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Factoid

First-round quarterbacks

Mayfield and Rosen join the starting party

There were five quarterbacks selected in the first round back in April, and back then you might have guessed that Lamar Jackson had the clearest path to the starting lineup. Baltimore had only a struggling Joe Flacco ahead of him, while most of the other teams had highly-paid veteran passers in place. Funny how things work out.

Fast-forward a few months, and all four quarterbacks drafted in the top 10 picks -- Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen -- are in the starting lineup. Tyrod Taylor and Sam Bradford have been benched, Josh McCown was beaten out in August, and AJ McCarron was traded away (and then Nathan Peterman was benched). In contrast, Flacco is playing as well as he ever has and should start all season.

Although it's been a little quicker than expected, it's not overly surprising that all these rookies are starting. Over the last 10 years, there been 27 quarterbacks selected in the first round. More than two-thirds (20) of them ended up starting more than half of the season and throwing at least 300 passes, and two more started at least six games and were over 200 attempts (Deshaun Watson, but for injury, would have been well over that). Of the five exceptions, four were pretty much busts; too soon to say on Patrick Mahomes.

Not to say that starting more than half the season guarantees they'll go on to be great pros. Plenty of busy rookies have also busted. But Aaron Rodgers sitting on the bench for three years -- that just doesn't happen anymore with first-round picks.

FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS, ROOKIE NUMBERS (2008-2017)
YearPkPlayerCompAttYardsTDSt
20121Andrew Luck, Ind.33962743742316
20162Carson Wentz, Phil.37960737821616
20101Sam Bradford, St.L.35459035121816
20151Jameis Winston, T.B.31253540422216
20111Cam Newton, Car.31051740512116
20128Ryan Tannehill, Mia.28248432941216
20083Matt Ryan, Atl.26543434401616
200818Joe Flacco, Balt.25742829711416
201222Brandon Weeden, Clev.29751733851415
20122Robert Griffin III, Wash.25839332002015
20095Mark Sanchez, NYJ19636424441215
201110Blaine Gabbert, Jac.21041322141214
20143Blake Bortles, Jac.28047529081113
201432Teddy Bridgewater, Minn.25940229191412
20152Marcus Mariota, Tenn.23037028181912
20172Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.1963302193712
20091Matthew Stafford, Det.20137722671310
201316EJ Manuel, Buff.18030619721110
201112Christian Ponder, Minn.15829118531310
200917Josh Freeman, T.B.1582901855109
20161Jared Goff, L.A.112205108957
201712Deshaun Watson, Hou.1262041699196
201025Tim Tebow, Den.418265453
201626Paxton Lynch, Den.498349722
201422Johnny Manziel, Clev.183517502
201710Patrick Mahomes, K.C.223528401
20118Jake Locker, Tenn.346654240

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index