Ian Allan
The Bills are banking on Trent Edwards to be their quarterback. He's the former Stanford quarterback they selected near the end of the third round last season, partially on the recommendation of the late Bill Walsh.
Edwards quickly moved into the starting lineup for the Bills, and he went 5-4 as a starter. He averaged only 170 passing yards in those games, with just 7 TDs, but he's their guy.
If Edwards ever becomes a big-time quarterback - even an acceptable starter - he'll be beating the odds. Way back in 1979, the 49ers (with Bill Walsh calling the shots) used a third-round pick on a guy named Joe Montana, who won four Super Bowls with them. But since that time, the batting average on selecting quarterbacks in the third round has been remarkably low.
Below is a list showing all 36 quarterbacks who've been selected in the third round since Montana. Of this group, three started Super Bowl games - Jeff Hostetler, Neil O'Donnell and Chris Chandler. Another four were at least productive in some spurts - Jay Schroeder, Cody Carlson, Brian Griese and Buffalo's own Frank Reich. Maybe Matt Schaub will develop into something. But it's not a distinguished list.
So if Trent Edwards ever makes it, he'll be beating the odds.
QUARTERBACKS SELECTED IN THIRD ROUND, 1980-
1984 Jeff Hostetler (Giants)
1984 Rick McIvor (Cardinals)
1984 Jay Schroeder (Washington)
1985 Frank Reich (Bills)
1986 Bubby Brister (Steelers)
1986 Hugh Millen (Rams)
1986 Robbie Bosco (Packers)
1987 Cody Carlson (Titans)
1988 Tom Tupa (Cardinals) – failed as QB but became a punter
1988 Chris Chandler (Colts)
1989 Anthony Dilweg (Packers)
1989 Erik Wilhelm (Bengals)
1990 Tommy Hodson (Patriots)
1990 Peter Tom Willis (Bears)
1990 Neil O'Donnell (Steelers)
1993 Billy Joe Hobert (Raiders)
1995 Stoney Case (Cardinals)
1995 Eric Zeier (Browns)
1996 Bobby Hoying (Eagles)
1998 Scott Frost (Jets) – drafted as safety
1998 Jonathan Quinn (Jaguars)
1998 Brian Griese (Broncos)
1999 Brock Huard (Seahawks)
2000 Giovanni Carmazzi (49ers)
2000 Chris Redman (Ravens)
2002 Josh McCown (Cardinals)
2003 Dave Ragone (Texans)
2003 Chris Simms (Buccaneers)
2004 Matt Schaub (Falcons)
2005 Charlie Frye (Browns)
2005 Andrew Walter (Raiders)
2005 David Greene (Seahawks)
2006 Charlie Whitehurst (Chargers)
2006 Brodie Croyle (Chiefs)
2007 Trent Edwards (Bills)
-Ian Allan
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Posted by Paul Desimone | Apr. 11 at 08:24 AM
All I know for a certainty is that Lee Evans' fantasy value went down the toilet when Edwards was inserted into the starting lineup, and doesn't figure to get any better with Turk Schonert pledging to get the RBs and TEs more involved in the passing game.