The 2023 NFL Draft, which was held outside Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, began on April 27 with the coveted and highly-anticipated first round – where the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers were the only teams without a selection.
The festivities continued on April 28 with the second and third rounds, where teams were interested in adding some quality depth players to their squad. There’s always a lot of value in these rounds and it’s where a lot of teams look to build for the future – they’re not all guaranteed a roster spot, but most are.
The draft commenced on April 29 with the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds – where teams were trying to find a diamond in the rough. Desjuan Johnson, a defensive lineman out of Toledo University, was honored as this year’s Mr. Irrelevant – which is the title given to the player selected last in the draft.
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How Many Quarterbacks Were Taken in the 2023 NFL Draft?
The 2023 NFL Draft proved that the NFL is still very-much a quarterback-driven league. Not only did we see a total of 14 quarterbacks taken in the draft, but 11 of those quarterbacks were taken in the first 150 picks and 12 of them were taken in the first five rounds – both of which are common draft era records.
A strong majority of those 14 quarterbacks are going to have an uphill battle as they search for playing time – in fact, only three of them are projected as day-one starters and only a few others have a legitimate shot at becoming a starter later in the season. Of course, some quarterbacks are bound to surprise us.
Just look at what Brock Purdy did last year – he was named Mr. Irrelevant of the 2022 NFL Draft, but was thrust into a starting role late in the season and helped lead the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship game. Stories like that are the reason why so many fans watch the NFL every season.
With that said, let’s meet the 14 quarterbacks who were taken in the 2023 NFL Draft and see what type of situation they’re being drafted into.
14. Max Duggan – Los Angeles Chargers
Max Duggan was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers with the No. 239 overall pick in the seventh round. He spent last season with the TCU Horned Frogs – throwing for 3,698 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions en route to a 13-2 record in 15 starts. He came in second place in Heisman Trophy voting.
Duggan will enter training camp in a quarterback competition with Easton Stick – not to be the team’s starter, but rather the team’s backup QB behind Justin Herbert. It’s also important to note that LA also drafted two of Duggan’s teammates from TCU – wide receivers Quentin Johnson and Derius Davis.
13. Tanner McKee – Philadelphia Eagles
Tanner McKee is a 6-foot-6, 228-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 188 pick in the sixth round. He spent last season with the Stanford Cardinal – throwing for 2,947 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions en route to a 3-9 record. He was a two-year starter in college.
McKee joins quite a crowded Eagles’ quarterback room as they prepare for training camp. Jalen Hurts is the clear No. 1 after being made one of the richest QBs of all-time, but things could get interesting at the backup position – where Marcus Mariota, Ian Book, and Tanner McKee will fight for a backup role.
12. Jaren Hall – Minnesota Vikings
Jaren Hall is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 164 overall pick in the fifth round. He spent last season with the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars – throwing for 3,171 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in 12 games as a senior.
Hall has an opportunity to impress a Vikings’ team in search of a long-term answer at quarterback. Kirk Cousins is the clear No. 1 this season and they also have Nick Mullens on the roster, but both of them are on expiring contracts. Hall might not be their long-term answer, but he can figure into a backup role.
11. Sean Clifford – Green Bay Packers
Sean Clifford is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 149 overall pick in the fifth round. He spent last season with the Penn State Nittany Lions – throwing for 2,822 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions en route to an 11-2 record in 13 starts.
Clifford joins the Packers at a good time – the year they move on from Aaron Rodgers. They appear ready to give Jordan Love a real shot at being their short-term starter, but his long-term status with the team will depend on his performance this season. Clifford will compete with Danny Etling for backup.
10. Dorian Thompson-Robinson – Cleveland Browns
Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 140 overall pick in the fifth round. He spent last season with the UCLA Bruins and threw for 3,169 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions – adding 645 rushing yards and 12 TDs.
Thompson-Robinson joins a crowded quarterback room, but one he can learn from. They have Deshaun Watson locked up long-term and has Joshua Dobbs ready to serve as his backup. Kellen Mond, who spent last season on the practice squad, will compete with Thompson-Robinson for the No. 3 spot.
9. Clayton Tune – Arizona Cardinals
Clayton Tune is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 139 overall pick in the fifth round. He spent last season with the Houston Cougars and threw for 4,074 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions – adding another 544 yards and five TDs on the ground.
Tune joins a crowded QB room in Arizona, but has an opportunity to come out of it as the third-string QB behind Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy – and potential long-term backup, if they decide to move on from McCoy. He will have to beat out David Blough and Jeff Driskel – both of whom are hungry for more.
