Twelve years in, the 2004 quarterback draft class has really delivered. But the big three of that class will have to step it up late in order to challenge the legendary class of ’83. A comparison…
1983 quarterback class
Key quarterbacks: John Elway (1), Jim Kelly (14), Ken O’Brien (24), Dan Marino (27)
Hall of Famers: 3
MVPs: 2 (Marino and Elway)
Pro Bowlers: 4
Pro Bowls: 25
All-Pros: 2
All-Pro nods: 4
Super Bowls: 2 wins, 10 losses
Busts: 1 (Tony Eason)
It’s amazing they won just two Super Bowls, with Elway breaking an 0-for-10 streak in the final two years of his career. Still, Marino, Elway and Kelly accomplished more individually than any other first-round quarterback trio in NFL history.
2004 quarterback class
Key quarterbacks: Eli Manning (1), Philip Rivers (4), Ben Roethlisberger (11), Matt Schaub (90)
Hall of Famers: TBD
MVPs: 0
Pro Bowlers: 4
Pro Bowls: 16
All-Pros: 0
All-Pro nods: 0
Super Bowls: 4 wins, 1 loss
Busts: 1 (J.P. Losman)
Manning and Roethlisberger will probably wind up in the Hall of Fame, but Rivers has a lot of work to do. Regardless, it looks like nobody from this class will wind up with an MVP award. And although they have made fewer Super Bowls, they’ve won twice as many as the 1983 class.
Also in contention…
1971 quarterback class
Key quarterbacks: Jim Plunkett (1), Archie Manning (2), Ken Anderson (67), Joe Theismann (99)
Hall of Famers: 0
MVPs: 2
Pro Bowlers: 4
Pro Bowls: 9
All-Pros: 2
All-Pro nods: 2
Super Bowls: 3 wins, 2 losses
Busts: 1 (Dan Pastorini)
Anderson and Theismann won MVPs and the group won more Super Bowls than the 1983 class. But none of them are in the Hall of Fame.
And a potential future contender…
2012 quarterback class
Key quarterbacks: Andrew Luck (1), Robert Griffin III (2), Ryan Tannehill (8), Brock Osweiler (57), Russell Wilson (75), Nick Foles (88), Kirk Cousins (102)
Hall of Famers: TBD
MVPs: 0
Pro Bowlers: 4
Pro Bowls: 8
All-Pros: 0
All-Pro nods: 0
Super Bowls: 1 win, 1 loss (Osweiler also won as a backup)
Busts (for now): 2 (Griffin, Weeden)
Seven potential or locked-in starters for the 2016 season, four of whom are being paid like stars. Five have already put together elite seasons, and there’s still hope for Griffin and Tannehill.
