The Detroit Lions have named No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford as their starting quarterback. Good luck, Matt!
In my lifetime, Stafford is the 15th QB taken with the top overall pick. Nearly every one of them struggled mightily in their first real season. Below are the last 14 picks and their stats in the first season they played more than half the season's games.
2007-Jamarcus Russell (16 games in 2008): 13 TD, 8 INT, 77.1 QB RAT
In my lifetime, Stafford is the 15th QB taken with the top overall pick. Nearly every one of them struggled mightily in their first real season. Below are the last 14 picks and their stats in the first season they played more than half the season's games.
2007-Jamarcus Russell (16 games in 2008): 13 TD, 8 INT, 77.1 QB RAT
2005-Alex Smith (9 games in 2005): 1 TD, 11 INT, 40.8 QB RAT
2004-Eli Manning (9 games in 2004): 6 TD, 9 INT, 55.4 QB RAT
2003-Carson Palmer (13 games in 2004): 18 TD, 18 INT, 77.3 QB RAT
2002-David Carr (16 games in 2002): 9 TD, 15 INT, 62.8 QB RAT
2001-Michael Vick (15 games in 2002): 16 TD, 8 INT, 81.6 QB RAT
1999-Tim Couch (15 games in 1999): 15 TD, 13 INT, 73.2 QB RAT
1998-Peyton Manning (16 games in 1998): 26 TD, 28 INT, 71.2 QB RAT
1993-Drew Bledsoe (13 games in 1993): 15 TD, 15 INT, 65 QB RAT
1990-Jeff George (13 games in 1990): 16 TD, 13 INT, 73.8 QB RAT
1989-Troy Aikman (11 games in 1989): 9 TD, 18 INT, 55.7 QB RAT
1987-Vinny Testaverde (15 games in 1988): 13 TD, 35 INT, 48.8 QB RAT
1983-John Elway (11 games in 1983): 7 TD, 14 INT, 54.9 QB RAT
1975-Steve Bartkowski (11 games in 1975): 13 TD, 15 INT, 59.3 QB RAT
Only one player (Vick) had a QB rating above 80. Only four (Russell, Vick, Couch, George) threw more touchdowns than interceptions ... and those four aren't known as all-time great quarterbacks. Also, several of the more successful first year starters (Russell, Palmer, Vick) got the full time gig in their second NFL season.
In fact, the "great QBs" on this list had their troubles. Elway and Aikman are the lone Hall of Famers on this list. They combined for just 16 TDs and 32 INTs.
Sure, most of the guys on this list started for a team that was coming off a horrific season. But none of them took the reigns of a team that was 0-16.
Good luck, Stafford.
Only one player (Vick) had a QB rating above 80. Only four (Russell, Vick, Couch, George) threw more touchdowns than interceptions ... and those four aren't known as all-time great quarterbacks. Also, several of the more successful first year starters (Russell, Palmer, Vick) got the full time gig in their second NFL season.
In fact, the "great QBs" on this list had their troubles. Elway and Aikman are the lone Hall of Famers on this list. They combined for just 16 TDs and 32 INTs.
Sure, most of the guys on this list started for a team that was coming off a horrific season. But none of them took the reigns of a team that was 0-16.
Good luck, Stafford.
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