8. Aidan O’Connell – Las Vegas Raiders
Aidan O’Connell is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 135 overall pick in the fourth round. He spent last season with the Purdue Boilermakers and threw for 3,490 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions – it was his second season as a full-time starter.
O’Connell joins a crowded QB room in Las Vegas, but will have an opportunity to earn trust with a team searching for a long-term solution at the position. Jimmy Garoppolo is the team’s starter for now and Brian Hoyer is slated to act as his backup, but O’Connell and Chase Garbers will battle it out for No. 3.
7. Stetson Bennett – Los Angeles Rams
Stetson Bennett is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 128 overall pick in the fourth round. He spent last season with the Georgia Bulldogs and threw for 4,128 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions – adding 205 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Bennett helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 – he’s a bonafide winner. While the Rams are committed to having Matthew Stafford serve as the starter, they’re in need of a quality and reliable backup. Bennett will have to battle it out with Brett Rypien and Dresser Winn.
6. Jake Haener – New Orleans Saints
Jake Haener is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 127 overall pick in the fourth round. He spent last season with the Fresno State Bulldogs and threw for 2,896 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions – he was named the MVP of the Senior Bowl.
Haener won’t be fighting for a starting role this training camp – that job belongs to Derek Carr, who they gave a big contract to this offseason. And while Jameis Winston fits in as his backup this year, he likely won’t be here next year – which is where Haener fits as a long-term solution to their backup needs.
5. Hendon Hooker – Detroit Lions
Hendon Hooker is a 6-foot-4, 218-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 68 overall pick in the third round. He spent last season with the Tennessee Volunteers and threw for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions – he added 430 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground.
Hooker was drafted into an excellent situation in Detroit – an up-and-coming team with a multitude of weapons. He’ll fit in as the team’s primary backup this season behind Jared Goff, but could be in line to earn a starting role as soon as next season – especially since Goff has just two more years on his contract.
4. Will Levis – Tennessee Titans
Will Levis is a 6-foot-3, 222-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 33 overall pick in the second round. He spent last season with the Kentucky Wildcats and threw for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 in 11 games – he was a two-year starter for the Wildcats.
Levis has a chance to be the Titans’ franchise quarterback if he can perform well and be patient. Their current starter is Ryan Tannehill, but he’s likely in his final season with the Titans. They were hoping Malik Willis was their long-term solution, but they aren’t sold yet – essentially opening the door for Levis.
3. Anthony Richardson – Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson is a 6-foot-4, 236-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round. He spent last season with the Florida Gators and threw for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions – adding 654 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground.
Richardson will likely be the Colts’ starting quarterback at some point this season – if not Week 1. They currently want Gardner Minshew to lead this team with Richardson as his backup, but it won’t take long before they hand the offense over to Richardson – after all, they drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick.
2. C.J. Stroud – Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud is a 6-foot-3, 214-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Houston Texans with the No. 2 overall pick in the first round. He spent last season with the Ohio State Buckeyes and threw for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions – he was 4th in Heisman voting in 2021 and 3rd in 2022.
Stroud enters Week 1 as the clear No. 1 starter in Houston – Davis Mills and Case Keenum will serve as backups and will help the young lad navigate the transition from college to NFL. He won’t have the best wide receiver corps to work with, but the Texans will likely lean on their stud running back, Dameon Pierce.
1. Bryce Young – Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young is a 5-foot-10, 204-pound quarterback who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 1 overall pick in the first round. He spent last year with the Alabama Crimson Tide and threw for 3,328 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions – he won the Heisman in 2021 and was 6th in voting last year.
Young enters Week 1 as the likely starter in Carolina. The team has veteran Andy Dalton to serve as his backup (or starter, if they’re not ready to roll with Young right away) and also have Matt Corral on the roster – who figures to be a long-term answer at backup. Either way, Young should be in Carolina for a while.
Quarterbacks Signed After 2023 NFL Draft
After the 2023 NFL Draft, teams are allowed to sign any of the undrafted rookies as free agents – while there’s no real limit to how many they can sign, they do have a roster limit of 90 players to uphold. With that said, most teams will sign anywhere from 10-15 undrafted free agents – some more, some less.
This year, we saw 13 undrafted quarterbacks sign as free agents – including Austin Aune (Falcons), Nolan Henderson (Ravens), Tyson Bagent (Bears), Adrian Martinez (Lions), Tommy DeVito (Giants), James Blackman (Dolphins), Cephus Johnson (Vikings), and Malik Cunningham (Patriots).
