Arizona Cardinals
Round 1: (No. 3) — DE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Round 2: (34) — G O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida
Round 3: (66) — CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
Round 3: (96) — C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan
Round 4: (105) — WR Kayshon Boutte, LSU
Round 5: (168) — DE YaYa Diaby, Louisville
Round 6: (180) — RB Kenny McIntosh, Georgia
Round 6: (213) — QB Jaren Hall, BYU
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Atlanta Falcons
Round 1: (No. 8) — CB Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Round 2: (44) — WR Michael Wilson, Stanford
Round 3: (75) — DE Nick Herbig, Wisconsin
Round 4: (110) — G Andrew Vorhees, USC
Round 4: (113) — LB Owen Pappoe, Auburn
Round 5: (159) — OT Wanya Morris, Oklahoma
Round 7: (224) — CB Kahlef Hailassie, Western Kentucky
Round 7: (225) — P Noah Ruggles, Alabama
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Baltimore Ravens
Round 1: (No. 22) — TE Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Round 3: (86) — CB Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford
Round 4: (124) — WR Marvin Mims, Oklahoma
Round 5: (157) — G Anthony Bradford, LSU
Round 6: (199) — S Jaiden Woodbey, Boston College
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Buffalo Bills
Round 1: (No. 27) — DE Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
Round 2: (59) — WR Josh Downs, North Carolina
Round 3: (91) — LB Dorian Williams, Tulane
Round 4: (130) — G Jon Gaines, UCLA
Round 5: (137) — DE K.J. Henry, Clemson
Round 6: (205) — DL Cameron Young, Mississippi State
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Carolina Panthers
Round 1: (No. 1) — QB CJ Stroud, Ohio State
Round 2: (39) — WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Round 3: (93) — S Jordan Battle, Alabama
Round 4: (114) — OT Warren McClendon, Georgia
Round 4: (132) — DE Zach Harrison, Ohio Stat
Round 5: (145) — CB Jakorian Bennett, Maryland
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Chicago Bears
Round 1: (No. 9) — DL Myles Murphy, Clemson
Round 2: (53) — T Blake Freeland, BYU
Round 2: (61) — CB Julius Brents, Kansas State
Round 3: (64) — RB Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Round 4: (103) — WR Cedric Tillman, Tennessee
Round 4: (133) — G Emil Ekiyor Jr., Alabama
Round 5: (136) — DE DJ Johnson, Oregon
Round 5: (148) — QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
Round 7: (218) — TE Kemari Averett, Bethune Cookman
Round 7: (258) — CB Nic Jones, Ball State
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Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1: (No. 28) — CB Deonte Banks, Maryland
Round 2: (60) — DL Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin
Round 3: (92) — OT Braeden Daniels, Utah
Round 4: (131) — RB Dewayne McBride, UAB
Round 5: (163) — CB Rejzohn Wright, Oregon State
Round 6: (206) — DE Caleb Murphy, Ferris State
Round 7: (246) — WR Dallas Daniels, Jackson State
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Cleveland Browns
Round 3: (No. 74) — DE Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
Round 3: (98) — S Sydney Brown, Illinois
Round 4: (111) — LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
Round 4: (126) — CB DJ Turner, Michigan
Round 5: (140) — WR Xavier Hutchinson, Iowa State
Round 5: (142) — G McClendon Curtis, Chattanoga
Round 6: (190) — T Earl Bostick Jr., Kansas
Round 7: (229) — RB Mohamed Ibrahim, Minnesota
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Dallas Cowboys
Round 1: (No. 26) — RB Bijan Robinson, Texas
Round 2: (58) — DE Andre Carter II, Army
Round 3: (90) — WR Rashee Rice, SMU
Round 4: (129) — LB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
Round 5: (169) — T Dalton Wagner, Arkansas
Round 6: (212) — CB Mekhi Garner, LSU
Round 7: (244) — RB Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina
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Denver Broncos
Round 3: (No. 67) — RB Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
Round 3: (68) — DL Mazi Smith, Michigan
Round 4: (108) — WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton, West Virginia
Round 5: (139) — CB Starling Thomas V, UAB
Round 6: (195) — C Alex Forsyth, Oregon
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Detroit Lions
Round 1: (No. 6) — DL Jalen Carter, Georgia
Round 1: (18) — DL Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Round 2: (48) — CB Cam Smith, South Carolina
Round 2: (55) — WR A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
Round 3: (81) — CB Darius Rush, South Carolina
Round 5: (152) — G Cooper Hodges, Appalachin State
Round 6: (183) — RB Sean Tucker, Syracuse
Round 6: (194) — QB Aidan O’Connell, Purdue
