According to the NFL, 121 quarterbacks were drafted from 1998 to 2007, including 28 first-round picks. Of those 28, 25 have passed for five or more touchdowns in their careers; nine have tossed more interceptions than touchdowns — this includes the Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell and the Titans’ Vince Young — and one has not passed for a single touchdown — Brady Quinn (2007), who remains the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback of the future. Here is a look at busts and sleepers drafted at the quarterback position the past 10 seasons:
The busts
Ryan Leaf
Selected second overall, behind Peyton Manning, by the San Diego Chargers in the 1998 draft. After a brief holdout, Leaf signed a $31 million contract before a rookie season in which he tossed two touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while frequently melting down off the field. In summer 2002, he retired.
Years TD Int. Yards Rating
1998-2001 14 36 3,666 50.0
Tim Couch
Selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 draft. The career numbers — 64 touchdowns and 67 interceptions — suggest a mediocre rather than an awful player, but it becomes a truly painful scenario for Browns fans when the likes of other first-round picks — Donovan McNabb and Daunte Culpepper — are factored in.
Years TD Int. Yards Rating
1999-2007 64 67 11,131 75.1
Akili Smith
Selected third overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1999 draft. After missing much of training camp his rookie year as a contract holdout, Smith told The Associated Press before the 2000 season that “It’s a proven fact that this is my team.” He appeared in 12 games that season and threw for three touchdowns against six interceptions as the Bengals stumbled to a 4-12 record. He would appear in three more games before his NFL career ended.
Years TD Int. Yards Rating
1999-2002 5 13 2,212 52.8
The sleepers
Matt Hasselbeck
Selected 187th overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1998 draft. While the football world salivated over Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf, the Packers quietly picked up Hasselbeck in the sixth round. Blocked from advancing by Brett Favre in Green Bay, Hasselbeck’s career blossomed after a 2001 trade to Seattle, where he has been selected to three Pro Bowls. In the 2006 season, he led the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl appearance.
Years TD Int. Yards Rating
1999- 142 84 22,333 86.2
Tom Brady
Selected 199th overall by the New England Patriots in the 2000 draft. It’s difficult to remember that before all the Super Bowls, Pro Bowl selections, starlets, supermodels and credit card commercials, Brady was a sixth-round pick — chosen after the likes of Giovanni Carmazzi, Tee Martin and Spergon Wynn — just happy for the opportunity to back up Drew Bledsoe.
Years TD Int. Yards Rating
2000- 197 86 26,370 92.9
Source:
Compiled by Barry Osborne of The Denver Post research library
