Top Quarterback Draft Classes

[The Gipper]

There is hype about this upcoming class of Quarterbacks coming out.  I heard one source say there could be as many as 6 QBs taken in round one.  Well...we shall see about that.  So, what I am doing here is to document which draft classes have been the best in the past.  Going back to 1966, here are the QBs taken each year that I think have had a reasonably productive careers. (I did reference the PFR CA....some..but not all)  Hall of Fame in Bold  See which class may in fact be the best:

1966 None

1967 Bob Griese

1968 Ken Stabler, Greg Landry

1969 None

1970 Terry Bradshaw

1971 Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning, Dan Pastorini, Lynn Dickey, Ken Anderson, Joe Theisman

1972 Brian Sipe

1973 Bert Jones, Ron Jaworski, Joe Ferguson, Dan Fouts

1974 Danny White

1975 Steve Grogan, Steve Bartkowski

1976 Richard Todd

1977 Tommy Kramer, Steve DeBerg

1978 Doug Williams, Bill Kenney

1979 Joe Montana, Phil Simms

1980 None

1981 Neil Lomax, Wade Wilson

1982 Jim McMahon

1983 John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Ken O'Brien

1984 Boomer Esiason, Jeff Hostetler, Jay Schroeder

1985 Randal Cunningham

1986 Jim Everett, Mark Rypien

1987 Vinny Testaverde, Chris Miller, Jim Harbaugh, Rich Gannon, Steve Beurerlein

1988 Chris Chandler, Stan Humphries

1989 Troy Aikman, Rodney Peete

1990 Jeff George, Neil O'Donnell, Scott Mitchell

1991 Brett Favre

1992 Jeff Blake, Brad Johnson

1993 Drew Bledsoe, Mark Brunell, Elvis Grbac, Trent Green

1994 Trent Dilfer, Gus Frerotte

1995 Steve McNair, Kerry Collins, Kordell Stewart

1996 Tony Banks

1997 Jake Plummer

1998 Peyton Manning, Brian Griese, Matt Hasselback

1999 Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper, Aaron Brooks

2000 Chad Pennington, Marc Bulger, Tom Brady

2001 Michael Vick, Drew Brees

2002 David Garrard

2003 Carson Palmer

2004 Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Phillip Rivers, Matt Schaub

2005 Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Jason Campbell, Ryan Fitzpatrick

2006 Jay Cutler

2007  None

2008 Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco

2009 Matt Stafford

2010 Sam Bradford???

2011 Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick

2012 Andrew Luck, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins

Since 2012 it is a bit to early to tell really

So which...in your opinion, are the best QB years

 

[The Gipper]

1983 has the reputation as the best QB class since the merger.   Rightfully so.  It is the only class since the 1966 common draft to currently have more than one Hall of Famer.

Obviously 2004 has to be considered. It has the potential to match the 3 HOFers of the '83 draft.

1971 with 6, and 1987 with 5 produced the most  QBs that I have termed "reasonably productive"..but neither year has had a HOF QB...though a few in those years could be arguably borderline HOF.

[Nero]

2 minutes ago, The Gipper said:

Obviously 2004 has to be considered. It has the potential to match the 3 HOFers of the '83 draft.

Do you think that Rivers still has a shot at the SB? Because if he's not getting a ring I don't see him inducted like Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger. And funny enough, I would say that Eli is not better than Phillip Rivers.

[gumby73]

correct me if am wrong Gip..But is Jim Pluckett the only 2 time SB winner to not get into the HOF? Eli has 2 also..

[The Gipper]

48 minutes ago, gumby73 said:

correct me if am wrong Gip..But is Jim Pluckett the only 2 time SB winner to not get into the HOF? Eli has 2 also..

That is correct. Or should we say the only eligible 2 time winner.  But he is not the only 2 time Champion to not be in HOF:

Ed Danowski won twice with the Giants  1934/1938

Tommy Thompson won twice with the Eagles  1948/49

Tobin Rote won twice:  1957 Lions,  1963 Chargers  (only Peyton duplicated this..winning with 2 teams,  when he won with Colts/Broncos)

Jack Kemp won twice: 1964/65 Bills

Jim Plunkett won twice: 1980/83 Raiders

And we have Peyton...see above  2006 Colts, 2015 Broncos

Eli:  2007 and 2011 Giants

And Ben Roethlisberger with the 2005 and 2008 Steelers. 