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Green Bay Packers
Round 1: (No. 15) — WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Round 2: (45) — DE Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
Round 3: (78) — DL Moro Ojomo, Texas
Round 4: (116) — OT Carter Warren, Pittsburgh
Round 5: (149) — TE Zach Kuntz, Old Dominion
Round 5: (170) — CB Terrell Smith, Minnesota
Round 7: (232) — LB Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
Round 7: (235) — WR Jake Bobo, UCA
Round 7: (242) — LB Drake Thomas, North Carolina State
Round 7: (256) — S Brandon Hill, Pittsburgh
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Houston Texans
Round 1: (No. 2) — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
Round 1: (12) — WR Quentin Johnston, TCU
Round 2: (33) — DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
Round 3: (65) — OT Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
Round 3: (73) — DL Siaka Ika, Baylor
Round 4: (104) — C Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
Round 5: (161) — WR Andrei Iosivas, Princeton
Round 6: (188) — S Tyreque Jones, Boise State
Round 6: (201) — DE Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan
Round 6: (203) — OT Richard Gouraige, Florida
Round 7: (230) — RB Chris Rodriguez, Kentucky
Round 7: (259) — TE Hunter Luepke, North Darkota State
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Indianapolis Colts
Round 1: (No. 4) — QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Round 2: (35) — T Anton Harrison, Oklahoma
Round 3: (79) — TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Round 4: (106) — DL Gervon Dexter, Florida
Round 5: (138) — WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
Round 5: (162) — G Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
Round 5: (176) — CB Tiawan Mullen, Indiana
Round 7: (221) — RB Deneric Prince, Tulsa
Round 7: (236) — DE Ali Gaye, LSU
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Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1: (No. 24) — DE Nolan Smith, Georgia
Round 2: (56) — S Jammie Robinson, Florida State
Round 3: (88) — TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State
Round 4: (121) — CB Jartavis Martin, Illinois
Round 4: (127) — G Chandler Zavala, NC State
Round 6: (185) — T Mark Evans II, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Round 6: (202) — C Alan Ali, TCU
Round 6: (208) — CB Cameron Mitchell, Northwestern
Round 7: (226) — WR Ronnie Bell, Michigan
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Kansas City Chiefs
Round 1: (No. 31) — S Brian Branch, Alabama
Round 2: (63) — DE Derick Hall, Auburn
Round 3: (95) — T Nick Saldiveri, Old Dominion
Round 4: (122) — WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Fresno State
Round 4: (134) — CB Kel’Trel Clark, Louisville
Round 5: (166) — G Juice Scruggs, Penn State
Round 6: (178) — LB Mohamoud Diabete, Utah
Round 6: (217) — DT Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma
Round 7: (249) — RB Eric Gray, Oklahoma
Round 7: (250) — DT Nesta Jade Silvera, Arizona State
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Las Vegas Raiders
Round 1: (No. 7) — CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Round 2: (38) — TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
Round 3: (70) — LB Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Round 3: (100) — S JL Skinner, Boise State
Round 4: (109) — QB Stetson Bennett, Georgia
Round 5: (141) — WR Parker Washington, Penn Sate
Round 5: (144) — CB Riley Moss, Iowa
Round 5: (174) — G Tashawn Manning, Kentucky
Round 6: (204) — T Asim Richardson, North Carolina
Round 6: (214) — DL Colby Wooden, Auburn
Round 7: (220) — G Henry Banivalu, Washington
Round 7: (231) — LB Kyle Harmon, San Jose State
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Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1: (No. 21) — WR Zay Flowers, Boston College
Round 2: (54) — LB Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Round 3: (85) — DL Kobie Turner, Wake Forest
Round 4: (125) — RB Zach Evans, Ole Miss
Round 5: (156) — G Atonio Mofi, UCLA
Round 6: (200) — S Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State
Round 7: (239) — WR Tre Tucker, Cincinnati
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Los Angeles Rams
Round 2: (No. 36) — DE BJ Ojulari, LSU
Round 3: (69) — CB Eli Ricks, Alabama
Round 3: (77) — WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
Round 5: (167) — G Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
Round 5: (171) — RB Roschon Johnson, Texas
Round 5: (177) — S Ja’Von Hicks, Cincinnati
Round 6: (182) — TE Camren McDonald, Florida State
Round 6: (189) — LB Cam Jones, Indiana
Round 6: (191) — DE Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
Round 7: (223) — OT Jordan McFadden, Clemson
