Cowboys QB Draft History vs. NFL

[percyhoward]

38 quarterbacks have been drafted league-wide since the last time Dallas drafted one.

Over the last 12 drafts, only one of the last 147 draftees projected to play quarterback was a Dallas pick (Stephen McGee).

During that time, the average team has drafted 4.6 quarterbacks. Every other team in the league has drafted at least *three* players who were projected as quarterbacks, while the Cowboys have drafted only one.

The Cowboys' have spent one of their last 95 picks on a QB, while the average team has spent more than four.

Over the last 21 drafts, only two of the last 256 draftees projected to play quarterback were Dallas picks (McGee and Quincy Carter).

During that time, the average team has drafted 8.1 quarterbacks. Every other team in the league has drafted at least *five* players who were projected as quarterbacks, while the Cowboys have drafted only two.

The Cowboys' have spent two of their last 186 picks on QB while the average team spent eight.

QB Drafted since 1991
Packers 13
Commanders 12
49ers 11
Eagles 11
Patriots 11
Broncos 10
Ravens 10
Seahawks 10
Steelers 10
Bengals 9
Bucs 9
Cardinals 9
Panthers 9 (since 1995)
Rams 9
Browns 8
Chargers 8
Dolphins 8
Jets 8
Vikings 8
Bears 7
Chiefs 7
Giants 7
Lions 7
Falcons 6
Raiders 6
Texans 6 (since 2002)
Bills 5
Colts 5
Jaguars 5 (since 1995)
Saints 5
Titans/Oilers 5
Cowboys 2

Since 1991, the average team has drafted a player projected as a quarterback twice every five years. The Cowboys have done it twice in 21 years.

 

[Titleist]

Hey! Quincy Carter wasn't THAT bad of a pick. Had some potential if he kept his nose clean

 

[perrykemp]

Odd thing about that list is the team that has drafted the most QBs in the past two decades, the Packers, is the team that has needed them the least. They've basically started two guys in Favre and Rodgers for something like 318 of the last 320 games.

 

[DenCWBY]

38 quarterbacks have been drafted league-wide since the last time Dallas drafted one.

Over the last 12 drafts, only one of the last 147 draftees projected to play quarterback was a Dallas pick (Stephen McGee).

During that time, the average team has drafted 4.6 quarterbacks. Every other team in the league has drafted at least *three* players who were projected as quarterbacks, while the Cowboys have drafted only one.

The Cowboys' have spent one of their last 95 picks on a QB, while the average team has spent more than four.

Over the last 21 drafts, only two of the last 256 draftees projected to play quarterback were Dallas picks (McGee and Quincy Carter).

During that time, the average team has drafted 8.1 quarterbacks. Every other team in the league has drafted at least *five* players who were projected as quarterbacks, while the Cowboys have drafted only two.

The Cowboys' have spent two of their last 186 picks on QB while the average team spent eight.

QB Drafted since 1991
Packers 13
Commanders 12
49ers 11
Eagles 11
Patriots 11
Broncos 10
Ravens 10
Seahawks 10
Steelers 10
Bengals 9
Bucs 9
Cardinals 9
Panthers 9 (since 1995)
Rams 9
Browns 8
Chargers 8
Dolphins 8
Jets 8
Vikings 8
Bears 7
Chiefs 7
Giants 7
Lions 7
Falcons 6
Raiders 6
Texans 6 (since 2002)
Bills 5
Colts 5
Jaguars 5 (since 1995)
Saints 5
Titans/Oilers 5
Cowboys 2

Since 1991, the average team has drafted a player projected as a quarterback twice every five years. The Cowboys have done it twice in 21 years.

The significance of this data IMO is obvious neglect in the QB position by the Boys. Either JJ is protecting his QB's psych from any threats of competition which is unhealthy or he just refuses to believe in the draft for QB support. The sad part is that I think Romo would be better prepared and battle worthy under competition and even if we uncovered a QB diamond in the rough with one of our picks but wanted to keep Romo as starter, we could use the position as trade bate or for upgraded picks. Similar to what the Eagles did with Kevin Kolb or what Green Bay did with Matt Flynn.
I'm not trying to make this negative but I think that is what Jimmy Johnsons speaking of with the "country club" atmosphere in VRanch. Internal competition is a good thing and keeps the players sharp all the way up to the QB. Troy A and Roger S had competition and had to keep earning their starting job. Just sayin

 

[Echo9]

38 quarterbacks have been drafted league-wide since the last time Dallas drafted one.

Over the last 12 drafts, only one of the last 147 draftees projected to play quarterback was a Dallas pick (Stephen McGee).

During that time, the average team has drafted 4.6 quarterbacks. Every other team in the league has drafted at least *three* players who were projected as quarterbacks, while the Cowboys have drafted only one.

The Cowboys' have spent one of their last 95 picks on a QB, while the average team has spent more than four.

Over the last 21 drafts, only two of the last 256 draftees projected to play quarterback were Dallas picks (McGee and Quincy Carter).

