Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

[Lexwhat]

Here is a list of (IMO) truly legitimate starting Quarterbacks in the NFL today, and where they were drafted. I'm referring to consistent players who can actually win you games, not caretakers. Feel free to argue.

Some are obviously borderline (or too young to judge), so I threw them in at the bottom on a different list. Anyone that lasted past pick # 36 is highlighted in Bold.

Peyton Manning -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Eli Manning -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Michael Vick -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Carson Palmer -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Donovan McNabb -- 1st Round, Pick 2
Matt Ryan -- 1st Round, Pick 3
Philip Rivers -- 1st Round, Pick 4
Ben Roethlisberger -- 1st Round, Pick 11
Joe Flacco -- 1st Round, Pick 18
Aaron Rodgers -- 1st Round, Pick 24
Drew Brees -- 2nd Round, Pick 32
Brett Favre -- 2nd Round, Pick 33
Matt Schaub -- 3rd Round, Pick 90
Kyle Orton -- 4th Round, Pick 106
Tom Brady -- 6th Round, Pick 199
Tony Romo -- Undrafted

Of the 4 bolded names, only Brady and Romo are playing for the same team that originally "drafted" them. Of the non-bolded list, only McNabb, Brees, Vick, and Favre are playing for a team that didn't draft them (Eli Manning is a special case).

Moral of this story? If we want a chance to have an *ELITE* QB in today's NFL, we should draft one very early. In contrast to other positions in the Draft, QBs don't usually slip through the cracks.

Does that mean all 1st / early 2nd Round QBs will be successful? No, of course not. However, developmental QBs (taken in Round 3 or later) will rarely net you an elite starting QB anyway (although drafting them is still a smart idea, for various reasons).



Others (too early to judge, too borderline, too old, or recently retired):
Sam Bradford -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Matt Stafford -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Vince Young -- 1st Round, Pick 3
Mark Sanchez -- 1st Round, Pick 5
Kerry Collins -- 1st Round, Pick 5
Jay Cutler -- 1st Round, Pick 11
Josh Freeman -- 1st Round, Pick 17
Jason Campbell -- 1st Round, Pick 25
Kevin Kolb -- 2nd Round, Pick 36
Chad Henne -- 2nd Round, Pick 57
Matt Hasselbeck -- 6th Round, Pick 184
Bruce Gradkowski -- 6th Round, Pick 194
Matt Cassel -- 7th Round, Pick 230
Kurt Warner -- Undrafted

[Philagape]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

Peyton Manning -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Eli Manning -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Michael Vick -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Carson Palmer -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Donovan McNabb -- 1st Round, Pick 2
Matt Ryan -- 1st Round, Pick 3
Philip Rivers -- 1st Round, Pick 4
Ben Roethlisberger -- 1st Round, Pick 11
Joe Flacco -- 1st Round, Pick 18
Aaron Rodgers -- 1st Round, Pick 24
Drew Brees -- 2nd Round, Pick 32
Brett Favre -- 2nd Round, Pick 33
Matt Schaub -- 3rd Round, Pick 90
Kyle Orton -- 4th Round, Pick 106
Tom Brady -- 6th Round, Pick 199
Tony Romo -- Undrafted

Less than half of them in the top 10 eh?

So the moral of the story is, "very early" doesn't have to be the top 10

[The King]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

great thread, great thought!

[Stewie]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

Here is a list of (IMO) truly legitimate starting Quarterbacks in the NFL today, and where they were drafted. I'm referring to consistent players who can actually win you games, not caretakers. Feel free to argue.

Some are obviously borderline (or too young to judge), so I threw them in at the bottom on a different list. Anyone that lasted past pick # 36 is highlighted in Bold.

Peyton Manning -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Eli Manning -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Michael Vick -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Carson Palmer -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Donovan McNabb -- 1st Round, Pick 2
Matt Ryan -- 1st Round, Pick 3
Philip Rivers -- 1st Round, Pick 4
Ben Roethlisberger -- 1st Round, Pick 11
Joe Flacco -- 1st Round, Pick 18
Aaron Rodgers -- 1st Round, Pick 24
Drew Brees -- 2nd Round, Pick 32
Brett Favre -- 2nd Round, Pick 33
Matt Schaub -- 3rd Round, Pick 90
Kyle Orton -- 4th Round, Pick 106
Tom Brady -- 6th Round, Pick 199
Tony Romo -- Undrafted

Of the 4 bolded names, only Brady and Romo are playing for the same team that originally "drafted" them. Of the non-bolded list, only McNabb, Brees, Vick, and Favre are playing for a team that didn't draft them (Eli Manning is a special case).

