The First Round QB

[ILChief]

OK, everyone knows it is beyond ridiculous that the Chiefs haven't drafted a QB in round 1 since Todd Blackledge in 1983. As much as I love Derrick Johnson, I can't look at him without thinking of Aaron Rodgers. That got me thinking, how many first round QB's have the other teams taken in that time span? Has every other team taken multiple first round QBs since 1983? Well, here is the breakdown:

Patriots: Drew Bledsoe (93)
Bills: JP Losman (04), EJ Manuel (13)
Jets: Chad Pennington (00), Mark Sanchez (09)
Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill (12)

Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger (04)
Bengals: David Klingler (92), Akili Smith (99), Carson Palmer (03)
Old Browns/Ravens: Kyle Boller (03), Joe Flacco (08)
New Browns: Tim Couch (99), Brady Quinn (07), Branden Weeden (12), Johnny Manziel (14)

Texans: David Carr (02)
Oilers/Titans: Jim Everett (86), Steve McNair (94), Vince Young (06), Jake Locker (11), Marcus Mariota (15)
Jaguars: Byron Leftwich (03), Blaine Gabbert (11), Blake Bortles (14)
Colts: Jeff George (90), Peyton Manning (98), Andrew Luck (12)

Broncos: Tommy Maddox (92), Jay Cutler (06), Tim Tebow (10), Paxton Lynch (16)
Raiders: Todd Marinovich (91), Jamarcus Russell (07)
Chargers: Ryan Leaf (98), Philip Rivers (04)

Cowboys: Troy Aikman (89)
Eagles: Donovan McNabb (99), Carson Wentz (16)
Giants: Eli Manning (04)
Redskins: Heath Shuler (94), Patrick Ramsey (02), Jason Campbell (05), Robert Griffin III (12)

Packers: Aaron Rodgers (05)
Bears: Jim Harbaugh (87), Cade McNown (99), Rex Grossman (03)
Vikings: Daunte Culpepper (99), Christian Ponder (11), Teddy Bridgewater (14)
Lions: Chuck Long (86), Andre Ware (90), Joey Harrington (02), Matt Stafford (09)

Panthers: Kerry Collins (94), Cam Newton (11)
Bucs: Vinny Testaverde (87), Trent Dilfer (94), Josh Freeman (09), Jameis Winston (15)
Saints: None
Falcons: Chris Miller (87), Michael Vick (01), Matt Ryan (08)

49ers: Jim Druckenmiller (97), Alex Smith (05)
Seahawks: Dan McGwire (91), Rick Mirer (93)
Rams: Sam Bradford (10), Jared Goff (16)
Cardinals: Kelly Stouffer (87), Matt Leinart (06)

Notes:
The Saints are the only other team to not draft a first round QB in that time (although they have had a franchise QB for a decade plus so they haven't really needed one)

The teams that have only drafted one QB in that time frame have all had a franchise QB for an extended period (except the Texans and they are a new team)

Embarassing

[SithCeNtZ]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Though I agree on the coaches thing, I've heard some suggestions that a lot of the issue these days is that recent CBAs have severely limited how much time teams can demand of players in practice, so it's much harder to coach guys up.

I could also buy that the game has simply matured to the point that most reasonable ideas have all been tried, so it's hard to be innovative and catch the league off guard anymore.

I agree with your second point and would contend that he answered the issue of why there aren't more HoF coaches now by his first point, which is that QBs are everything. Free agency and other factors limit how long you could ever hold a unit together outside of the qb position that is so good that you could run off multiple Super Bowls. Without a good QB there will certainly be down years, and you will almost certainly be fired.

[DaWolf]

I think we're the only team in NFL history to draft two Stanford QB's (Steve Stenstrom, Round 4, Kevin Hogan, Round 5) and never see them on the sideline for the franchise...

[scho63]

Raiders: Todd Marinovich (91), Jamarcus Russell (07)

Damn those are two monumental busts!

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by stumppy

I wonder what this list would look like if it included QBs taken in the first 2 rounds.

Then again, maybe it's best we don't look and see. Grown men logged on to a website about football should not be weeping.

i put the qb's the chiefs could have drafted in my sig. from the chiefs first pick of each draft that were available afterwards. even left out the likes of randall cunningham, jim harbaugh, andy dalton, etc... all these qb's played in a super bowl since blackledge.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Nickhead

i put the qb's the chiefs could have drafted in my sig. from the chiefs first pick of each draft that were available afterwards. even left out the likes of randall cunningham, jim harbaugh, andy dalton, etc... all these qb's played in a super bowl since blackledge.

