How Did Things Turn Out The Other Six Times The Top-2 Draft Picks Were QBs?

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Thirty-two of the No. 1 overall picks in the NFL Draft have been quarterbacks. But the incidence of QBs going back-to-back in the first round has only happened seven times since the AFL/NFL merger, including last Thursday.

Historically speaking, in most cases where two QBs lead off the draft, one goes on to bring highlights and glory to their franchise while the other brings nothing but heartache and regret — both for the fans and team executives worried about their job security.

With Jared Goff and Carson Wentz coming off the board as the first and second pick during last Thursday’s NFL Draft, it’s a good time to look back at one of the NFL’s cruelest draft marvels.

2015: No. 1 – Jameis Winston/No. 2 –Marcus Mariota

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In all fairness, Winston and Mariota didn’t have much to work with last year with absolutely horrible teams – they combined for 9 wins. But Winston won Rookie of the Year due to his play when he wasn’t almost leading the league in interceptions. On the other hand, Mariota showed flashes of excellence, but was mostly dragged down by the Titans lack of protection with 38 whopping sacks that went on to end his season early. Bets are still out on which one of these two, if either, will rise to the top and become a true franchise quarterback. Save for a sophomore slump or two, this season should make that clearer. Are they on the way to being the first tandem to shine since Plunkett and Archie Manning?

2012: No. 1 – Andrew Luck/No. 2 Robert Griffin III

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At one time, it really seemed like Luck and RGIII would end the “curse,” but that seems pretty unlikely now that Griffin is fighting for a starting job (and to stay healthy for a full season) in Cleveland. He experienced a brief and tumultuous career in Washington, which came to a close after a stellar rookie season and then a lot of pain and struggles over the subsequent seasons.

As for Luck, he seems to have solidified himself as the heir to Peyton Manning, having thrown for 14,838 yards and 101 touchdown passes in his first four seasons. Last year was a disappointment, however, as Luck battled injuries, starting seven games and throwing 12 interceptions to 15 touchdowns. Indy fans are hoping this season looks more like 2014, when he led to league with 40 touchdown passes.

1999: No. 1 – Tim Couch/No. 2 Donovan McNabb

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Speaking of Cleveland, it’s been the place where quarterbacks’ careers go to die for more than 15 years now, and you could argue that this unfortunate tradition started with Tim Couch, the No. 1 pick in 1999. Couch actually wasn’t a horrific NFL quarterback, especially when you consider the context. He was billed as the savior of the freshly returned Cleveland Browns in 1999, then thrown into the fire as a starting quarterback for an expansion team with a threadbare offensive line and limited weapons. Factor in the fact that he will forever be compared to Donovan McNabb, who gave the Eagles 11 seasons of near-to-absolute excellence when healthy, then you almost feel for the guy. Also, at least he wasn’t Akili Smith, who went No. 3 to the Bengals (making 1999 the only time QBs have ever gone 1, 2, 3) and bounced out of the league throwing 2,212 yards while completing 46.6 percent of his passes in four seasons.

1998: No. 1 Peyton Manning/No. 2 Ryan Leaf

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Peyton Manning is a five-time league MVP with two Super Bowl rings and a host of single-season and career-passing records, including touchdowns and yards. Ryan Leaf would be forgettable save for his proximity to Manning in the NFL Draft and his propensity for making unflattering off-the-field headlines. A sad and complete study in opposing trajectories despite what seemed like near identical potential on Draft Day.

1993: No. 1 Drew Bledsoe/No. 2 Rick Mirer

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Fresh out of retirement and eager to jumpstart a rebuild of the New England Patriots, former New York Giants coach Bill Parcells had a decision: Go with Drew Bledsoe and his big arm or take the more seasoned and battle tested Rick Mirer in the 1993 draft. Upon reflection, it feels like an easy choice, but the coach labored over it and originally wanted Mirer. Thankfully for Patriots fans, that preference faded and Bledsoe wound up leading New England to a Super Bowl. Bledsoe had a very respectable career that hit a speed bump when he got replaced by Tom Brady following a season and Patriots career-ending injury.

Mirer, on the other hand, never quite lived up to the potential he had teased at Notre Dame, bouncing around the league a bit after the Seattle Seahawks lost faith in him four seasons after drafting him second overall. Coincidentally, one of Mirer’s late career stops was with the Parcells-coached New York Jets in 1999 as an injury replacement for Ray Lucas, so The Big Tuna eventually did get his man.

1971: No. 1 – Jim Plunkett/No. 2 – Archie Manning

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Jim Plunkett and Archie Manning may not be Hall of Fame quarterbacks, but they both had long and productive careers that can give hope to both the Rams and Eagles that they aren’t facing a 50 percent “boom-or-bust” chance with their new QBs.

Plunkett helped win two of the Raiders’ three Super Bowl trophies and walked away with a game MVP award in ’81. Manning would make it to a couple Pro Bowls during his time in New Orleans while carrying the “Aints” for a majority of his 16 years under center. If he had a better team around him, who knows what his ceiling would’ve been. Of course, he’s more known now for his family legacy, with his sons Eli and Peyton both winning enough rings to share with all of the Manning men, including their oldest brother, Cooper.

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