During that time, the average team has drafted 8.1 quarterbacks. Every other team in the league has drafted at least *five* players who were projected as quarterbacks, while the Cowboys have drafted only two.

The Cowboys' have spent two of their last 186 picks on QB while the average team spent eight.

QB Drafted since 1991
Packers 13
Commanders 12
49ers 11
Eagles 11
Patriots 11
Broncos 10
Ravens 10
Seahawks 10
Steelers 10
Bengals 9
Bucs 9
Cardinals 9
Panthers 9 (since 1995)
Rams 9
Browns 8
Chargers 8
Dolphins 8
Jets 8
Vikings 8
Bears 7
Chiefs 7
Giants 7
Lions 7
Falcons 6
Raiders 6
Texans 6 (since 2002)
Bills 5
Colts 5
Jaguars 5 (since 1995)
Saints 5
Titans/Oilers 5
Cowboys 2

Since 1991, the average team has drafted a player projected as a quarterback twice every five years. The Cowboys have done it twice in 21 years.

Some excellent data there, but I wonder if there's a way to integrate failed QB picks vs. successful ones. How many of these proved to be wasted picks?

Granted, both of the Cowboys ones were wastes, so that part is easy enough. The flip side of that argument, is that we haven't made as many wasted picks as other teams at QB.

An example might be the Steelers who took 10 QBs.

2008 (5) Dennis Dixon 2008 = Failed
2006 (5) Omar Jacobs = Failed
2004 (1) Ben Roethlisberger = Success
2003 (5) Brian St. Pierre = Failed
2000 (5) Tee Martin = Failed
1996 (6) Spence Fischer = Failed
1995 (2) Kordell Stewart = Success
1994 (6) Jim Miller = Failed
1993 (8) Alex Van Pelt = Failed
1992 (12) Cornelius Benton =Failed

That's 8 out of 10 wasted draft picks. Only JIm MIller and Alex Van Pelt even played for a reasonable time in the NFL, and both were quickly cut by the Steelers

Not sure if this is in some way an argument that Dallas should draft more QBs, but I hope that's not the conclusion you are hoping for. My first assumption for your gathering of this data is to simply present the #'s and let us make of it what we will.

Unfortunately, the fact that you cherry picked 21 years seems odd in that if you'd picked 22 years, the Cowboys would have picks 4 not 2. If you want a more sensible cutoff, maybe go with 1994 when the draft went to 7 rounds. Having a 12 round draft in 1991 when nearly any team (unless that team had taken Troy Aikman and Steve Walsh the previous year) might grab a QB is skewing your result.

 

[Echo9]

The significance of this data IMO is obvious neglect in the QB position by the Boys. Either JJ is protecting his QB's psych from any threats of competition which is unhealthy or he just refuses to believe in the draft for QB support. The sad part is that I think Romo would be better prepared and battle worthy under competition and even if we uncovered a QB diamond in the rough with one of our picks but wanted to keep Romo as starter, we could use the position as trade bate or for upgraded picks. Similar to what the Eagles did with Kevin Kolb or what Green Bay did with Matt Flynn.
I'm not trying to make this negative but I think that is what Jimmy Johnsons speaking of with the "country club" atmosphere in VRanch. Internal competition is a good thing and keeps the players sharp all the way up to the QB. Troy A and Roger S had competition and had to keep earning their starting job. Just sayin

Ya see right there. Jumping to an invalid conclusion based on incomplete data.

 

[percyhoward]

The significance of this data IMO is obvious neglect in the QB position by the Boys. Either JJ is protecting his QB's psych from any threats of competition which is unhealthy or he just refuses to believe in the draft for QB support.

I think more the latter, and it's not so much a general belief about the draft as it is a lack of faith in the team's ability to hit on a QB through the draft process. Or if you prefer, we feel more confident drafting other positions.

I don't see the QB's psyche having anything to do with it, since we've had no qualms about bringing in veteran free agents to back up and/or challenge a variety of starters and psyches over the years.

 

[Echo9]

I think more the latter, and it's not so much a general belief about the draft as it is a lack of faith in the team's ability to hit on a QB through the draft process. Or if you prefer, we feel more confident drafting other positions.

I don't see the QB's psyche having anything to do with it, since we've had no qualms about bringing in veteran free agents to back up and/or challenge a variety of starters and psyches over the years.

It very could be that we did not have faith in choosing a late rounder in hopes that we could spend time developing him and would have prefered using that pick elsewhere. THere's alos the fact that for 2 stretches during that arbitrary time period, we've had top-flight franchise QB's. We made serious mistakes in the late 90's - early 2000's trying to work around drafting a QB, but trying to blanket a 21 year stretch in order inflate others teams drafting records still doesn't make sense.