Round 7: (251) — WR Jadon Haselwood, Arkansas
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Miami Dolphins
Round 2: (No. 51) — T Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
Round 3: (84) — TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
Round 6: (197) — LB Aubrey Miller Jr., Jackson State
Round 7: (238) — CB Cory Trice, Purdue
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Minnesota Vikings
Round 1: (No. 23) — OT Darnell Wright, Tennessee
Round 3: (87) — CB Garrett Williams, Syracuse
Round 4: (119) — WR Trey Palmer, Louisville
Round 5: (158) — QB Jake Haener, Fresno State
Round 6: (211) — DE Brock Martin, Oklahoma State
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New England Patriots
Round 1: (No. 14) — OT Broderick Jones, Georgia
Round 2: (46) — S Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M
Round 3: (76) — DE Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan
Round 4: (107) — QB Tanner McKee, Stanford
Round 4: (117) — WR Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss
Round 4: (135) — CB Myles Brooks, Louisiana Tech
Round 6: (184) — G Brent Laing, Minnesota-Duluth
Round 6: (187) — LB Carlton Martial, Troy
Round 6: (192) — RB SaRodorick Thompson, Texas Tech
Round 6: (210) — G Jovaughn Gwyn, South Carolina
Round 7: (245) — TE Gavin Reinwald, Rice
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New Orleans Saints
Round 1: (No. 29) — DE Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
Round 2: (40) — G Steve Avila, TCU
Round 3: (71) — WR Nathaniel Dell, Houston
Round 4: (115) — LB Henry To’o To’o, Alabama
Round 5: (146) — RB Kendre Miller, TCU
Round 5: (165) — T Nick Broeker, Ole Miss
Round 7: (227) — S Quindell Johnson, Memphis
Round 7: (257) — DT Jonah Tavai, San Diego State
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New York Giants
Round 1: (No. 25) — WR Jordan Addison, USC
Round 2: (57) — C Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
Round 3: (89) — DE Keion White, Georgia Tech
Round 4: (128) — RB Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Round 5: (160) — WR Rakim Jarrett, Maryland
Round 5: (172) — S Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State
Round 6: (209) — CB Jay Ward, LSU
Round 7: (240) — OT Connor Galvin, Baylor
Round 7: (243) — CB Carrington Valentine, Kentucky
Round 7: (254) — K Jake Moody, Michigan
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New York Jets
Round 1: (No. 13) — OT Paris Johnson, Ohio State
Round 2: (42) — CB Tyrique Stevenson, Miami
Round 2: (43) — DL Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
Round 4: (112) — S Christopher Smith II, Georgia
Round 5: (143) — OT Ryan Hayes, Michigan
Round 6: (207) — DE Dylan Horton, TCU
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Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1: (No. 10) — OT Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Round 1: (30) — DE Tuli Tuipulotu, USC
Round 2: (62) — RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Round 3: (94) — CB Jaylon Jones, Texas A&M
Round 7: (219) — TE Brenton Strange, Penn State
Round 7: (248) — S Gervarrius Owens, Houston
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Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1: (No. 17) — CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State
Round 2: (32) — OT Jayelyn Duncan, Maryland
Round 2: (49) — LB Jack Campbell, Iowa
Round 3: (80) — G Jaxson Kirkland, Washington
Round 4: (120) — DL Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
Round 7: (234) — WR Elijah Higgins, Stanford
Round 7: (241) — DE Tyler Lacy, Oklahoma State
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San Francisco 49ers
Round 3: (No. 99) — CB Clark Phillips, Utah
Round 3: (101) — OT Tyler Steen, Alabama
Round 3: (102) — DE Isaiah McGuire, Missouri
Round 5: (155) — RB Chase Brown, Illinois
Round 5: (164) — DT Jerrod Clark, Coastal Carolina
Round 5: (173) — S Rashad Torrence II, Florida
Round 6: (216) — TE Payne Durham, Purdue
Round 7: (222) — CB Lance Boykin, Coastal Carolina
Round 7: (247) — WR Puka Nacua, BYU
Round 7: (253) — LB Sirvocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
Round 7: (255) — K Chad Ryland, Maryland
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Seattle Seahawks
Round 1: (No. 5) — QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
Round 1: (20) — DE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Round 2: (37) — CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia
Round 2: (52) — C Luke Wypler, Ohio State
Round 3: (83) — LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Round 4: (123) — DE Byron Young, Tennessee
Round 5: (151) — TE Cameron Latu, Alabama
Round 5: (154) — G Jerome Carvin, Tennessee
Round 6: (198) — S Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame
