WAY OFF TARGET Steve Serby
Missed QB picks checker past drafts
Y OU CAN have the first- or second-overall pick of the NFL draft and can envision him standing next to a gold bust in Canton, yet end up trying to explain why he was a Hall of Fame bust.
So imagine the pressure on Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, who on April 26 may decide he needs his successor to Eli Manning.
Thirty-nine quarterbacks since 1993 have been drafted in the top 10. Of those, 15 were busts, four have been injury-prone, six have gotten to the Super Bowl, four others will have thrown at least 200 touchdown passes, one (Michael Vick) rushed for more than 6,000 yards, and just two (Eli Manning and Peyton Manning) have won the Super Bowl (twice each). The jury is out on the seven others drafted since 2014.
Our 25-year anniversary sample begins with Patriots coach Bill Parcells taking QB Drew Bledsoe with the f irst- overall pick of the 1993 draft. The Seahawks selected QB Rick Mirer second. Mirer was likened by Bill Walsh to Joe Montana.
“I feel Rick Mirer is the outstanding athlete of the draft,” Walsh said. “To me, he has Montana movement.”
And that he “is just the ideal quarterback prospect.”
Mirer’s career stats: .533 completion percentage, 50 touchdowns, 76 interceptions.
Five years later, Colts GM Bill Polian chose Peyton Manning with the first pick over Ryan Leaf (.484, 14-36). Chargers GM Bobby Beathard traded up one spot to pick Leaf second.
“Each one has the ingredients to be a top-level quarterback in this league,” Beathard said before the draft. “They’re both the kinds of guys that you look for. They aren’t clones, they are different. I don’t think that the upside of one is different.”
Quarterbacks went 1-2-3 in 1999. Tim Couch (. 598, 64-67) was the first pick.
“He displayed so much character and poise,’’ Browns president Carmen Policy said. “He’s such a solid human being.’’
Eagles coach Andy Reid opted for Donovan McNabb with the second pick. The Bengals selected Akili Smith (.466, 5-13) third.
“I’m tired of hearing about David Klingler,” Bengals coach Bruce Coslet said. “Why don’t you guys write about John Elway and Dan Marino? The story of this draft is we got Akili Smith and a lot of people had him No. 1 on their boards. I’m very pleased.”
The expansion Texans made David Carr (.597, 64-71) the first pick in 2002.
“This will be an historic moment for the franchise, and we believe we will be selecting a player in David that possesses all the qualities we are looking for in a player and a person,” Texans founder Bob McNair said.
Julius Peppers was second. QB Joey Harrington (.561, 79-85) was third.
“We have to have stability at the quarterback position, we just have to,” Lions president Matt Millen said. “It hasn’t been here since ... fill in the blank.”
Carson Palmer was the first pick in 2003. Byron Leftwich (.579, 59-42) was the seventh.
“We’ve solved our quarterback position for the next 10 years,” Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver crowed.
In 2005, Alex Smith (.624, 18396; 529-2,433-14 TDs rushing) was the first pick. Aaron Rodgers was 24th.
“Who’s more athletic and has more upside?” 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. “Yes, Alex.”
The Titans made Vince Young (. 579, 46-51, 282-1,459-12 TDs rushing) the third pick in 2006.
“This guy is special,” GM Floyd Reese said. “Now we have to get him special in the NFL, and that’s why it’s going to take a little bit of time.”
Matt Leinart (. 571, 15-21) was picked 10th by the Cardinals.
“A gift from heaven,” coach Dennis Green said.
In 2007, JaMarcus Russell (.521, 18-23) was the first pick.
“It became a no-brainer,” Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. “He is a winner. He is dedicated.”
Calvin Johnson was the second pick, Joe Thomas was third, Adrian Peterson seventh, Patrick Willis 11th, Darrelle Revis 14th.
The Jets traded up to draft Mark Sanchez (.567, 86-86) with the fifth pick in 2009.
“We felt really good about Mark, what he did on the field and off the field,” GM Mike Tannenbaum said.
Cam Newton was the first pick in 2011. The Titans made Jake Locker (.575, 27-22, 95-644-5 TDs rushing) the eighth pick.
Said coach Mike Munchak: “He’s one of those guys who’s going to find a way to win for us, and I think that the guys in this building will believe in him.’’
Offensive tackle Tyron Smith went ninth. QB Blaine Gabbert (.559, 44-43) went 10th.
“[Gabbert has] got the height, weight, speed, arm strength and the mental ability, so we feel like he’s got ascending ability for a quarterback,” Jags GMGene Smith said.
J.J. Watt was 11th. Christian Ponder (.598, 38-36) was the 12th pick, with Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman calling Ponder’s selection “a no-brainer.”
Andrew Luck was the first pick in 2012. The Redskins moved up to draft Robert Griffin III (.633, 42-26, 275-1,670-10 TDs rushing) second.
“He wants to be the guy,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “He’s going to do everything he possibly can to be successful. You don’t have to be around him very long to figure that out.”
Ryan Tannehill (.627, 106-66, 216-1,065-6 TDs rushing) was No. 8 — ahead of Luke Kuechly and Fletcher Cox.
Said Dolphins owner Stephen Ross: “I always said once we can identify a franchise quarterback, let’s go get him. And I think that’s what we found.”
The Jaguars made Blake Bortles (. 591, 90-64) the surprise third pick in the 2014 draft — ahead of Khalil Mack, Jake Matthews, Mike Evans, Anthony Barr, Taylor Lewan, Odell Beckham Jr., Aaron Donald and Ryan Shazier.
“It’s such an important position in this league and you want to do it right,” Jaguars GM David Caldwell said. “We can’t just throw him out there. We’ve seen what happens when that happens.”