Looking at your list I have to point out that while we didn't draft him Gannon was actually on our team and probably would have won the playoff game if Marty hadnt started Grbac. He should be on the list of other teams cast offs instead of at least in addition.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

The unfortunate reality is that you need to get lucky to get a great QB

The Chiefs don't need a GREAT QB.

They just need a good one. Hell, even an AVERAGE one would probably send this fan base into a tizzy.

Our passing yards per game rank the last 10 years:

19th
30th
29th
24th
32nd
25th
30th
25th
20th
20th


YPC

25th
19th
27th
31st
29th
27th
17th (Thanks Bowe)
26th
23rd
27th

Passing TDs

24th
27th
28th
17th
32nd
30th
10th (thanks Bowe)
22nd
10th (thanks Tony)
24th


That's pathetically inept over the long haul.

When you can't even hit LEAGUE AVERAGE passing marks in the last 10 years (save two seasons for passing TDs), you don't need a GREAT quarterback.

You just need an AVERAGE ONE.

[tarheel23]

Just think if we would have had the 49ers 05 pick. Oh wait.

[big nasty kcnut]

Stop blaming Alex he had guys dropped 3 TD passes. That not his fault. You're hoping for luck and we might end up with leaf. Stop blaming him. If we did draft a 1st rounder and he failed would you admit your mistake.

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by splatbass

Looking at your list I have to point out that while we didn't draft him Gannon was actually on our team and probably would have won the playoff game if Marty hadnt started Grbac. He should be on the list of other teams cast offs instead of at least in addition.

yeah, im aware, but he was still available in the draft.

[Nickhead]

Originally Posted by big nasty kcnut

Stop blaming Alex he had guys dropped 3 TD passes. That not his fault. You're hoping for luck and we might end up with leaf. Stop blaming him. If we did draft a 1st rounder and he failed would you admit your mistake.

i have no problem drafting a qb in the sixth round, its just time the kc scouts see things others have. i know there is a lot of luck involved too, not saying that. just as i listed the qb's the chiefs could have drafted there are hundreds more they didn't and shouldn't have

[TribalElder]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

Just silly.

It's not even risky to draft a QB in the 1st round anymore. Why do idiots keep saying this crap? It used to be risky when teams had to pay 50 million dollars to a 1st round QB.

Now drafting a QB in the 1st round isn't much different than any other position.

We will draft a QB in the 1st round as soon as Andy Reid considers the QB position to be a high enough need for the team to warrant a 1st round pick.

Right now I see no indication that Reid isn't happy with Alex Smith.

That's has nothing to do with risk.

Originally Posted by stumppy

The Saints way ? Hell, that's the Chiefs way. The Saints just got lucky when the opportunity to sign D.B. came along.

What's the risk ? Ending up with a QB that doesn't take you through the playoffs to the Super Bowl ?
Passing up on other 1st round talent that could help the team ? Help the team what ? Be almost good enough to make it through the playoffs to the Super Bowl ?

I was joking around

With rookie deal caps drafting the most important and expensive positions like QB is more beneficial than ever.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Spider2YBanana

The Chiefs don't need a GREAT QB.

They just need a good one. Hell, even an AVERAGE one would probably send this fan base into a tizzy.

Alex Smith is an above average QB. He is a good QB. He is not a great QB, but as you said all we need is a good one. The truth is that if Kelse catches that long pass we win. If Houston isn't covering Brown on the long completion we win. If Reid calls more runs we probably win. If Fisher doesn't hold we might have won. And true, if Smith sees Hill running free we win. But Smith played well enough to win. There are a lot of reasons besides Alex Smith that we lost.

Blaming the QB when so many on the team failed is simplistic.

[Nickhead]

alex is risk averse and doesn't keep his eyes on the field while scrambling. he scrambles to avoid the sack, not extend the play.

[Hammock Parties]

If the Chiefs had just drafted the next QB taken with their first 1st round pick every year for the last 15 years they would have had:

Drew Brees (traded pick for Green instad)
Matt Schaub (Junior Siavii)
Aaron Rodgers (Derrick Johnson)
Joe Flacco (Glenn Dorsey)
Andy Dalton (Jon Baldwin)
Teddy Bridgewater (Dee Ford)

If you don't have a QB...just take one..just do it...do it...you won't regret it.

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Nickhead

alex is risk averse and doesn't keep his eyes on the field while scrambling. he scrambles to avoid the sack, not extend the play.

There is truth in this. I do think he looks down field when he runs, but I think his first focus is on not getting hit so he misses a lot of open receivers.