Round 7: (237) — WR Keytaon Thompson, Virginia
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1: (No. 19) — DE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Round 2: (50) — T Luke Haggard, Indiana
Round 3: (82) — RB Tyjae Spears, Tulane
Round 5: (153) — DT Jaquelin Roy, LSU
Round 5: (175) — CB Alex Austin, Oregon State
Round 6: (179) — QB Malik Cunningham, Louisville
Round 6: (181) — S Daniel Scott, Cal
Round 6: (196) — DE Lonnie Phelps, Kansas
Round 7: (252) — LB Dee Winters, TCU
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Tennessee Titans
Round 1: (No. 11) — TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Round 2: (41) — T Dawand Jones, Ohio State
Round 3: (72) — WR Tyler Scott, Cincinnati
Round 5: (147) — QB Clayton Tune, Houston
Round 6: (186) — RB Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
Round 7: (228) — DT Jacob Slade, Michigan State
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Washington Commanders
Round 1: (No. 16) — CB Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Round 2: (47) — C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
Round 3: (97) — QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Round 4: (118) — S Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State
Round 5: (150) — LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati
Round 6: (193) — DT Keondre Coburn, Texas
Round 6: (215) — DE Viliami Fehoko, San Jose State
Round 7: (233) — CB Arquon Bush, Cincinnati
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Ranking Every QB Drafted in the First Round Since 2014
30. Paxton Lynch (26th Overall, 2016 — Broncos)
Stats: 792 yards, 4 TD, 4 INT, 76.7 rate, 1-3 record
2016 was a time when offenses were shifting across the league. Teams were looking for the next, athletic quarterback following the breakouts of Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick. At Memphis, Lynch dazzled with good mobility and a rocket arm. With Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler bolting for Houston, the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos used their first-round selection on Lynch.
It was an unbridled disaster. Heading into his rookie campaign, Lynch lost the starting job to a 7th round pick — Trevor Siemian — during offseason training camp. Lynch would go on to start just four games for the Broncos over the next two years, and hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2017. Lynch now plays for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL. He was benched in the team’s first game of the season.
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29. Johnny Manziel (22nd Overall, 2014 — Browns)
Stats: 1,675 yards, 7 TD, 7 INT, 74.4 rate, 2-6 record
Johnny Manziel went from a relative unknown to a household name after a memorable 2012 Heisman winning campaign. The historically woeful Browns took a chance on Manziel in the first-round of the 2014 NFL Draft, despite obvious concerns in his profile. Needless to say, the pairing did not work out. Manziel was prone to mistakes — both on and off the field. His erratic style of play did not translate at all in the NFL, as teams were able to easily stifle Manziel as both a runner and passer. Manziel made eight starts and was out of the league in just two seasons.
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28. Josh Rosen (10th Overall, 2018 — Cardinals)
Stats: 2,864 yards, 12 TD, 21 INT, 61.1 rate, 3-13 record
Rosen entered the league under fairly unfortunate conditions. The former UCLA star was drafted to a Cardinals team which was set for failure. Rosen’s first head coach — Steve Wilks — was fired after just one season and replaced by Kliff Kingsbury. With the first overall pick in hand, Arizona selected Heisman winner Kyler Murray just a year after trading up in the draft to take Rosen. Arizona traded Rosen shortly after the draft.
Since then, Rosen has played for Miami and Atlanta, and has also made stops in Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Cleveland and Minnesota. While he hasn’t performed to the level of a first-round pick, Rosen’s continued ability to find NFL work says the league still sees a glimpse of potential in the 26-year-old.
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27. Dwayne Haskins (15th, 2019 — Commanders)
Stats: 2,804 yards, 12 TD, 14 INT, 74.4 rate, 3-10 record
Dwayne Haskins wasn’t given much of an opportunity to showcase his skillset in the NFL. The former Ohio State signal caller was taken 15th overall in 2019 by a dysfunctional Washington organization. It took just two years for Washington move on from their first-round pick. Haskins found a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shockingly, Haskins died in 2022 after being hit by a truck. He was just 24 years old.
