First-Round QB Classes Since 2001

SI Staff | Apr 28, 2013

First-Round QB Classes Since 2001

2012

Al Bello/Getty Images(2); Cliff Welch/Icon SMI

Clockwise from top left: #1: Andrew Luck (Stanford), Indianapolis Colts #2: Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Washington Redskins #8: Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M), Miami Dolphins #22: Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State), Cleveland Browns

2011

Simon Bruty/SI; Jason Miller/Getty Images; Damian Strohmeyer/SI; Rich Gabrielson/Icon SMI

Clockwise from top left: #1: Cam Newton (Auburn), Carolina Panthers #8: Jake Locker (Washington), Tennessee Titans #10: Blaine Gabbert (Missouri), Jacksonville Jaguars #12: Christian Ponder (Florida State), Minnesota Vikings

2010

David E. Klutho, Peter Read Miller/SI

#1: Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), St. Louis Rams #25: Tim Tebow (Florida), Denver Broncos

2009

David E. Klutho, John Iacono, Bob Rosato/SI

#1: Matthew Stafford (Georgia), Detroit Lions #5: Mark Sanchez (USC), New York Jets #17: Josh Freeman (Kansas State), Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2008

Simon Bruty, Fred Vuich/SI

#3: Matt Ryan (Boston College), Atlanta Falcons #18: Joe Flacco (Delaware), Baltimore Ravens

2007

John W. McDonough/SI; Michael J. LeBrecht II/1Deuce3 Photography

#1: JaMarcus Russell (LSU), Oakland Raiders #22: Brady Quinn (Notre Dame), Cleveland Browns

2006

Robert Beck, Bob Rosato, Peter Read Miller/SI

#3: Vince Young (Texas), Tennessee Titans #10: Matt Leinart (USC), Arizona Cardinals #11: Jay Cutler (Vanderbilt), Denver Broncos

2005

Damian Strohmeyer(2), John Biever/SI

#1: Alex Smith (Utah), San Francisco 49ers #24: Aaron Rodgers (California), Green Bay Packers #25: Jason Campbell (Auburn), Washington Redskins

2004

Al Tielemans, Peter Read Miller, Damian Strohmeyer, John Iacono/SI

Clockwise from top left: #1: Eli Manning (Ole Miss), San Diego Chargers* #4: Philip Rivers (NC State), New York Giants* #11: Ben Roethlisberger (Miami (OH)), Pittsburgh Steelers #22: J.P. Losman (Tulane), Buffalo Bills *The Chargers immediately traded Manning to the Giants for Rivers and were also compensated with a third-round pick and first- and fifth-round picks in 2005.

2003

Thomas E. Witte, Damian Strohmeyer, Bob Rosato(2)/SI

Clockwise from top left: #1: Carson Palmer (USC), Cincinnati Bengals #7: Byron Leftwich (Marshall), Jacksonville Jaguars #19: Kyle Boller (California), Baltimore Ravens #22: Rex Grossman (Florida), Chicago Bears

2002

Al Tielemans(2), John Iacono/SI

#1: David Carr (Fresno State), Houston Texans #3: Joey Harrington (Oregon), Detroit Lions #32: Patrick Ramsey (Tulane), Washington Redskins

2001

Bob Rosato, Robert Beck/SI

#1: Michael Vick (Virginia Tech), Atlanta Falcons It is worth noting that Drew Brees (Purdue) was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick of the second round (32nd overall) in a draft with only 31 teams. Had the Texans entered the NFL a year sooner, Brees could have been a first-round pick.