Factoid
Every year we see teams gamble on quarterbacks at the top of the draft, and when guys like David Carr, Tim Couch and Alex Smith wash out, you have to wonder if it’s worth it? The bust rate is so high at quarterback, that you have to consider whether it would be better to spend those picks on safer choices. The Rams last year, for example, could have gone the safe route and taken Ndamukong Suh.
But it’s a quarterback-driven league – now more than ever. And when you can latch onto a franchise-type quarterback like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers or Ben Roethlisberger, it can set up your team for years and years of success.
And it looks like the Rams got one of those guys in Sam Bradford. The NFL keeps changing its rules, making it hard to truly compare players across years, but he’s played remarkably well as a rookie. The below charts show how he stacks up against the best other quarterbacks taken in the first round since the merger in 1970.
COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
These are the guys who attempted 100 passes as rookies and completed over 55 percent.
Pct.
66.4 2004 Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers,
61.1 2008 Matt Ryan, Falcons,
60.5 2010 Sam Bradford, Rams,
60.0 2008 Joe Flacco, Ravens,
59.1 2006 Jay Cutler, Broncos,
58.4 1983 Dan Marino, Dolphins,
57.2 2003 Byron Leftwich, Jaguars,
57.1 1982 Jim McMahon, Bears,
56.8 2006 Matt Leinart, Cardinals,
56.7 1998 Peyton Manning, Colts,
56.4 1993 Rick Mirer, Seahawks,
55.9 1999 Tim Couch, Browns,
PASSING YARDS
Quarterbacks who passed for more than 2,400 yards in their first year. Bradford’s number is his projected finishing total.
Yards
3739 1998 Peyton Manning, Colts
3587 2010 Sam Bradford, Rams
3440 2008 Matt Ryan, Falcons
2971 2008 Joe Flacco, Ravens
2833 1993 Rick Mirer, Seahawks
2819 2003 Byron Leftwich, Jaguars
2717 1995 Kerry Collins, Panthers
2621 2004 Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
2592 2002 David Carr, Texans
2547 2006 Matt Leinart, Cardinals
2494 1993 Drew Bledsoe, Patriots
2447 1999 Tim Couch, Browns
2444 2009 Mark Sanchez, Jets
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
Quarterbacks who threw 15-plus TDs in their first year. Bradford’s number is his projected finishing total.
TD Passes
26 1998 Peyton Manning, Colts
24.7 2010 Sam Bradford, Rams
20 1983 Dan Marino, Dolphins
19 1971 Jim Plunkett, Patriots
17 2004 Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
16 2008 Matt Ryan, Falcons
16 1990 Jeff George, Colts
15 1993 Drew Bledsoe, Patriots
15 1999 Tim Couch, Browns
15 1967 Bob Griese, Dolphins
15 1969 Greg Cook, Bengals
TD-INT RATIO
Quarterbacks who attempted 100 passes and finished with more touchdowns than interceptions. Bradford’s numbers are his projected finishing totals.
TD Int
20 6 1983 Dan Marino, Dolphins
24.7 13.1 2010 Sam Bradford, Rams
17 11 2004 Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
16 11 2008 Matt Ryan, Falcons
15 11 1969 Greg Cook, Bengals
9 5 2006 Jay Cutler, Broncos
16 13 1990 Jeff George, Colts
19 16 1971 Jim Plunkett, Patriots
14 12 2008 Joe Flacco, Ravens
15 13 1999 Tim Couch, Browns
9 7 1982 Jim McMahon, Bears
8 7 1985 Bernie Kosar, Browns
9 8 2002 Patrick Ramsey, Redskins
8 7 1999 Donovan McNabb, Eagles
--Ian Allan
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