These latter 3 can probably be expected to be put in.   The earlier 4 though..plus Plunkett....likely not as much.

[The Gipper]

Note:  While 1983, so far, has been the only draft year to produce more than one HOF QB since the common draft began, prior to that several years saw more than one HOF QB drafted in the same year:

1944 Otto Graham (by Lions) and Bob Waterfield

1948 Bobby Layne and Y.A. Tittle

1949 Norm Van Brocklin and George Blanda

1957 Len Dawson and Sonny Jurgenson

But none aside from 1983 had more than 2.

[Dutch Oven]

1971, 1973, 1983 and 2004 really stand out.

[Dutch Oven]

5 hours ago, Nero said:

Do you think that Rivers still has a shot at the SB? Because if he's not getting a ring I don't see him inducted like Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger. And funny enough, I would say that Eli is not better than Phillip Rivers.

Is Eli Manning the worst QB to win multiple Super Bowls?

 

[Nero]

5 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

Is Eli Manning the worst QB to win multiple Super Bowls?

 

I haven't seen that much football, but he has to be in the conversation for the most oportunistic.

Anyway, being clutch player in the playoffs is worth recognizing.

[The Gipper]

20 hours ago, Nero said:

Do you think that Rivers still has a shot at the SB? Because if he's not getting a ring I don't see him inducted like Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger. And funny enough, I would say that Eli is not better than Phillip Rivers.

Rivers has a shot.  Especially if he continues for a good long while and gets into the top echelon in various statistics.   But stats alone won't get you into the HOF.   Look at the likes of Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe.  They are both in the top 10 of several "longevity" stats....most completions, most yards.  But neither was considered by any means to be in the top echelon of QBs when they played.  

Rivers is kind of in between.  He had his team in a couple of AFC title games...only to lose. No Super Bowls.  But many still consider him to be one of the best QBs playing.  Its just that the team around him has been pretty poor.

Eli has the longevity stats...plus he has the 2 rings.  I personally think that is a clincher.  He went head to head with Tom Brady twice and prevailed both times.  That is a poker chip in the ante.

[The Gipper]

15 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

Is Eli Manning the worst QB to win multiple Super Bowls?

 

Well....again....Plunkett is not in HOF....the only eligible QB with 2 SB wins to not be.  So perhaps folks think he is "the worst".  But, again that is not unprecedented...no Danowski/Thompson, Kemp, Rote.

[The Gipper]

10 hours ago, Nero said:

I haven't seen that much football, but he has to be in the conversation for the most oportunistic.

Anyway, being clutch player in the playoffs is worth recognizing.

Sure.   I mean, look at it this way:   Ben R. came out of the same draft....why would he be any more of a sure thing than Eli?  Compare the stats of the 3 QBs that came out in 2004 stats:

Games:  Eli  209   BR  193 Rivers 188

W/L:  Eli  109-98  BR 129-62 Rivers 100-84  (note....games played don't match records as they may have appeared in a few games they did not start)

Comp/Att.  Eli 4259/7121   BR 3972/6207  Rivers 3984/6203

Comp %  Eli 59.8%  BR 64%  Rivers  64.2%

Yards Eli 50,034  BR 48,876  Rivers  47,861

TDs  Eli  332  BR 311 Rivers  327

TD%  Eli  4.7%  BR 5.0%  Rivers  5.3%

Ints Eli 221  BR 169 Rivers  162

Int.%  Eli 3.1%  BR 2.7% Rivers 2.5%

Rating: Eli 83.8  BR 93.6 Rivers 94.4

Sacks  Eli  347  BR  466  Rivers 372

Personal character.   Eli.....unquestioned....plus he is always humble    BR...there had been some serious questions....plus...he is a drama queen and plays up everything about himself.  Rivers....has 8 kids...no time to get into trouble or to be dramatic about anything.