Moral of this story? If we want a chance to have an *ELITE* QB in today's NFL, we should draft one very early. In contrast to other positions in the Draft, QBs don't usually slip through the cracks.

Does that mean all 1st / early 2nd Round QBs will be successful? No, of course not. However, developmental QBs (taken in Round 3 or later) will rarely net you an elite starting QB anyway (although drafting them is still a smart idea, for various reasons).



Others (too early to judge, too borderline, too old, or recently retired):
Sam Bradford -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Matt Stafford -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Vince Young -- 1st Round, Pick 3
Mark Sanchez -- 1st Round, Pick 5
Kerry Collins -- 1st Round, Pick 5
Jay Cutler -- 1st Round, Pick 11
Josh Freeman -- 1st Round, Pick 17
Jason Campbell -- 1st Round, Pick 25
Kevin Kolb -- 2nd Round, Pick 36
Chad Henne -- 2nd Round, Pick 57
Matt Hasselbeck -- 6th Round, Pick 184
Bruce Gradkowski -- 6th Round, Pick 194
Matt Cassel -- 7th Round, Pick 230
Kurt Warner -- Undrafted

Not to be a buzzkill, but can you take this list and then the list of lower round qb's and adjust for playing time?

A first round draft pick is much more likely to get a chance to play than a sixth rounder. Would Tom Brady have ever seen the field if Mo Lewis didn't break Drew Bledsoe's rib?

[Dr. Taylor Zaius]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

Here is a list of (IMO) truly legitimate starting Quarterbacks in the NFL today, and where they were drafted. I'm referring to consistent players who can actually win you games, not caretakers. Feel free to argue.

Some are obviously borderline (or too young to judge), so I threw them in at the bottom on a different list. Anyone that lasted past pick # 36 is highlighted in Bold.

Peyton Manning -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Eli Manning -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Michael Vick -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Carson Palmer -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Donovan McNabb -- 1st Round, Pick 2
Matt Ryan -- 1st Round, Pick 3
Philip Rivers -- 1st Round, Pick 4
Ben Roethlisberger -- 1st Round, Pick 11
Joe Flacco -- 1st Round, Pick 18
Aaron Rodgers -- 1st Round, Pick 24
Drew Brees -- 2nd Round, Pick 32
Brett Favre -- 2nd Round, Pick 33
Matt Schaub -- 3rd Round, Pick 90
Kyle Orton -- 4th Round, Pick 106
Tom Brady -- 6th Round, Pick 199
Tony Romo -- Undrafted

Of the 4 bolded names, only Brady and Romo are playing for the same team that originally "drafted" them. Of the non-bolded list, only McNabb, Brees, Vick, and Favre are playing for a team that didn't draft them (Eli Manning is a special case).

Moral of this story? If we want a chance to have an *ELITE* QB in today's NFL, we should draft one very early. In contrast to other positions in the Draft, QBs don't usually slip through the cracks.

Does that mean all 1st / early 2nd Round QBs will be successful? No, of course not. However, developmental QBs (taken in Round 3 or later) will rarely net you an elite starting QB anyway (although drafting them is still a smart idea, for various reasons).



Others (too early to judge, too borderline, too old, or recently retired):
Sam Bradford -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Matt Stafford -- 1st Round, Pick 1
Vince Young -- 1st Round, Pick 3
Mark Sanchez -- 1st Round, Pick 5
Kerry Collins -- 1st Round, Pick 5
Jay Cutler -- 1st Round, Pick 11
Josh Freeman -- 1st Round, Pick 17
Jason Campbell -- 1st Round, Pick 25
Kevin Kolb -- 2nd Round, Pick 36
Chad Henne -- 2nd Round, Pick 57
Matt Hasselbeck -- 6th Round, Pick 184
Bruce Gradkowski -- 6th Round, Pick 194
Matt Cassel -- 7th Round, Pick 230
Kurt Warner -- Undrafted

Good post. Luck or Mallett, welcome to Buffalo.