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26. EJ Manuel (16th Overall, 2013 — Bills)
Stats: 3,767 yards, 20 TD, 16 INT, 77.1 rate, 6-12 record
EJ Manuel was the only hurler taken off the board in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The Florida State product started 10 games as a rookie and struggled (like most first-year quarterbacks do). The major red flag was waved when Manuel was benched in his second season in favor of an aging and limited Kyle Orton. Things got worse when Rex Ryan took over the Buffalo head coaching spot and named Tyrod Taylor as starter. Manuel would start just eight games over his final four seasons. He last appeared in an NFL game back in 2017 for the Raiders.
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25. Zach Wilson (2nd Overall, 2021 — Jets)
Stats: 4,022 yards,15 TD, 18 INT, 70.9 rate, 8-14 record
It may feel a bit unfair to have Jets QB Zach Wilson ranked this low on the list. After all, the 23-year-old just completed his second season. Quarterbacks can take time acclimating themselves to the level of play in the NFL. However, the early results for the No. 2 overall pick in ’21 have not been encouraging. Wilson’s poor play has led to Jets fans clamoring for fifth-round pick Mike White or an almost 40-year-old Joe Flacco. Thus far, Wilson has shown to be inconsistent, inaccurate, and lacking fundamentals. New York tried to simplify its offense last year to accommodate its young QB, but to no avail. With Aaron Rodgers possibly coming to town, Wilson could be looking at a reserve role for the foreseeable future.
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24. Blake Bortles (3rd Overall, 2014 — Jaguars)
Stats: 17,649 yards, 103 TD, 75 INT, 80.6 rate, 24-49 record (2-1 playoffs)
While he hardly lived up to his draft status, Blake Bortles enjoyed a handful of good moments throughout his playing career. In Year 2, Bortles threw 35 TD — second in the league — and for 4,428 yards. While his play dipped over the next years, Bortles did help lead the Jaguars to an AFC Championship appearance in 2017. The following season would be Bortles’ last in Jacksonville. Bortles officially announced his retirement in 2022, though he hadn’t appeared in a game since the ’19 season.
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23. Sam Darnold (3rd Overall, 2018 — Jets)
Stats: 11,767 yards, 75 TD, 47 INT, 78.2 rate, 21-34 record
Sam Darnold has been given multiple chances to prove he’s a starting quarterback in today’s NFL. Unfortunately, the former USC product has yet to answer the call. Following three seasons with the Jets, Darnold was squeezed out of New York and landed with the QB-needy Carolina Panthers. No real signs of development materialized, as Darnold continued to struggle under pressure and turn the ball over at a high clip. Darnold recently signed with the San Francisco 49ers — a haven for QB play. We’ll see if offensive guru Kyle Shanahan can repair the former No. 3 overall pick.
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22. Teddy Bridgewater (32nd Overall, 2014 — Vikings)
Stats: 15,656 yards, 75 TD, 47 INT, 90.5 rate, 33-32 record (0-1 playoffs)
It appeared the Vikings struck gold by drafting Teddy Bridgewater with the last pick of the first round in the 2014 NFL Draft. Bridgewater got off to a hot start in Minnesota, instantly winning the starting job and leading the Vikings to the postseason in Year 2. Disaster struck when Bridgewater later suffered a torn ACL during a practice — sidelining him for nearly two years. It’s been a long road back, though Bridgewater has settled into being one of the top backups in the league today.
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21. Mitchell Trubisky (2nd Overall, 2017 — Bears)
Stats: 11,904 yards, 68 TD, 43 INT, 86.4 rate, 31-24 record (0-2 playoffs)
Following a season in Buffalo serving as Josh Allen’s backup, Mitchell Trubisky got his second chance as a starter with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It went about as expected. In Year 6, Trubisky remains a limited QB who is no longer starting caliber. He’s capable of throwing a nice “go”-route every now and again, but he doesn’t make the consistent plays a team needs from their starting quarterback. Unfairly or not, Trubisky will always be compared to Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson — two quarterbacks who were taken after Trubisky during the 2017 NFL Draft.
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20. Marcus Mariota (2nd Overall, 2015 — Titans)
Stats: 15,656 yards (2,012 rush yards), 92 TD (17 rush TD), 54 INT, 89.3 rate, 34-40 record (1-1 playoffs)
What could have been of Marcus Mariota’s career had the QB stayed healthy? The former Heisman Trophy winner at Oregon had all the traits teams are looking for in a franchise quarterback — athleticism, accuracy, and intelligence. Mariota could make plays through the air or on the ground, but his confidence was zapped following a series of lower body injuries. We saw what he was capable of in a starting role with the Falcons last year. Atlanta posted one of the league’s worst pass offenses — likely a result of HC Arthur Smith lacking faith in Mariota to push the ball downfield. Mariota has now entered the veteran backup stage of his career.
