WHERE ARE THEY NOW? First-round QBs from recent NFL Drafts and how this year's crop compares
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The first day of the NFL Draft should be a mad scramble for quarterbacks as there are expected to be five or six taken in the first round.
The NFL Draft is often a crapshoot, especially for quarterbacks as teams often reach in the hopes of drafting a franchise player.
Below, we take a look back at the last 22 QBs who have gone in the first round of the NFL Draft, what the draft experts thought at the time, how their careers have turned out, and the six who could join them this year. The QBs are ranked by their pre-draft, Scouts, Inc. draft rating.
28. EJ Manuel — Buffalo Bills, 2013
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Scouts, Inc. draft rating: 76
Pick overall: 16
What the draft experts were saying: "As gifted as any quarterback in the class, with a strong arm and good mobility. Scouts appreciate his leadership qualities and toughness, and hope he can improve on his consistency." NFL.com
Where they are now: After Manuel started ten games as a rookie with the Bills, he fell out of favor and started just seven more games over the next three seasons. He is now a backup with the Oakland Raiders.
T26. Mason Rudolph — 2018
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Scouts, Inc. draft rating: 78
Pick overall: ?
What the draft experts were saying: "Tt's never too early to grab a franchise quarterback, right? Rudolph is a blue-collar QB with the leadership skills, intangibles and solid overall game to flourish as a QB1 in a conservative offense." - Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
Where they are now: In a recent survey of 13 NFL Draft experts, three have Rudolph going in the first round. One expert has Rudolph going as high as the 12th pick.
T26. Tim Tebow — Denver Broncos, 2010
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Scouts, Inc. draft rating: 78
Pick overall: 25
What the draft experts were saying: "It will take Tebow 3-4 years to learn an NFL offense to where he could actually start a game. Tebow's best fit at the next level will be at fullback or H-Back because his best skills are his running abilities; there's too much development involved to draft Tebow as a franchise quarterback." - Walter Football
Where they are now: Tebow spent just two seasons with the Broncos, winning one playoff game. He was traded to the Jets where he spent one season mostly on special teams. He later failed to make the rosters with the Patriots and Eagles and is now pursuing a career as a professional baseball player.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- 2018 NFL MOCK DRAFT: What the experts are predicting for the first-round
- The biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 15 years
- The Cleveland Browns are considering a bold strategy — taking 2 quarterbacks in the NFL Draft