NFL Draft — Quarterbacks

Athlon Sports’ 2008 NFL Mock Draft and Top 100 prospect database will be unveiled on Friday, Feb. 15. Until then, we will be taking a look back at the past five NFL Drafts — with a position-by-position breakdown of the players taken in the Top 100 and first round, along with a sneak preview of the 2008 NFL Draft class.

Franchise Quarterback

There is no more celebrated or scrutinized position in sports than quarterback — the face of an NFL franchise, the voice of the huddle, the leader on the field and the only player guaranteed to have the football in his hands once it is snapped on every play.

Because of the importance of the position, teams are desperate to acquire a so-called “franchise quarterback.” Teams will project their hopes and dreams on a 20-something signal-caller, reach on Draft Day and resist admitting defeat if he isn’t the second-coming of Stanford’s John Elway (No. 1 by Baltimore Colts in 1983).

Since Tennessee’s Peyton Manning went No. 1 overall in 1998, a quarterback has been the top pick in the draft every year but two — when Texas’ Vince Young went to the Titans at No. 3 in 2006 and Marshall’s Chad Pennington went to the Jets at No. 18 in 2000. In those two years, standout defensive ends, NC State’s Mario Williams (Texans) and Penn State’s Courtney Brown (Browns), went in the top spot.

Timing is everything. Even if a quarterback is not an Elway or Manning, he still could go No. 1 overall if he is the best in his draft class and the right team owns the first pick.

In 1999, Kentucky’s Tim Couch went to the Browns; in 2002, Fresno State’s David Carr went to the Texans; and in 2005, Utah’s Alex Smith went to the 49ers. These three raised questions at the time and look worse with each passing season.

The rest of the best incoming passers includes Virginia Tech video gamer Michael Vick (Falcons in 2001), USC Heisman winner Carson Palmer (Bengals in 2003), Ole Miss legacy Eli Manning (Giants in 2004) and LSU rocket launcher JaMarcus Russell (Raiders in 2007). Even this list has had its ups and downs.

Quarterbacks need accuracy, arm strength, pocket awareness, size, mobility and “it” — a leadership quality that inspires teammates and leads game-winning fourth-quarter drives. Few quarterbacks have all the necessary tools. But those with accuracy and “it” often end up being more successful than those with just arm strength and size.

But the cerebral winners (Notre Dame’s Joe Montana at No. 82 by the 49ers in 1979, or Michigan’s Tom Brady at No. 199 by the Patriots in 2000) may not be drafted as highly the cannon-armed losers (Illinois’ Jeff George at No. 1 by the Colts in 1990, or Washington State’s Ryan Leaf at No. 2 by the Chargers in 1998).

Drafting a franchise quarterback “of the future” is a difficult decision that can alter the course of a team and impact the mood of a city on any given Sunday. The risk-reward of a highly-drafted quarterback is tremendous, since only one passer can play at one time. And as the saying goes, if you have two quarterbacks, you really don’t have one.

Busting on a first-round quarterback is worse than being wrong at any other position. But if a team picks the right guy, it is usually set at its most important position for the next decade — and may be in line for a Super Bowl ring sizing down the road.

The 2008 NFL Draft quarterback class is led by Boston College’s Matt Ryan. After “Matty Ice,” there is a cluster of signal-callers who may or may not be first-round material. But Louisville’s Brian Brohm, Kentucky’s Andre Woodson and Michigan’s Chad Henne need just one team to say their name in order to be a first-rounder.

	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
1st Round	2	3	3	4	4
Top 100	6	7	6	5	6

Over the past five years, an average of six quarterbacks have been selected in the Top 100 picks — which is roughly the first three rounds — of the NFL Draft. Of those, the majority have been first-round picks, with an average of three passers per year being drafted in the first round.

2007	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	JaMarcus Russell, LSU Brady Quinn, Notre Dame	Raiders (1) Browns (22)
Top 100	Kevin Kolb, Houston John Beck, BYU Drew Stanton, Michigan State Trent Edwards, Stanford	Eagles (36) Dolphins (40) Lions (43) Bills (92)

Russell (6'6", 255) was a physical specimen who reportedly could throw a football roughly 70 yards from in knees. That may not come into play during an NFL game, but was certainly impressive to watch during the scouting process. In limited action (4 games, 1 start), Russell completed 36-of-66 passes for 373 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions for a 55.9 passer rating.

Quinn sat in the green room for hours on Draft Day, chewing gum and looking frazzled. After being passed on by the Dolphins at No. 9 overall, the former Notre Dame record-breaker was finally picked by the Browns (who traded their 2008 first-rounder to acquire the local product). Unfortunately for Quinn, Cleveland starter Derek Anderson had a career year for a 10-win team and looks like the starting signal-caller entering the 2008 season. As a rookie, Quinn completed 3-of-8 passes for 45 yards in one game.

Kolb and Beck were the subject of controversy. Kolb only helped the Philly fanatics' rumors of trading Donovan McNabb to the Bears or Vikings or Ravens. Meanwhile, Beck was apparently the reason that one-and-done head coach Cam Cameron did not draft Quinn in the first round.