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19. Carson Wentz (2nd Overall, 2016 — Eagles)
Stats: 22,129 yards, 151 TD, 66 INT, 89.3 rate, 46-45-1 record (0-1 playoffs)
Carson Wentz’s days as a starter are seemingly over. The No. 2 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Wentz was with the Philadelphia Eagles for five seasons before the team opted to hand the franchise over to Jalen Hurts. Wentz then joined the Colts, where he enjoyed a relatively strong season until unraveling down the stretch. Joining his third team in three years, Wentz reached a deal with the Commanders — and the pairing did not end well. Following his release this offseason, Wentz will likely have to show teams that he’s willing to accept and embrace a backup role if he wants another shot at playing QB.
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18. Jameis Winston (1st Overall, 2015 — Buccaneers)
Stats: 21,840 yards, 139 TD, 96 INT, 87.5 rate, 34-46 record
We haven’t seen much Winston over the last few years. The former No. 1 overall pick has started just 10 games since joining the Saints three seasons ago. Major injuries have cost Winston each of the last two seasons. It also seems to have cost him his starting job, as the Saints went out and inked former Raiders QB Derek Carr to a massive deal this offseason. Following the news, Winston restructured his contract to stay with the Saints — accepting a backup role as a result.
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17. Mac Jones (15th Overall, 2021 — Patriots)
Stats: 6,798 yards, 36 TD, 24 INT, 89.0 rate, 16-15 record (0-1 playoffs)
Mac Jones is a player who could be ranked higher on this list. The former Crimson Tide QB was the fifth quarterback taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. Surprisingly, Jones enjoyed NFL success earlier than his peers, putting together a strong rookie campaign which ended in a playoff berth for the Patriots. Instead of building upon his first year, Jones massively regressed in Year 2 and even lost his starting spot to fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe at one point. Jones finished towards the bottom in nearly every major passing category, and will have to bounce back quickly if he wants to make it work in New England.
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16. Baker Mayfield (1st Overall, 2018 — Browns)
Stats: 16,288 yards, 102 TD, 64 INT, 86.5 rate, 31-38 record (1-1 playoffs)
Things turned south in a hurry for Baker Mayfield in Cleveland. After a strong rookie campaign, Mayfield failed to develop into the player the Browns envisioned when they selected him first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft — ahead of future superstars like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. While Mayfield is equipped with a strong arm, he’s been highly prone to turnovers over his career. The 27-year-old signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason — Mayfield’s fourth team in three years. Likely the replacement for Tom Brady, Mayfield will have a chance to live up to his lofty draft status.
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15. Jordan Love (26th Overall, 2020 — Packers)
Stats: 606 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT, 79.7 rate, 0-1 record
Projected Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love serves as a sort of bridge between these rankings. The players who have already been listed are all limited in some way. They’re either low-end starters, backups, or completely out of the league. The remaining pool consists of superstars and solid starters who would assuredly get another crack at a starting role if their current team got rid of them for any reason. Love is the unknown commodity. The only thing we do know about Love is that he couldn’t beat out Aaron Rodgers for a starting spot in Green Bay. Of course, that doesn’t tell us much, but Love should be Green Bay’s starter with Rodgers likely bolting elsewhere this offseason. Love has shown glimpses of talent, but we’d like to see it over a full season.
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14. Trey Lance (3rd Overall, 2021 — 49ers)
Stats: 797 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT, 84.5 rate, 2-2 record
Lance is in the same category as Jordan Love, but comes with a bit more pedigree as a former No. 3 overall pick. The 49ers invested a heap of draft capital when they traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft for the chance to take the North Dakota St product. After sitting for an NFC Championship representative in Year 1, Lance was set to take the reins in San Francisco entering the 2022 season. Lance lasted just one full game (which took place under horrid weather conditions) before his season was cut short due to a broken ankle. There isn’t enough to assess Lance just yet. Though his return will certainly be analyzed to great lengths after seventh-round pick Brock Purdy flourished in Lance’s absence.
