It just doesn’t feel as though we can find a steady success story at the quarterback position stemming from the first round of the draft these days. Andrew Luck, Ryan Tannehill, Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford are the only real established successful starters from the last seven drafts, and even they’ve all taken a ton of criticism early in their respective careers.
And 2014 didn’t prove to be much different for the majority of the top rookie quarterbacks in that class. Jacksonville Jaguars No. 3 overall pick Blake Bortles was the league’s lowest-rated qualified passer, Cleveland Browns No. 22 overall pick Johnny Manziel barely saw the field and was a mess off of it and Oakland Raiders No. 36 overall pick Derek Carr was the league’s fourth lowest-rated passer.
Only Minnesota Vikings No. 32 overall pick Teddy Bridgewater — who completed more than 64 percent of his passes and posted a respectable 85.2 passer rating — appeared to be an exception.
And in the first week of the 2015 season, all four of those guys took hits.
Bortles completed just 55 percent of his passes and threw two picks in a loss to the Panthers, Manziel was still a backup and had three turnovers after relieving the injured Josh McCown in a blowout loss to the Jets, Carr was injured after completing only seven of 12 passes in a blowout loss to the Bengals and Bridgewater was off his game in a one-sided loss to the 49ers.
Amazingly, though, all four quarterbacks seemed to pivot together in Week 2.
Bortles posted a 102.2 rating in a statement victory over the Dolphins, Manziel threw two big touchdown passes and posted a 133.9 rating in a victory over the Titans, Carr had three touchdown passes and a 100.9 rating in an impressive victory over the Ravens and Bridgewater got back on track with a 120.6 rating and only four incomplete passes in a victory over the Lions.
Interesting that they all struggled together before experiencing breakout games together. Right now, there are legitimate reasons to believe in all four of these guys. It’s doubtful all four will continue to deliver, though, so now we watch to see who’s for real.
