The last couple of days we've taken a brief look at players selected in the later rounds of the NFL draft; running backs and wide receivers. The success rate of those players (fifth- to seventh-rounders) has been roughly 1 in 9 or so. You probably won't be surprised to learn the hit rate for quarterbacks has been lower, with virtually nothing in the way of stars.
Over the last 10 years (2005-2014), there have been 68 quarterbacks drafted from the fourth through seventh rounds. (Including fourth-rounders here to get a larger pool of players.) It's a very small number that have had any success at all, and even then it's a very modest level of success.
The best of those quarterbacks were selected back in 2005: Kyle Orton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Derek Anderson and Matt Cassel. That was pretty much it for NFL-caliber quarterbacks slipping out of the first three rounds. Since that year, the best of the fourth- through seventh-rounders is probably Matt Flynn, way back in 2008. And that's about it.
In 2015, three quarterbacks were drafted from the fourth round on: Bryce Petty, Brett Hundley, Trevor Siemian. Don't get your hopes up for them doing anything of note in the league.
Late-round quarterbacks from the last decade are presented below. Successful ones (using the term loosely) are in bold.
LATE-ROUND QUARTERBACKS, 2005-2014 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Rd | Player | Team |
2015 | 4 | Bryce Petty | NYJ |
2015 | 5 | Brett Hundley | G.B. |
2015 | 7 | Trevor Siemian | Den. |
2014 | 4 | Logan Thomas | Ariz. |
2014 | 4 | Tom Savage | Hou. |
2014 | 5 | AJ McCarron | Cin. |
2014 | 5 | Aaron Murray | K.C. |
2014 | 6 | David Fales | Chi. |
2014 | 6 | Tajh Boyd | NYJ |
2014 | 6 | Garrett Gilbert | St.L. |
2014 | 6 | Keith Wenning | Balt. |
2014 | 6 | Zach Mettenberger | Tenn. |
2013 | 4 | Matt Barkley | Phil. |
2013 | 4 | Ryan Nassib | NYG |
2013 | 4 | Tyler Wilson | Oak. |
2013 | 4 | Landry Jones | Pitt. |
2013 | 7 | B. J. Daniels | S.F. |
2013 | 7 | Zac Dysert | Den. |
2013 | 7 | Brad Sorensen | S.D. |
2013 | 7 | Sean Renfree | Atl. |
2012 | 4 | Kirk Cousins | Wash. |
2012 | 6 | Ryan Lindley | Ariz. |
2012 | 7 | Chandler Harnish | Ind. |
2012 | 7 | B.J. Coleman | G.B. |
2011 | 5 | Nathan Enderle | Chi. |
2011 | 5 | Ricky Stanzi | K.C. |
2011 | 5 | T.J Yates | Hou. |
2011 | 6 | Tyrod Taylor | Balt. |
2011 | 7 | Greg McElroy | NYJ |
2010 | 4 | Mike Kafka | Phil. |
2010 | 5 | John Skelton | Ariz. |
2010 | 5 | Jonathan Crompton | S.D. |
2010 | 6 | Dan LeFevour | Chi. |
2010 | 6 | Tony Pike | Car. |
2010 | 6 | Rusty Smith | Tenn. |
2010 | 6 | Joe Webb | Minn. |
2010 | 7 | Levi Brown | Buff. |
2010 | 7 | Zac Robinson | N.E. |
2010 | 7 | Sean Canfield | N.O. |
2009 | 4 | Stephen McGee | Dall. |
2009 | 5 | Nate Davis | S.F. |
2009 | 5 | Rhett Bomar | NYG |
2009 | 6 | Tom Brandstater | Den. |
2009 | 6 | Curtis Painter | Ind. |
2009 | 6 | Keith Null | St.L. |
2009 | 6 | Mike Teel | Sea. |
2008 | 5 | Josh Johnson | T.B. |
2008 | 5 | Erik Ainge | NYJ |
2008 | 5 | Dennis Dixon | Pitt. |
2008 | 5 | John David Booty | Minn. |
2008 | 6 | Andre Woodson | NYG |
2008 | 6 | Colt Brennan | Wash. |
2008 | 7 | Matt Flynn | G.B. |
2008 | 7 | Alex Brink | Hou. |
2007 | 5 | Jeff Rowe | Cin. |
2007 | 5 | Troy Smith | Balt. |
2007 | 6 | Jordan Palmer | Wash. |
2007 | 7 | Tyler Thigpen | Minn. |
2006 | 5 | Ingle Martin | G.B. |
2006 | 5 | Omar Jacobs | Pitt. |
2006 | 6 | Reggie McNeal | Cin. |
2006 | 6 | Bruce Gradkowski | T.B. |
2006 | 7 | D.J. Shockley | Atl. |
2005 | 4 | Kyle Orton | Chi. |
2005 | 4 | Stefan Lefors | Car. |
2005 | 5 | Dan Orlovsky | Det. |
2005 | 5 | Adrian McPherson | N.O. |
2005 | 6 | Derek Anderson | Balt. |
2005 | 7 | James Kilian | K.C. |
2005 | 7 | Matt Cassel | N.E. |
2005 | 7 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | St.L. |
--Andy Richardson