Check out the failure rate for frist round QB draftees:
Posted by Mike Florio on April 16, 2011, 10:24 AM EDT
Greg Cosell’s observation that teams with needs at quarterback could reach for quarterbacks in round one of the draft has caused us to wonder whether the raw number of quarterbacks taken in round one could eclipse the all-time record for first-round quarterbacks.
The high-water mark came in 1983, when six quarterbacks became first-round picks: John Elway, Todd Blackledge, Jim Kelly, Tony Eason, Ken O’Brien, and Dan Marino (pictured).
In 28 years since then, only one class had as many as five. In 1999, Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith, Daunte Culpepper, and Cade McNown exited the board in round one. All five were picked in the first 12 selections, with the next quarterback — Shaun King — drafted 38 spots later.
Four quarterbacks were drafted in the first round of three other drafts. In 1987, Vinny Testaverde, Kelly Stouffer, Chris Miller, and Jim Harbaugh were picked in the first round. In 2003, it was Carson Palmer, Byron Leftwich, Kyle Boller, and Rex Grossman. Most recently, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, and J.P. Losman entered the league via round one in 2004.
In 2011, the number of prospects coupled with the teams that have needs at the position could result in up to seven first-round quarterbacks being taken. Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert are regarded as sure-fire top-ten picks. Thereafter, one or more of the next five quarterbacks could be picked in round one: Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, Christian Ponder, Andy Dalton, and Colin Kaepernick.