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The myth of the developmental quarterback

Chicago Bears GM Phil Emery made some headlines over the weekend, noting that he'd done a little study showing quarterbacks taken after the third round since 2006 haven't amounted to anything in the NFL. Why stop there? As we've noted in the past, the number of later-round quarterbacks who have done anything this century is extremely short.

Since 2000, the only really successful quarterback selected after the third round is Tom Brady. Another quarterback taken in that round the same year, Marc Bulger, also had a few good years. Since then? There have been 96 quarterbacks selected in the fourth through seventh rounds, and the best of them are guys like David Garrard, Matt Cassel, Kyle Orton and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

So if a quarterback doesn't have his name called on Thursday and Friday this week (rounds 1-3), you can basically forget about his NFL chances. It's very, very unlikely he becomes the next Brady or Bulger. Far more likely he's the next Bramlet or Bollinger.

Quarterbacks drafted after the third round from 2001-2013 are presented below. Ones who have had some brief (in some cases very brief) NFL success are in bold. It's not too late for guys like Kirk Cousins and Matt Barkley, but it doesn't look good.

DRAFTED QUARTERBACKS, 4TH ROUND ON (2001-PRESENT)
YearRdPlayerTeam
20134Matt BarkleyEagles
20134Ryan NassibGiants
20134Tyler WilsonRaiders
20134Landry JonesSteelers
20137Brad SorensenChargers
20137Zac DysertBroncos
20137B.J. Daniels49ers
20137Sean RenfreeFalcons
20124Kirk CousinsWashington
20126Ryan LindleyCardinals
20127Chandler HarnishColts
20127B.J. ColemanPackers
20115Nathan EnderleBears
20115T.J. YatesTexans
20115Ricky StanziKansas City
20116Tyrod TaylorRavens
20117Greg McElroyJets
20104Mike KafkaEagles
20105Jonathan CromptonChargers
20105John SkeltonCardinals
20106Joe WebbVikings
20106Rusty SmithTitans
20106Tony PikePanthers
20106Dan LeFevourBears
20107Zac RobinsonPatriots
20107Sean CanfieldSaints
20107Levi BrownBills
20094Stephen McGeeCowboys
20095Rhett BomarGiants
20095Nate Davis49ers
20096Tom BrandstaterBroncos
20096Mike TeelSeahawks
20096Keith NullRams
20096Curtis PainterColts
20085John David BootyVikings
20085Dennis DixonSteelers
20085Josh JohnsonBuccaneers
20085Erik AingeJets
20086Colt BrennanWashington
20086Andre WoodsonGiants
20087Matt FlynnPackers
20087Alex BrinkTexans
20075Jeff RoweBengals
20075Troy SmithRavens
20076Jordan PalmerRedskins
20077Tyler ThigpenVikings
20065Ingle MartinPackers
20065Omar JacobsSteelers
20066Reggie McNealBengals
20066Bruce GradkowskiBuccaneers
20067D.J. ShockleyFalcons
20054Kyle OrtonBears
20054Stefan LeforsPanthers
20055Dan OrlovskyLions
20055Adrian McPhersonSaints
20056Derek AndersonRavens
20057James KilianKansas City
20057Matt CasselPatriots
20057Ryan FitzpatrickRams
20044Luke McCownBrowns
20045Craig KrenzelBears
20046Andy HallEagles
20046Josh HarrisRavens
20046Jim SorgiColts
20046Jeff SmokerRams
20047John NavarreCardinals
20047Cody Pickett49ers
20047Casey BramletBengals
20047Matt MauckBroncos
20047B.J. SymonsTexans
20047Bradlee Van PeltBroncos
20034Seneca WallaceSeahawks
20035Brian St. PierreSteelers
20036Drew HensonTexans
20036Brooks BollingerJets
20036Kliff KingsburyPatriots
20037Gibran HamdanWashington
20037Ken Dorsey49ers
20024David GarrardJaguars
20024Rohan DaveyPatriots
20025Randy FasaniPanthers
20025Kurt KittnerFalcons
20025Brandon Doman49ers
20025Craig NallPackers
20026J.T. O'SullivanSaints
20026Steve BellisariRams
20027Seth BurfordChargers
20027Jeff KellySeahawks
20027Wes PateRavens
20015Chris WeinkePanthers
20015Sage RosenfelsRedskins
20015Jesse PalmerGiants
20016Mike McMahonLions
20016A.J. FeeleyEagles
20017Josh BootySeahawks
20017Josh HeupelDolphins

--Andy Richardson

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