This 2018 NFL draft could be a historic one in terms of the quarterbacks selected. I have seen as many as 6 QBs mocked to go in the first round (which has only happened once before in NFL history). But for the most part, it looks like most draft experts are expecting at least 4 QBs to be drafted in the first round. With that volume of high level QB talent, you have to think that a few will actually pan out for the team drafting them or that there will likely be at least 1 bust, but has there ever been a draft with this many QBs that they all worked out, or even where they were all busts. I decided to take a look at the years where at least 4 QBs were taken in the first round of the NFL draft., here’s what I found.
| Year | Player | Team Drafted | Bust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Andrew Luck | Colts | |
| RG3 | Redskins | Y | |
| Ryan Tannehill | Dolphins | ||
| Brandon Weeden | Browns | Y | |
| 2011 | Cam Newton | Panthers | |
| Jake Locker | Titans | Y | |
| Blaine Gabbert | Jaguars | Y | |
| Christian Ponder | Vikings | Y | |
| 2004 | Eli Manning | Chargers | |
| Philip Rivers | Giants | ||
| Ben Roethlisberger | Steelers | ||
| JP Losman | Bills | Y | |
| 2003 | Carson Palmer | Bengals | |
| Byron Leftwich | Jaguars | Y | |
| Kyler Boller | Ravens | Y | |
| Rex Grossman | Bears | Y | |
| 1999 | Tim Couch | Browns | |
| Donovan McNabb | Eagles | ||
| Akili Smith | Bengals | Y | |
| Daunte Culpepper | Vikings | ||
| Cade McNown | Bears | Y | |
| 1987 | Vinny Testaverde | Buccaneers | |
| Kelly Stouffer | Cardinals | Y | |
| Chris Miller | Falcons | ||
| Jim Harbaugh | Bears | ||
| 1983 | John Elway | Colts | |
| Todd Blackledge | Chiefs | Y | |
| Jim Kelly | Bills | ||
| Tony Eason | Patriots | Y | |
| Ken O'Brien | Jets | ||
| Dan Marino | Dolphins |
There are 7 season where 4+ QBs were drafted in the first round. The closest ones to having all busts were the 2011 and 2003 classes, each had 4 QBs taken with only 1 turning out not to be a bust. The best of those years were the 2004 and the 1983 classes. The ’04 and ’87 drafts each only had 1 bust, though the rest in the ’87 class is hardly the same caliber of the rest of the ’04. The ’83 class only busted on 2 of 6, with 3 of the hits being hall of famers. One interesting observation is that in all 7 years, a QB was drafted 1st overall (which is to be expected with that many good QBs in the class), but in none of the 7 years was the first overall pick a bust (though some may count former Browns’ QB Tim Couch as a bust). It will surely be interesting to see how this year’s crop of QBs pan out.