NEW YORK, NY – MAY 08: Johnny Manziel of the Texas A&M Aggies takes the stage after he was picked #22 overall by the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on May 8, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Many first round quarterbacks don't stick with their original NFL teams. That's why it is hilarious to watch the hype and smokescreens float through the media in March and April every single year. Media pundits, fans, general managers and coaches bend over backwards to identify the next great quarterback. By the time the NFL draft arrives, at least one team, and perhaps more will mortgage their future to move up in the draft to get the next sure-fire Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes. More times than not such a move will backfire and NFL types will eventually lose their jobs.
The 2024 draft is no different. The hype machine is in full force as everyone ponders the fate of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr., or Bo Nix. All will be drafted fairly early. All will make millions of dollars. But, if history is any indication, several of them will not be long term solutions to the teams that draft them. That doesn't mean one or more won't be great. Surely there is greatness in this list of quarterbacks. But will a late round, under-the-radar guy be just as effective? Tom Brady and Joe Montana heard their names called late in the draft and became the best the game ever saw. You never know!
Today is Justin Fields birthday. The Bears picked him in the first round and now they are about to get rid of him so they can draft another quarterback in the first round. With that in mind let's play trivia about first round quarterbacks that didn't stick on Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida.
MANY FIRST ROUND QUARTERBACKS DON'T STICK
- The Bears moved up to number 2 to draft this QB in 2017? Mitchell Trubisky
- The Browns took this Heisman winner 22nd overall but he partied himself out of the league after 258 passes? Johnny Manziel
- In 2014 the Cardinals drafted this QB with the 10th pick in 2018. He was so bad even the Browns cut him in 2022. Josh Rosen
- The Titans drafted this QB 8th overall in 2011 but he retired in 2014 saying he no longer had the desire to play? Jake Locker
- The 49ers used the 3rd overall pick for this QB in 2021 and he is now an unused QB in Dallas? Trey Lance
- NFL.com once said this Jets QB would be a “must watch” NFL player in no time. He was the #2 pick in 2021. Zach Wilson
- Washington used the 2nd pick in 2012 on this QB and ran his injured body into the ground? RG III
- This Sugar Bowl MVP was the first pick in 2007 and he was out of the league by 2010? JaMarcus Russell
- This number 2 pick was so bad he signed with 4 teams in 4 years before leaving the league? Ryan Leaf (Chargers, Bucs, Cowboys, Seahawks)
- This Oregon Duck went number 3 to the Bengals in 1999. His son just became a 2025 commit to Oregon? Akili Smith