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We also saw the Steelers sign Tanner Morgan, the Seahawks sign Holton Ahlers, and the Commanders sign Tim DeMorat. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams were the only team to sign two undrafted QBs after the 2023 NFL Draft – Dresser Winn and Braxton Burmeister. We’ll see if any of them stick around!
Every NFL Team’s Last Rookie QB Week 1 Starter — How Many Do You Remember?
Every year, we see a new class of rookie quarterbacks enter the NFL with an opportunity to turn their passion into a successful career. Unfortunately, not every rookie QB will get that opportunity right away and most of them will have to earn their way onto a 53-man roster – and that’s just the first obstacle.
For those that make it onto the roster, they then have to work their way up the depth chart – which isn’t easy for a rookie QB, especially when there’s a proven veteran in their way. With most rookie QBs being viewed as projects that take time to develop, teams are unlikely to throw a rookie QB in with the wolves.
With that said, some rookie quarterbacks enter the league with high expectations and it doesn’t always make sense to sit them for a year. For those players, playing time often comes in abundance right out the gate – even as early as Week 1. It doesn’t always pan out for the rookie, but when it does – it’s magical.
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Most Recent Rookie QB Week 1 Starter for Each NFL Team
There’s a good chance the 2023 season provides some of that magic with three rookie QBs expected to earn a Week 1 start. As of right now, those three players include Bryce Young (drafted by Panthers at No. 1), C.J. Stroud (drafted by Texans at No. 2), and Anthony Richardson (drafted by Colts at No. 4).
And while some people want to throw Will Levis in that mix, it looks like the Tennessee Titans are going to roll with veteran Ryan Tannehill – at least for now. If things go well with Tannehill, then the Titans will keep him as starter. If things go south, then we’ll likely see Levis make his debut – just not in Week 1.
Here’s something that might surprise you – there are currently three teams in the NFL (Chiefs, Vikings, and Giants) that have never had a rookie QB week 1 starter in the history of their franchise. That means there are 29 teams in the NFL that have had at least one – let’s see if you can name their most recent!
1. Arizona Cardinals – Kyler Murray (2019)
Kyler Murray was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 8, 2019 in a 27-27 tie against the Detroit Lions. He finished the game 29 of 54 with 308 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception – adding 13 yards on the ground. He went on to throw for 3,722 yards and 20 touchdowns in 16 games played during his rookie season.
2. Atlanta Falcons – Matt Ryan (2008)
Matt Ryan was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 7, 2008 in a 34-21 win against the Detroit Lions. He finished the game 9 of 13 with 161 yards and 1 touchdown – including a 62-yard touchdown throw to Michael Jenkins in what was his first ever pass attempt. He threw for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns that year.
3. Baltimore Ravens – Joe Flacco (2008)
Joe Flacco was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 7, 2008 in a 17-10 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals – he was 23 years old at the time. He finished the game 15 of 29 with 129 yards passing, 37 yards rushing, and one rushing touchdown. He went on to throw for 2,971 yards and 14 touchdowns in his rookie year.
4. Buffalo Bills – EJ Manuel (2013)
EJ Manuel was drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 8, 2013 (Week 1) in a 21-23 loss to the New England Patriots. He finished the game 18 of 27 with 150 yards and 2 touchdowns – he also had 23 yards rushing. He went on to start in just 10 games as a rookie QB – throwing for 1,972 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.
5. Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton (2011)
Cam Newton was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 11, 2011 in a 21-28 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He finished the game 24 of 37 with 422 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception – adding 18 yards and 1 TD on the ground. He finished the year with 4,051 yards passing, 706 yards rushing, and 35 total TDs.
6. Chicago Bears – Kyle Orton (2005)
Kyle Orton was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the No. 106 overall (4th round) pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 11, 2005 in a 7-9 loss against the Washington Commanders. He finished the game 15 of 28 with 141 yards and 1 interception, but went on to lead the Bears to a 10-5 record as a rookie QB – he only threw for 1,869 yards, 9 TDs and 13 interceptions.
7. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow (2020)
Joe Burrow was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 Draft and made his regular season debut on September 13, 2020 n a 13-16 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished the game 23 of 36 with 193 yards and 1 interception – adding 46 yards and 1 TD on the ground. He went on to throw for 2,688 yards and 13 TDs before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 11.
8. Cleveland Browns – DeShone Kizer (2017)
DeShone Kizer was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 52 overall (2nd round) pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 10, 2017 (Week 1) in an 18-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished the game 20 of 30 with one touchdown and one interception – adding another 17 yards and one TD on the ground. He led the Browns to a winless 0-15 record as a rookie.
