Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer.

Other than those two is a plethora of inconstancy that made Fitzgerald’s job catching balls a bit tougher and makes his mark even more impressive.

In PFF’s rankings of the most sure-handed receivers of a year ago, the 33-year-old Fitzgerald came in No. 2, only behind Antonio Brown.

After reading the opening paragraph discussing Fitzgerald’s insane career drop numbers, it’s no surprise he ends up high on this list. Fitzgerald has also dropped just seven passes over the past two seasons, but his 223 catchable targets were slightly fewer than Brown’s. Still, his drop percentage of 3.1 percent over that span ranked second among receivers with 100 or more catchable targets.

Fitzgerald is the epitome of consistency, hardly dropping passes and continuing to be a play-maker in the backstretch of his career. Last season, Fitzgerald caught an NFL-leading 107 passes for 1,023 yards and the eighth 1,000+ yard season of his career.

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PFF: Larry Fitzgerald still one of the most sure-handed receivers in the NFL