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13. Kenny Pickett (20th Overall, 2022 — Steelers)
Stats: 2,404 yards, 7 TD, 9 INT, 76.7 rate, 7-5 record
The Steelers believe they have their QB for the future in former Pitt Panther Kenny Pickett. Pickett wasn’t always a shoe-in to be the first quarterback selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Through just one season, Pickett has shown why he was selected ahead of his peers. The rookie showed exquisite poise down the stretch, engineering multiple game-winning drives for a Steelers team that nearly snuck into the postseason after a 2-6 start. While his overall numbers aren’t great, Pickett improved immensely over the course of the season. Over his last six games, Pickett notched six TDs to just one INT.
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12. Justin Fields (11th Overall, 2021 — Bears)
Stats: 4,112 yards (1,563 rush yards), 24 TD (10 rush TD), 21 INT, 79.7 rate, 5-20 record
While some of the players listed lower may have Fields trumped in traditional passing stats, Chicago’s young quarterback is an absolute gamechanger who still has plenty of room to grow. In his second year with the Bears, Fields proved capable of carrying an offense (almost) single-handedly. Chicago finished first in rushing yards thanks to Fields’ playmaking ability. In one of the greatest rushing seasons ever for a QB, Fields (1,143 yards, eight TD) virtually matched Lamar Jackson’s MVP campaign (1,206 yards, seven TD) in terms of ground production. Now, Fields has plenty to prove as a passer, but he was plenty good at that during his time at Ohio State. It’s only a matter of time until he shows that skillset in the NFL.
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11. Tua Tagovailoa (5th Overall, 2020 — Dolphins)
Stats: 8,015 yards, 52 TD, 23 INT, 95.0 rate, 21-13 record
Tagovailoa has faced a tumultuous start to his career. Though he has shown promise, injuries and an unstable organization have threatened his development. In Year 1, Tagovailoa was benched several times in favor of veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. Tagovailoa’s sophomore season was mired by several ailments including a fracture to a finger on his throwing hand. Last season got off to a great start — Miami won its first eight games that Tua started and finished — but was once again derailed by a series of gruesome head injuries. Health is now a major concern dating back to Tua’s days at Alabama. And, he will likely always be compared to the two other top QB’s from his class — Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, who both seem to be a few steps ahead in their careers currently.
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10. Daniel Jones (6th Overall, 2019 — Giants)
Stats: 11,603 yards, 60 TD, 34 INT, 86.5 rate, 21-31-1 record (1-1 playoffs)
What a turnaround it has been for Daniel Jones. Entering the year, the Giants declined the QB’s fifth-year option — indicating a potential breakup this offseason. Instead, Jones was rewarded a lucrative four-year extension worth $160 million following a breakout campaign. New head coach Brian Daboll unleashed Jones and crafted a gameplan which accentuated his quarterback’s skillset. Jones finished the year with career highs across the board, and led the Giants to their first playoff appearance since 2016. In the Wild Card round, Jones was excellent accounting for 379 total yards and a pair of touchdowns.
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9. Jared Goff (1st Overall, 2016 — Rams)
Stats: 25,854 yards, 155 TD, 70 INT, 92.8 rate, 54-45-1 (2-3 playoffs)
Jared Goff was set to be written off following his trade from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions. It certainly seemed as such in Goff’s first year with Detroit. While the Lions limped to a 3-13-1 record, Goff’s former team went on to win the Super Bowl with Matthew Stafford at the helm. However, the narrative changed a bit this year following a Pro Bowl campaign from Goff. While the Rams were likely expecting more out of their No. 1 overall pick, Goff has stuck around now for seven seasons, has made three Pro Bowls, and was good enough to lead a team to the Super Bowl.
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8. Kyler Murray (1st Overall, 2019 — Cardinals)
Stats: 13,848 yards, 84 TD, 41 INT, 92.5 rate, 25-31-1 record (0-1 playoffs)
Kyler Murray took a step back in Year 4 after leading the Cardinals to the postseason in 2021. The fourth-year QB’s numbers were down across the board as Arizona limped to a 4-13 record (3-8 with Murray). And, his season ended with an injury which will likely sideline him for a portion of 2023. That being said, Murray is a dynamic athlete with tremendous gifts. It’s just a matter of staying off the injured list and on the field.
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7. Deshaun Watson (12th Overall, 2017 — Texans)
Stats: 15,641 yards, 111 TD, 41 INT, 102.3 rate, 31-28 record (1-2 playoffs)
Much like Murray, Watson’s spot on this list is mostly based on previous accomplishments rather than recent play. Watson was downright awful in 2022. Playing his first season as a Cleveland Brown, Watson completed passes at just a 58.2-percent clip and posted a 79.1 QB rating. Those in the Cleveland front office are hoping Watson was just shaking off some rust after not playing for nearly two years. At his best, Watson was a hyper-accurate thrower who consistently made plays out of structure.