9. Dallas Cowboys – Dak Prescott (2016)
Dak Prescott was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 135 overall (4th round) pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 11, 2016 in a 19-20 loss to the New York Giants. He finished the game 25 of 45 with 227 yards passing and 12 yards rushing. He went on to lead the Cowboys to a 13-3-0 record as a rookie QB and threw for 3,667 yards, 23 TDs, and 4 interceptions.
10. Denver Broncos – John Elway (1983)
John Elway was drafted by the Baltimore Colts with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft, but was traded to the Denver Broncos one week later – where he made his regular season debut on September 4, 1983 in a 14-10 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished the game just 1 of 8 with 14 yards and 1 interception before being benched. He went on to lead the Broncos to a 4-7-0 record as a rookie QB.
11. Detroit Lions – Matthew Stafford (2009)
Matthew Stafford was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 9, 2013 (Week 1) in a 27-45 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He finished the game 16 of 37 with 205 yards, 3 interceptions, and 1 rushing touchdown. He played in 10 games for the Lions that year and threw for 2,267 yards, 13 TDs, and 20 interceptions.
12. Green Bay Packers – Tobin Rote (1950)
Tobin Rote was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 17 overall pick in the 1950 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 17, 1950 (Week 1) in a 7-45 loss to the Detroit Lions. He was just 3 of 10 with 55 yards and 1 interception on the day and went on to win just three of his 12 starts as a rookie QB – he finished the 1950 season with 1,231 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
13. Houston Texans – David Carr (2002)
Derek Carr was drafted by the Houston Texans with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 8, 2002 (Week 1) in a 19-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the game 10 of 22 with 145 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He went on to lead the Texans to a 4-12-0 record as a rookie QB with just 2,592 yards, 9 TDs, and 15 interceptions.
14. Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck (2012)
Andrew Luck was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 9, 2012 (Week 1) in a 21-41 loss to the Chicago Bears. He finished the game 23 of 45 with 309 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions with one fumble lost. He went on to lead the Colts to an 11-5-0 record and threw for 4,374 yards, 23 TDs, and 18 interceptions.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Lawrence (2021)
Trevor Lawrence was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 12, 2021 (Week 1) in a 21-37 loss to the Houston Texans. He finished the game 28 of 51 with 332 yards, 3 TDs, and 3 interceptions before leading the Jaguars to a 3-14-0 record as a rookie QB – he threw for 3,641 yards, 12 TDs, and 17 interceptions.
16. Kansas City Chiefs – NONE
The Kansas City Chiefs have had a total of 39 quarterbacks start at least one game across their 63-year history, but they have never had a rookie QB start in the season opener. Even their current quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, sat his first year before becoming the juggernaut that he is today. The team has a history of going after veteran quarterbacks with something to prove, but that changed with Mahomes.
17. Oakland Raiders – Derek Carr (2014)
Derek Carr was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 36 overall (2nd round) pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 7, 2014 (Week 1) in a 14-19 loss to the New York Jets. He finished the game 20 of 32 with 151 yards and 2 touchdowns before leading the Raiders to a 3-13-0 record as a rookie QB – he threw for 3,270 yards, 21 TDs, and 12 interceptions in 2014.
18. Los Angeles Chargers – Ryan Leaf (1998)
Ryan Leaf was drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 6, 1998 (Week 1) in a 16-14 victory over the Buffalo Bills. He finished the game 16 of 31 with 192 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions and was one of the biggest busts of all-time – leading San Diego to a 3-7-0 record and throwing for just 2 TDs in 1998.
19. Los Angeles Rams – Sam Bradford (2010)
Sam Bradford was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 12, 2010 (Week 1) in a 13-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He finished the game 32 of 55 with 253 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions before leading the team to a 7-9-0 record in 16 starts – he finished the season with 3,512 yards, 18 TDs, and 15 interceptions.
20. Miami Dolphins – Ryan Tannehill (2012)
Ryan Tannehill was drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 9, 2012 (Week 1) in a 10-30 loss to the Houston Texans. He finished the game 20 of 36 with 219 yards and 3 interceptions before leading the team to a 7-9-0 record in 16 starts – he finished the season with 3,294 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
21. Minnesota Vikings – NONE
The Minnesota Vikings have never started a rookie quarterback during Week 1 of any season in the 63-year history of the franchise. Fran Tarkenton is the current franchise leader in games played (1977) by a quarterback and, while he did play for the team in Week 1 of his rookie season, he wasn’t credited with the start. Tarkenton went on to throw for 250 yards and 4 touchdowns in his NFL debut in 1961.