2006	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Vince Young, Texas Matt Leinart, USC Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt	Titans (3) Cardinals (10) Broncos (11)
Top 100	Kellen Clemens, Oregon Tarvaris Jackson, Alabama State Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson Brodie Croyle, Alabama	Jets (49) Vikings (64) Chargers (81) Chiefs (85)

V.Y. was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate during his first season in the NFL. As a second-year passer, the physically-gifted Young struggled with injuries (quadriceps) and statistics (9 TDs to 17 INTs) but maintained his "it"-factor reputation as a winner — leading the overachieving Music City Miracles to a 10–6 record and a close playoff loss to the Chargers.

Fellow first-rounders Leinart and Cutler had problems of their own, but no playoff berths.

Leinart was placed on the injured reserve following a broken collarbone in Week 5 against the Rams. The former USC national champ and Heisman Trophy winner has seemingly appeared in more commercials than professional football games during his two-year run, while former Super Bowl winner and MVP veteran Kurt Warner has been more of a regular starter than a mentor during his time in Phoenix.

Cutler had his ups-and-downs during his second season, but finished with better stats than either Young or Leinart. After a strong NFL Scouting Combine performance out of Vanderbilt, the Broncos traded up to take the strong-armed Cutler. As an NFL "sophomore" Culter threw for 3,497 yards, 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for a more than respectable 88.1 passer rating. With young wide-out Branson Marshall in his arsenal and coach Mike Shanahan in his ear, the future looks bright for Cutler.

2005	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Alex Smith, Utah Aaron Rodgers, California Jason Campbell, Auburn	49ers (1) Packers (24) Redskins (25)
Top 100	Charlie Frye, Akron Andrew Walter, Arizona State David Greene, Georgia	Browns (67) Raiders (69) Seahawks (85)

Wow. This is what happens when a team is desperate to draft a "franchise quarterback." Rodgers fell from potential No. 1 all the way to Brett Favre's heir apparent at No. 24 overall. Three full seasons later, Favre looks farther away from retirement than he did on Draft Day 2005.

Meanwhile, Smith and Niners coach Mike Nolan are feuding in the papers, dividing the San Fran locker room and apparently drawing lines in the sand. Smith is looking like David Carr at this point, although he did have a better college career — going undefeated for current Florida coach Urban Meyer during his junior season with the Utes.

Campbell suffered a season-ending knee injury just as it looked like he was finally starting to figure out NFL defenses. In a strange season, the Skins made the playoffs despite losing their starting signal-caller and best defensive player (Sean Taylor). With new coach (and former Seahawks quarterback) Jim Zorn and a potential trade for Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson in the works, Campbell could make retired Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs look like a genius.

2004	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Eli Manning, Ole Miss Philip Rivers, NC State Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio) J.P. Losman, Tulane	Chargers (1) Giants (4) Steelers (11) Bills (22)
Top 100	Matt Schaub, Virginia	Falcons (90)

Easily the best quarterback class of the past five years, the Class of 2004 is evolving into one of the better groups of all time.

Archie's son and Peyton's little brother, Eli won Super Bowl XLII just two seasons after fellow 2004 classmate "Big Ben" Roethlisberger hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy following a victory in Super Bowl XL. Good for Eli, since the Giants traded away their 2005 first-rounder (used to pick Shawne Merriman) and more to acquire the laid back leader.

Eli and Big Ben are just the second pair of quarterbacks drafted in the same year to win Super Bowls — joining 1979's duo of Morehead State's Phil Simms (Giants at No. 7) and Notre Dame's Joe Montana (49ers at No. 82).

Rivers is no slouch. He may yell at fans when he's hurt in the playoffs, but he did lead the Bolts to the AFC title game this year. And he has proven to be a winner for San Diego (14–2 in 2006 and 11–5 in 2007) after learning the ropes behind Drew Brees during his first two seasons in the NFL.

Losman and Schaub were regular starters last year, for the Bills and Texans, respectively. But neither would be considered a "franchise" caliber quarterback. Texans fans might argue otherwise, but time will tell.

2003	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Carson Palmer, USC Byron Leftwich, Marshall Kyle Boller, California Rex Grossman, Florida	Bengals (1) Jaguars (7) Ravens (19) Bears (22)
Top 100	Dave Ragone, Louisville Chris Simms, Texas	Texans (88) Bucs (97)

Palmer is rock solid, although he may need to get out of Cincinnati in order to succeed on a larger scale. The rest of the class is notorious.

Leftwich and former Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio could never get along. In interviews, both parties would drop lines like "it is what it is" or "we don't have to be best friends." In the end, that strategy didn't work.

Ravens decision-maker Ozzie Newsome was a little too outspoken about his desire to select Leftwich in 2003 and that ended in a forced-hand pick of Boller. Turns out, the Cal coach Jeff Tedford curse (Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, etc.) continued with Boller, who has been given numerous opportunities to prove himself, only to fail every time.

Grossman (a.k.a. "Turnover-saurus Rex") was at the helm of a Bears team that lost Super Bowl XLI. But even casual football fans give the Monsters of the Midway defense and Devin Hester's return game all of the credit for the joyride to the rainy night in Miami. Now, after five seasons of watching Grossman throw ducks in the Windy City, the Bears are back in the market for a potential "franchise quarterback."

Keep checking AthlonSports.com for ongoing NFL Draft coverage:

Safeties Cornerbacks Linebackers Defensive Ends Defensive Tackles Offensive Linemen Tight Ends Wide Receivers Running Backs Quarterbacks 2008 NFL Mock Draft

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