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Factoid

First-round quarterbacks / rookie production

Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater were all selected in the first round of this year's draft, and to hear the teams talk, they might not play much as rookies. The Jaguars say they want Bortles to sit all year, Manziel is behind Brian Hoyer in Cleveland, and Matt Cassel is expected to start in Minnesota.

But recent history indicates two of these first-round quarterbacks will play plenty as rookies. Over the last 10 years, there have been 28 quarterbacks selected in the first round. More than 60 percent (17) have attempted close to 300 passes in their rookie seasons. All 17 of those quarterback also threw at least 10 TD passes. Two-thirds (19) have thrown more than 1,000 yards.

We're not saying two of these rookies will necessarily be successful NFL quarterbacks. As we've talked about in the past, the track record is particularly poor for quarterbacks selected in the second half of the first round, like Manziel and Bridgewater. But a couple of them will probably play extensively in their first NFL seasons.

The 28 quarterbacks selected in the first round the last 10 years, sorted by pass attempts in their rookie seasons, are presented below.

FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS, 2004-2013
YearPkPlayerTeamAttComYdPTDP
20121Andrew LuckColts627339437423
20101Sam BradfordRams590354351218
20111Cam NewtonPanthers517310405121
201222Brandon WeedenBrowns517297338514
20128Ryan TannehillDolphins484282329412
20083Matt RyanFalcons434265344016
200818Joe FlaccoRavens428257297114
201110Blaine GabbertJaguars413210221412
20122Robert Griffin IIIRedskins393258320020
200610Matt LeinartCardinals377214254711
20091Matthew StaffordLions377201226713
20095Mark SanchezJets364196244412
20063Vince YoungTitans357184219912
201316EJ ManuelBills306180197211
200411Ben RoethlisbergerSteelers295196262117
201112Christian PonderVikings291158185313
200917Josh FreemanBuccaneers290158185510
20041Eli ManningChargers1979510436
20051Alex Smith49ers165848751
200611Jay CutlerBroncos1378110019
201025Tim TebowBroncos82416545
20118Jake LockerTitans66345424
20071JaMarcus RussellRaiders66363732
200524Aaron RodgersPackers169650
200722Brady QuinnBrowns83450
20044Philip RiversGiants85331
200422J.P. LosmanBills53320
200525Jason CampbellRedskins0000

--Andy Richardson

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