22. New England Patriots – Mac Jones (2021)
Mac Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut with the team on September 12, 2021 (Week 1) in a 16-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He finished the game 29 of 39 with 281 touchdowns and 1 interception before leading the Patriots to a 10-7-0 record in 17 starts as a rookie – he had 3,801 yards and 22 TDs in 2021.
23. New Orleans Saints – Archie Manning (1971)
Archie Manning was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut with the team on September 19, 1971 (Week 1) in a 24-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He finished the game 16 of 29 with 218 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception – adding another TD on the ground. He led the Saints to a 3-7-2 record that year and threw just six TDs.
24. New York Giants – NONE
The New York Giants have never had a rookie QB Week 1 starter in their 97-year history since joining the NFL in 2012. Two of their most notable quarterbacks – Eli Manning and Phil Simms – received a lot of playing time their rookie season and Manning even played in Week 1, but neither of them started in Week 1. Their current quarterback, Daniel Jones, didn’t receive his first start until Week 3 of the 2022 season.
25. New York Jets – Zach Wilson (2021)
Zach Wilson was drafted by the New York Jets with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 12, 2021 (Week 1) in a 14-19 loss to the Carolina Panthers. He finished the game 20 of 37 with 258 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception before leading the Jets to a 3-10-0 season. He threw for 2,334 yards, 9 TDs, and 11 interceptions in 13 games started.
26. Philadelphia Eagles – Carson Wentz (2016)
Carson Wentz was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 11, 2016 (Week 1) in a 29-10 win over the Cleveland Browns. He finished the game 22 of 37 with 278 yards and 2 touchdowns before leading the Eagles to a 7-9-0 season – he finished his rookie year with 3,782 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
27. Pittsburgh Steelers – Terry Bradshaw (1970)
Terry Bradshaw was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 20, 1970 (Week 1) in a 7-19 loss to the Houston Texans – he finished the game just 4 of 16 with 70 yards and 1 interception. Bradshaw ended his rookie year with a 4-9-0 record, 1,410 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. It was an ugly start for Terry.
28. San Francisco 49ers – Steve DeBerg (1978)
Steve DeBerg was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 275 overall (10th round) pick in the 1977 NFL Draft, but didn’t make an NFL roster until the following year when he became the starting QB of the San Francisco 49ers. He made his regular season debut on September 3, 1978 (Week 1) in a 7-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns and finished the game 16 of 32 with 174 yards, 1 TD, and 3 interceptions.
29. Seattle Seahawks – Russell Wilson (2012)
Russell Wilson was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 75 overall (3rd round) pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 9, 2012 (Week 1) in a 16-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He finished the game 18 of 34 with 153 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception – adding another 20 yards on the ground. He finished the season with 3,118 yards, 26 TDs, and 10 INTs.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis Winston (2015)
Jameis Winston was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 13, 2015 (Week 1) in a 14-42 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He finished the game 16 of 33 with 210 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions before leading the team to a 6-10-0 record with 4,042 yards, 22 TDs, and 15 interceptions in 16 games.
31. Tennessee Titans – Marcus Mariota (2015)
Marcus Mariota was drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 13, 2015 (Week 1) in a 42-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished the game 13 of 15 with 209 yards and 4 touchdowns before leading the team to a 3-9-0 record in 12 starts – he ended the season with 2,818 yards, 19 TDs, and 10 interceptions.
32. Washington Commanders – Robert Griffin III (2012)
Robert Griffin III was drafted by the Washington Commanders with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and made his regular season debut on September 9, 2012 (Week 1) in a 40-32 win over the New Orleans Saints. He finished the game 19 of 26 with 320 yards and 2 touchdowns – adding another 42 yards on the ground. He led the Commanders to a 9-6 record with 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Which Rookie QB Will Exceed Expectations This Season?
Like we mentioned above, there are three rookie quarterbacks expected to start Week 1 of the 2023 regular season – sorry Cam Newton, David Carr, and Andrew Luck, but you three will soon be taken off this list in lieu of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson, respectively. They had a good run.
As for those magical three, they’ll have to fight through some adversity in their first season as none of them have the right pieces around them to succeed. They’ll have their moments and show glimpses of what they’re capable of, but there will also be a lot of growing pains and challenges that come with that.
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In my opinion, Young and Richardson are in a much better situation than Stroud. I think Young has the better rookie year, but I also feel like Richardson will have a better career. Of course, anything can happen and the NFL is always full of surprises, so we won’t know the answer until the season starts!
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