NFL Draft: Beware The Second Quarterbacks

Dec 21, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) on the sidelines in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

All anybody can talk about lately is the fate of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and what his fate might be once the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do as expected and take Jameis Winston of Florida State 1st overall in the upcoming NFL draft.

There is already rampant speculation that a number of teams are planning to be aggressive in pursuit of him, to the point where they may put together a package to move all the way up to #2 where the Tennessee Titans sit. It’s just a matter of which team does and whether the Titans are interest. Regardless, this Mariota frenzy is understandable give the fact he plays quarterback, but recent history indicates teams better be careful about overpaying to get the “other” quarterback.

That is to say the one the top team didn’t want. There is usually a reason why and it shows in the results. Below is a list of the second quarterbacks taken in subsequent drafts dating back to the year 2000.

Johnny Manziel
Geno Smith
Robert Griffin III
Jake Locker
Tim Tebow
Mark Sanchez
Joe Flacco
Brady Quinn
Matt Leinart
Aaron Rodgers
Philip Rivers
Byron Leftwich
Joey Harrington
Drew Brees
Giovanni Carmazzi

People will quickly point out Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers but it must be noted that to this day experts persist that Rodgers should’ve been the first quarterback off the board. As for Rivers, the 2004 class is considered the best to come along in a generation. As for Drew Brees, he wasn’t taken until the 2nd round while Joe Flacco went 18th overall.

Meanwhile teams ended up trading up for players like Tim Tebow, Mark Sanchez and Robert Griffin III.

What did they get it return? Little or nothing. The point of it all is there is no harm in taking Marcus Mariota as the second quarterback in this 2015 NFL draft. What teams have to be careful about is what they’re willing to give up for him.

History has a way of making such aggressive moves blow up in their faces.

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