Teams who use a 1st round pick on a quarterback

May 122012

Since 2005, 19 teams have used a 1st round pick on a quarterback. It would make sense, if you’re making a big investment on a quarterback in the first round, that you would want to get this quarterback some help, bulking up the offensive line, giving him a play maker at receiver, or even just a running back to help take the load off. Not only does this make sense, but history shows it’s true and that help is acquired sooner than you would think, often time with their very next pick. Let’s take a look.

2005

San Francisco selects Alex Smith #1 and then selects offensive lineman David Baas #33

Green Bay selects Aaron Rodgers #24 and then selects safety Nick Collins #51 (one of the few exceptions, but they did take a wide receiver, Terrence Murphy with their 2^nd of their two 2^nd round picks)

Washington selects Jason Campbell #25 and then selects running back Manuel White #120 (Why I am not surprised Washington had no mid round picks in 2005? Do they ever have mid round picks?)

2006

Tennessee selects Vince Young #3 and then selects running back LenDale White #45

Arizona selects Matt Leinart #10 and then selects offensive lineman Deuce Lutui #41 (4 years later, Derek Anderson would share a laugh with Deuce Lutui while getting blown out by the 49ers and then explode when asked about it in a press conference)

Denver selects Jay Cutler #11 and then selects tight end Tony Scheffler #61

2007

Oakland selects JaMarcus Russell #1 and then selects tight end Zach Miller #38 (see even the Raiders follow the trend)

Cleveland selects Brady Quinn #22 and then selects cornerback Eric Wright #55 (another exception, but remember the Browns had just taken offensive lineman Joe Thomas #3 overall)

2008

Atlanta selects Matt Ryan #3 and then selects offensive lineman Sam Baker #21

Baltimore selects Joe Flacco #18 and then selects running back Ray Rice #55

2009

Detroit selects Matt Stafford #1 and then selects tight end Brandon Pettigrew #20

NY Jets select Mark Sanchez #5 and then select running back Shonn Greene #65

Tampa Bay selects Josh Freeman #17 and then defensive tackle Roy Miller #81

2010

St. Louis selects Sam Bradford #1 and then selects offensive lineman Rodger Saffold #33

Denver selects Tim Tebow #25 and then selects offensive lineman Zane Beadles #45 (they also selected wide receiver Demaryius Thomas #22)

2011

Carolina selects Cam Newton #1 and then selects defensive tackle Terrell McClain #65

Tennessee selects Jake Locker #8 and then selects outside linebacker Akeem Ayers #39

Jacksonville selects Blaine Gabbert #10 and then selects guard Will Rackley #76

Minnesota selects Christian Ponder #12 and then selects tight end Kyle Randolph #43

2012

Indianapolis selects Andrew Luck #1 and then selects tight end Coby Fleener #34

Washington selects Robert Griffin #2 and then selects offensive lineman Josh Leribeus #71

Miami selects Ryan Tannehill #8 and then selects offensive lineman Jonathan Martin #42

Cleveland selects Brandon Weeden #22 and then selects offensive lineman Mitchell Schwartz #37 (they also selected running back Trent Richardson #3)

So all in all, of the last 19 teams to draft a quarterback in the first round, 14 of them drafted an offensive player with their very next pick. Of the 5 who didn’t, one drafted an offensive player with the pick before the quarterback and one drafted an offensive player with the 2^nd of their two 2^nd round picks.

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