[better days]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

I think Josh Freeman is too low on the 2nd list. I think he may be one of the best QB's in the NFL in another couple years.

[TacklingDummy]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

Here is a list of (IMO) truly legitimate starting Quarterbacks in the NFL today, and where they were drafted. I'm referring to consistent players who can actually win you games, not caretakers. Feel free to argue.

I remember looking it up, over half the starting QB's in the Super Bowl were drafted in the 1st round.

[k-oneputt]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

It's a no-brainer really. If the Bills have the 1st pick they have to go qb, unless you like losing for another ten years.

The guys that really crack me up are the "lets take a wr" guys. Are you ***** kidding me ?

[Luisito23]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

Well according to some draft gurus here, a high drafted QB doesn't mean anything...Just look at Tom Brady.

[Dr. Taylor Zaius]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

It's a no-brainer really. If the Bills have the 1st pick they have to go qb, unless you like losing for another ten years.

The guys that really crack me up are the "lets take a wr" guys. Are you ***** kidding me ?

True dat.

[k-oneputt]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

Well according to some draft gurus here, a high drafted QB doesn't mean anything...Just look at Tom Brady.

Must be the same one's who want to take a wr.

[mayotm]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

It's a no-brainer really. If the Bills have the 1st pick they have to go qb, unless you like losing for another ten years.

The guys that really crack me up are the "lets take a wr" guys. Are you ***** kidding me ?

What if Luck doesn't come out? Are you convinced that Mallet or somebody else is worth the first pick? If not, how is it a no-brainer?

[k-oneputt]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

What if Luck doesn't come out? Are you convinced that Mallet or somebody else is worth the first pick? If not, how is it a no-brainer?

I will be happy with Luck, Mallett, or Locker.

It's a no-brainer because you can't win in this league w/o a qb, so if you are taking a chance on a player why not one of the 1st rd. qb's ?
There is no guarantee any pick will pan out. Who's to say the d-linemen or wr will pan out.
Wr's are meaningless w/o the qb anyways. Good qb's win with any wr's they have in there. You can always find wr's.
Notice how our wr's are suddenly pretty good now since we have an avg. qb playing now ?
If you are paying 1st pick money it's best to invest in the face of the franchice/qb. I don't see any Bruce Smith's or Lawrence Taylor's in this draft.

[mayotm]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

I will be happy with Luck, Mallett, or Locker.

It's a no-brainer because you can't win in this league w/o a qb, so if you are taking a chance on a player why not one of the 1st rd. qb's ?
There is no guarantee any pick will pan out. Who's to say the d-linemen or wr will pan out.
Wr's are meaningless w/o the qb anyways. Good qb's win with any wr's they have in there. You can always find wr's.
Notice how our wr's are suddenly pretty good now since we have an avg. qb playing now ?
If you are paying 1st pick money it's best to invest in the face of the franchice/qb. I don't see any Bruce Smith's or Lawrence Taylor's in this draft.

I think you may be disappointed. Outside of Luck, I don't see the Bills taking a QB early in round one. It's still early in the process. Mallet or Locker could still do some things in the post season that really improves their stock. However, at this point, most "experts" don't have either rated that high. The Bills have numerous needs. They simply can't afford to miss with whoever they pick. If there is a QB good enough to take early, I'm all for it. If not, address o-line, d-line or even LB.

[Lexwhat]

Re: Legitimate Starting QBs Aren't Found Past Early 2nd Round

Less than half of them in the top 10 eh?

So the moral of the story is, "very early" doesn't have to be the top 10

That is true, it doesn't necessarily have to be top 10. However, we are going to have a very early pick in the 1st Round, so that argument is moot as it pertains to the Bills this year. We could consider trading down, but teams wanting to trade up into the Top 5 is extremely rare.

My main point was: If we want an elite QB through the draft, we shouldn't wait until later rounds to grab one, as some here have suggested. Elite QBs are simply not found that late.