In a lot of areas, Rivers actually has the slight statistical edge on the other two.....but he has -0- SB appearances,  Eli has 2, BR has 3.

[The Gipper]

 

Most pass completions

1	Brett Favre+	6,300	1991-2010	4TM
2	Peyton Manning	6,125	1998-2015	2TM
3	Drew Brees	6,033	2001-2017	2TM
4	Tom Brady	5,450	2000-2017	nwe
5	Dan Marino+	4,967	1983-1999	mia
6	Eli Manning	4,259	2004-2017	nyg
7	John Elway+	4,123	1983-1998	den
8	Warren Moon+	3,988	1984-2000	4TM
9	Philip Rivers	3,984	2004-2017	sdg
10	Ben Roethlisberger	3,972	2004-2017	pit

[The Gipper]

Most Yards:

1	Peyton Manning	71,940	1998-2015	2TM
2	Brett Favre+	71,838	1991-2010	4TM
3	Drew Brees	68,325	2001-2017	2TM
4	Tom Brady	64,123	2000-2017	nwe
5	Dan Marino+	61,361	1983-1999	mia
6	John Elway+	51,475	1983-1998	den
7	Eli Manning	50,034	2004-2017	nyg
8	Warren Moon+	49,325	1984-2000	4TM
9	Ben Roethlisberger	48,876	2004-2017	pit
10	Philip Rivers	47,861	2004-2017	sd

[The Gipper]

 

Most TD passes

1	Peyton Manning	539	1998-2015	2TM
2	Brett Favre+	508	1991-2010	4TM
3	Drew Brees	478	2001-2017	2TM
4	Tom Brady	472	2000-2017	nwe
5	Dan Marino+	420	1983-1999	mia
6	Fran Tarkenton+	342	1961-1978	2TM
7	Eli Manning	332	2004-2017	nyg
8	Philip Rivers	327	2004-2017	sdg
9	Ben Roethlisberger	311	2004-2017	pit
10	Aaron Rodgers	310	2005-2017	gnb

[gumby73]

Great topic Gipper..Ben's 35 & the way he plays against his own body is closest to hanging them up imo..Brees is 38 with the earliest expiring contract in 18.Saints are good again, me thinks Brees retires a Saint. Rivers(35).Eli (36) Both with expiring contracts in 19 may want to look at a QB away teams like Jacksonville? Eli wins another SB in say like Miami or Jags? Eli's in HOF period..Rivers may need to get his 1st SB elsewhere also? LA was a Roger plan, not in Rivers plan.. 

[The Gipper]

57 minutes ago, gumby73 said:

Great topic Gipper..Ben's 35 & the way he plays against his own body is closest to hanging them up imo..Brees is 38 with the earliest expiring contract in 18.Saints are good again, me thinks Brees retires a Saint. Rivers(35).Eli (36) Both with expiring contracts in 19 may want to look at a QB away teams like Jacksonville? Eli wins another SB in say like Miami or Jags? Eli's in HOF period..Rivers may need to get his 1st SB elsewhere also? LA was a Roger plan, not in Rivers plan.. 

LA was Jerry Jones and Stan Kroenke's plan, not Roger's (assuming you mean Goodell). They were greedy for money and they thought LA was El Dorado...City made of Gold.

Where, in reality, it is a city made of apathy.

[mjp28]

23 hours ago, The Gipper said:

1983 has the reputation as the best QB class since the merger.   Rightfully so.  It is the only class since the 1966 common draft to currently have more than one Hall of Famer.

Obviously 2004 has to be considered. It has the potential to match the 3 HOFers of the '83 draft.

1971 with 6, and 1987 with 5 produced the most  QBs that I have termed "reasonably productive"..but neither year has had a HOF QB...though a few in those years could be arguably borderline HOF.

Oh yes 1983 stands out, in 2004 Big Ben is in Eli might not be so heralded by everyone......maybe his "dull" personality well compared to Peyton.

It's pretty true what they say about once in a generation franchise quarterbacks.....as a general rule. Hard to land one PLUS they must be on the right team and stay injury free (Luck).