There could be as many as six quarterbacks drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft – with the first three picks expected to come from this position.
The current record for most quarterbacks taken in the first round overall is six, set in 1983. Both the 1949 and 2018 drafts saw four quarterbacks taken in the first 10 picks of the opening round.
But in 1971, 1999, and 2021, the first three overall picks in the draft were quarterbacks.
If this year’s draft plays out as expected, it would be the fourth time the position went 1-2-3 to begin a draft.
But it is highly doubtful the Cowboys will be in the mix for this year’s top quarterback prospects.
The Rolls Royce Class
The 1983 class of quarterbacks might be unrivaled in the history of pro football.
John Elway (#1, Colts – traded to Denver), Todd Blackledge (#7- Chiefs), and Jim Kelly (#14 – Bills) came off the board in the first half of the opening round.
Tony Eason (#15 – Patriots), Ken O’Brien (#24 – Jets), and Dan Marino (#27 – Dolphins) quickly followed.
Three Hall of Fame quarterbacks were drafted that day – Elway, Kelly, and Marino. That’s a tall order to beat.
1949 Wasn’t So Fine
In 1949, the draft was only 11 teams deep. Detroit took John Rauch with the second pick while Green Bay took Stan Heath fifth.
Rauch played in 27 games with eight touchdowns and nine interceptions while Heath lasted just 12 games with one touchdown against 14 interceptions in his career.
The Rams selected Bobby Thomason with the seventh pick. He played six of his eight years in Philadelphia and had 68 touchdowns against 90 picks.
The Eagles, ironically, took Frank Tripucka two picks later at ninth.
Tripucka played for four different teams – including the NFL’s Dallas Texans in 1952 (not the same franchise as the AFL’s Dallas Texans a decade later).
Tripucka threw for over 10,000 yards in eight seasons – playing from 1949-53 and again from 1960-63 for the AFL’s Denver Broncos. He had 69 touchdowns and 124 interceptions.
2018 Class Tarnished?
The jury is still out, but it isn’t looking so good for the 2018 quarterback class.
Baker Mayfield was the No. 1 pick of the Browns out of Oklahoma. He is enjoying a resurgence of sorts in Tampa Bay.
Sam Darnold was the third pick, going to the Jets from USC.
Like Mayfield, he has bounced around the league.
The 10th pick of that draft was UCLA’s Josh Rosen, who went to Arizona. Rosen played three years in the NFL for three different teams.
He hasn’t taken an NFL snap since 2021.
The lone “success” is Buffalo’s Josh Allen. The 7th pick of the 2018 draft out of Wyoming has at least made it to a conference title game.
As an aside, the player taken 32nd that year? Lamar Jackson, by the Baltimore Ravens.
I’m betting the Cardinals – along with a few other teams — wish they could have a do-over there.
Top Three Tango
In 1971, Jim Plunkett was the top pick, going to New England. He would go on to win two Super Bowls with the Raiders.
The Saints took Archie Manning second – his career wasted with a terrible franchise – and Dan Pastorini was taken third by the Oilers.
Pastorini was Plunkett’s backup in 1980 so both men got a Super Bowl ring that year.
The 1999 class didn’t fare so well.
The Browns took Tim Couch with the first pick that year. They may as well have taken my living room couch for all the good it did them.
The third pick was Akili Smith by the Bengals. Somehow, even Couch had a better overall career.
The lone bright spot was the second pick by Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb.
McNabb played 13 seasons in the NFL, 11 with the Eagles. He played one each with the Redskins and Vikings.
He led Philadelphia to three NFC title games and one Super Bowl – but lost to the Patriots 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX.
It’s looking downright grim for the 2021 class already.
Trevor Lawrence was taken first by the Jaguars and has had three solid years. But he is only 1-1 in the playoffs with a divisional round loss after a wildcard win in 2022.
Zach Wilson was taken second by the Jets.
Odds are – after three seasons – he’ll be playing elsewhere in 2024.
Then comes Trey Lance, taken third by the 49ers after a massive trade. Lance got hurt and the 49ers cut their losses.
He was traded to Dallas and now sits third on the Cowboys’ depth chart.
Who Will Be First In 2024?
Odds are USC’s Caleb Williams goes to the Bears on April 25th with the first pick. Only time will tell if he’s the next Rauch or Elway.
But his performance down the stretch last year after USC was knocked out of playoff contention likely cost him the Heisman Trophy.
The Commanders have the second pick and are projected to nab North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Personally I’d take Jayden Daniels, the Heisman winner, but since its Washington may the Maye pick be dismaying for years to come.
Okay, enough with the bad word play.
Daniels, or Maye – depending on the Commanders’ eventual choice – would go to the Patriots with the third pick. After Mac Jones, he can only be an improvement.
The Vikings might be looking at J.J. McCarthy at the sixth pick with the Broncos possibly taking Oregon’s Bo Nix at No. 12.
Michael Penix Jr. might draw a pick in the first round – although which team would take him is up for debate.
Are The Cowboys Shopping For A QB?
Unless they trade Prescott – a possibility brought up here yesterday – I seriously doubt they draft a quarterback in 2024.
Especially early in the draft. They have way too many gaping holes elsewhere in the roster.
But, assuming a trade isn’t made and they are going to extend Prescott eventually, is there a quarterback they should look at later on Saturday?
Maybe. If Joe Milton III out of Tennessee somehow slides down the board into the fifth round, I’d take him there.
He has potential.
Not to mention, in 2016 the Cowboys took Prescott late in the fourth round. He was expected to learn under Romo for a year or two.
Then Romo got hurt and the rest is history.
If Lance is actually trade bait, as is rumored, Milton might be a nice pickup as insurance down the road.
But honestly, I’ll be shocked if Dallas takes a QB in this year’s draft.