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6. Trevor Lawrence (1st Overall, 2021 — Jaguars)
Stats: 7,754 yards, 37 TD, 25 INT, 83.4 rate, 12-22 record (1-1 playoffs)
Year 2 went a whole lot better for Trevor Lawrence The former Clemson QB didn’t stand much of a chance as a rookie. Entering a dire situation in Jacksonville under former coach Urban Meyer, Lawrence endured a disastrous introduction to the league. The tide began to turn when the Jags hired Doug Pederson to lead the team this past offseason. The underdog Jaguars took the AFC South title for the first time sine 2017, and Lawrence even led the team to an epic 27-point comeback victory in the Wild Card round. He has all the tools to become a superstar, and will only continue to get better.
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5. Lamar Jackson (32nd Overall, 2018 — Ravens)
Stats: 12,209 yards (4,437 rushing), 101 TD (24 rush TD), 38 INT, 96.7 rate, 45-16 record (1-3 playoffs)
Jackson remains in flux due to his murky contact situation with the Ravens. When looking at the numbers, Jackson undoubtedly deserves to be paid as a superstar QB. The Ravens have won 66-percent of their games with Jackson at the helm — reaching the postseason in each of his first three seasons. While injuries have slowed him down a bit the last couple of years, Jackson is just entering his prime (26 years old) and is already a league MVP.
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4. Justin Herbert (6th Overall, 2020 — Chargers)
Stats: 14,089 yards, 94 TD, 35 INT, 96.2 rate, 25-24 record (0-1 playoffs)
Justin Herbert was not supposed to be the Chargers’ starting quarterback so early as a rookie. Veteran Tyrod Taylor started the 2020 season as the No. 1 option, but a rib injury and subsequent trainer-inflicted injury sent Taylor to the bench. In his place, Herbert starred. The No. 6 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Herbert has special arm strength and poise beyond his years. While the Chargers’ record hasn’t been great with Herbert under center, there’s no doubt he will lead them to countless wins over the next decade.
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3. Josh Allen (7th Overall, 2018 — Bills)
Stats: 18,397 yards (3,087 rush yards), 138 TD (38 rush TD), 60 INT, 92.2 rate, 52-24 record (4-4 playoffs)
Some may have written off Josh Allen after a shaky rookie campaign. Allen came into the league with serious concerns over accuracy and decision-making. However, Allen gradually ironed out his weaknesses and began developing rapidly. Year 3 marked his breakout — a second-place MVP finish after accounting for 45 total touchdowns. Allen’s game is pure power. He’s capable of dismantling defenses with his rocket arm or scrambling ability. Since 2020, no player has scored more total touchdowns (129) than Buffalo’s superstar quarterback.
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2. Joe Burrow (1st Overall, 2020 — Bengals)
Stats: 11,774 yards, 82 TD, 31 INT, 100.4 rate, 24-17-1 record (5-2 playoffs)
Following a record-breaking campaign at LSU, some questioned if Joe Burrow’s elite play would translate to the NFL level. The cool-handed gunslinger has wasted no time silencing those concerns. Before sustaining a season-ending injury, Burrow was off to a great rookie season despite playing behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines. In 2021, Burrow started in 16 games and led the league in both completion percentage (70.4) and yards-per-attempt (8.9). In the playoffs, Burrow led the Bengals to the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 1988. Burrow followed that up by finishing fourth in MVP voting in 2022, proving the previous year’s Super Bowl run was not a fluke.
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1. Patrick Mahomes (10th Overall, 2017 — Chiefs)
Stats: 24,241 yards, 192 TD, 49 INT, 105.7 rate, 64-16 record (11-3 playoffs, 2 SB)
There aren’t too many lists concerning NFL quarterbacks that doesn’t have Patrick Mahomes atop the board. It was a bit of a surprising move when the Chiefs moved up in the 2017 draft to select Mahomes with a capable starter in Alex Smith already on the roster. Mahomes didn’t get his first chance until Week 17 of his rookie year, but Year 2 put the league on notice. Mahomes went on to win league MVP in his first full season, and is now a two-time regular season MVP in addition to being a two-time Super Bowl MVP. Gifted with one of the strongest arms in the league, there is no throw that Mahomes is incapable of making.
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