Two third-round quarterbacks make their first career starts this week. In the last 25 years, only two quarterbacks selected in that round have won their first start. One, however, is oddly link to both of these new candidates – he played for the Browns, and he played for Bill Belichick.
Two third-round quarterbacks make their first career starts this week. In the last 25 years, only two quarterbacks selected in that round have won their first start. One, however, is oddly link to both of these new candidates – he played for the Browns, and he played for Bill Belichick.
Eric Zeier in 1995. From Georgia quarterback. I remember being very impressed by him in the preseason last year – actually drafted him in a dynasty league that August. They tossed him in against the Bengals that year, and he threw for 310 yards and a touchdown in a 29-26 win.
That was Belichick’s last year with the Browns, and it was the team’s last year in Cleveland as well – they left for Baltimore.
Since then, only one third-rounder has won his first start: Trent Edwards, in a 17-14 win at home (for the Bills) against the Jets.
Of the last 10 third-rounders to start as rookies, only one has thrown 2 TDs in his first game – Charlie Frye, who tossed 2 in a 20-14 loss to Jacksonville.
Of the last 10, only two have reached 240 passing yards (the two Browns – Zeier and Frye).
The start of this group is Russell Wilson, who’s had some decent years with the Seahawks.
Alphabetically, Jacoby Brissett comes in next to a certain Walter in Pittsburgh who didn’t mop up for anybody.
| THIRD-ROUND QUARTERBACKS STARTING AS ROOKIES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Opp | Comp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Score | |
| 2016 | Jacoby Brissett, N.E. | Hou. | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 2016 | Cody Kessler, Clev. | at Mia. | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| 2013 | Mike Glennon, T.B. | Ariz. | 24 | 43 | 193 | 1 | 2 | L 10-13 |
| 2012 | Nick Foles, Phil. | at Wash. | 22 | 32 | 219 | 1 | 1 | L 6-31 |
| 2012 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | at Ariz. | 18 | 34 | 153 | 1 | 1 | L 16-20 |
| 2010 | Colt McCoy, Clev. | at Pitt. | 23 | 33 | 281 | 1 | 2 | L 10-28 |
| 2007 | Trent Edwards, Buff. | NYJ | 22 | 28 | 234 | 1 | 1 | W 17-14 |
| 2005 | Charlie Frye, Clev. | Jac. | 13 | 20 | 226 | 2 | 0 | L 14-20 |
| 2004 | Matt Schaub, Atl. | at N.O. | 17 | 41 | 188 | 0 | 2 | L 13-26 |
| 2003 | Dave Ragone , Hou. | at Jac. | 11 | 23 | 71 | 0 | 1 | L 0-27 |
| 1998 | Jonathan Quinn, Jac. | at Min. | 12 | 27 | 88 | 1 | 2 | L 10-50 |
| 1995 | Eric Zeier, Clev. | at Cin. | 26 | 46 | 310 | 1 | 1 | W 29-26 |
| 1990 | Tom Hodson, N.E. | at Phoe. | 17 | 29 | 182 | 2 | 0 | L 14-34 |
| 1988 | Chris Chandler, Ind. | vs. Mia. | 10 | 18 | 110 | 0 | 1 | W 15-13 |
| 1986 | Bubby Brister, Pitt. | at Cin. | 12 | 33 | 191 | 0 | 0 | L 22-24 |
—Ian Allan