 

[Wolf2k5]

Hey! Quincy Carter wasn't THAT bad of a pick. Had some potential if he kept his nose clean

I see what you did there

 

[KB1122]

I believe that only two teams have gone longer without drafting a quarterback in the first round - Troy Aikman in 1989. Kansas City has gone since Todd Blackledge in 1983. New Orleans has gone since 1981 (David Wilson) in the first round of the supplemental draft and 1971 since Archie Manning in the formal draft.

That's not altogether a bad thing. It means you haven't been desperate for a quarterback very often. Still, how did the Cowboys go through those seven years of Campo and Parcells without drafting one?

 

[muck4doo]

Interesting observation indeed.

 

[burmafrd]

In some ways finding Romo might have been a bad thing in the long run. It convinced Jerruh we do not have to draft QBs high. And then over the last couple of years some good QBs have shown up not drafted in the first round.

 

[percyhoward]

Odd thing about that list is the team that has drafted the most QBs in the past two decades, the Packers, is the team that has needed them the least. They've basically started two guys in Favre and Rodgers for something like 318 of the last 320 games.

I wanted to wait and research this, but in an 8-year period when Ron Wolf was GM, the Packers drafted four different QB who later went on to have a Top 10 season in passer rating (Detmer, Brunell, Hasselbeck, and Brooks), all with other teams.

 

[percyhoward]

How did the Cowboys go through those seven years of Campo and Parcells without drafting one?

Start with 1997 when Aikman was entering his 9th season, and go through to 2006 before Romo started. Although we acquired several young quarterbacks by other means during that time, we went 10 consecutive drafts with the only pick of a QB being Carter, the 53rd pick of 2001.

 

[RightHandOfJerry]

Interesting stats. Can't speak for the pre Romo era but I think that's a good sign that they haven't wasted picks on backup qbs in the Draft since he took over. There hasn't been one quarterback since 2006 that would have been good enough to replace Romo. Don't say Luck cause the first overall would have cost too much. Possibly Wilson as well in the future but I would rather have Romo and Claiborne now. I think the next year or two we start to look at drafting a guy to groom.

 

[DFWJC]

Start with 1997 when Aikman was entering his 9th season, and go through to 2006 before Romo started. Although we acquired several young quarterbacks by other means during that time, we went 10 consecutive drafts with the only pick of a QB being Carter, the 53rd pick of 2001.

I think this is pretty glaring neglect: the period between Aikman and Romo.

But even once we had a quality starter, then I still think we should have drafted a QB every few years. Just not in the early rounds.

New England is one of the few examples of teams that would ever use a pick higher than the 4th round or so to draft a QB when they already have a franchise guy. During the 13 years that they've have Brady, they've taken a QB every other year or so. Twice they even used a 3rd rounder. It has mostly been their fairly cheap insurance policy that has paid some dividents once or twice in the trade market.

Green Bay has had some success too, a couple of times, in getting a return on investment from their backups.
No team takes a QB every year--like some here say to do--but those two seem to take one fairly often.

 

[Echo9]

I wanted to wait and research this, but in an 8-year period when Ron Wolf was GM, the Packers drafted four different QB who later went on to have a Top 10 season in passer rating (Detmer, Brunell, Hasselbeck, and Brooks), all with other teams.

That's where it gets a little tough. GB did go on a run there, but if those QBs only had success for their other teams, then it's a failure for GB. HOWEVER, GB did get something back for some of these guys. It would be interesting to take it all the way and see what they received in return for any of these guys and even look at what they may have done with the resulting players or picks.

Start with 1997 when Aikman was entering his 9th season, and go through to 2006 before Romo started. Although we acquired several young quarterbacks by other means during that time, we went 10 consecutive drafts with the only pick of a QB being Carter, the 53rd pick of 2001.

No argument there. That stretch was clearly mismanagement on the part of the Cowboys, but eventually that plan of action lucked us into Romo. Too many wasted years to call that plan good though.

 

[Longboysfan]

Interesting observation indeed.

So we drafted only 2 QB's.

Well we signed a few FA QB's.

You have to wonder then. If we did not draft QB's where did all the picks go to. And why are they not on the roster. Points to bad drafts.

 

[Future]

Am I the only one who finds this stat completely meaningless?

Interesting...but meaningless.

 

[percyhoward]

That's where it gets a little tough. GB did go on a run there, but if those QBs only had success for their other teams, then it's a failure for GB. HOWEVER, GB did get something back for some of these guys. It would be interesting to take it all the way and see what they received in return for any of these guys and even look at what they may have done with the resulting players or picks.

In 1995, they got the Jags' 3rd and 5th in return for Brunell, which they used on William Henderson and Travis Jervey. If not for the Brunell trade, the Packers would have had 8 picks. They took Adam Timmerman with their 10th pick. Would they have had the luxury of trading down for Antonio Freeman late in the 3rd if they hadn't already addressed FB earlier in the round with the Henderson selection they got out of the Brunell trade?

You could make an argument that hitting on the Brunell pick in the 5th round in 1993 allowed the Packers to draft 4 Pro Bowlers in 1995.