RSS FeedRookie QB Seasons of RG3, Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck Among Best Ever
By Chris Malumphy
NFL teams are no longer afraid to start rookie quarterbacks. The need to win today has trumped the decades old theory that quarterbacks need time to mature and need to be developed slowly. A decade ago, the Cincinnati Bengals had Carson Palmer, the number one draft choice from 2003, sit on the pines for an entire year before allowing him on the field. In 2012, rookies Andrew Luck (Colts), Robert Griffin III (Redskins), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Brandon Weeden (Browns) and Russell Wilson (Seahawks) have started from day one.
Statistically, RG3 and Wilson are having two of the best rookie quarterback seasons ever. Griffin could end up with a rookie quarterback rating second only to Ben Roethlisberger since 1993. If Wilson keeps on his current pace, the only rookie who will have thrown more TDs in the last 20 years will be Peyton Manning--and if Wilson pumps it up, he could pass him too. Statistics aside, Andrew Luck has turned the low-begone Colts into a playoff contender. Although his quarterback rating isn't quite as gaudy as either Griffin's or Wilson's, Luck is currently ninth among the 41 rookie quarterbacks who have thrown 200 or more passes since 1993. Miami's Ryan Tannehill has been eratic, but nevertheless easily fits into the top half of those who started as rookies. Even the lowly Browns' Brandon Weeden has a shot at finishing in the upper half of rookie quarterbacks of the past 20 years.
Below are the statistics for the 41 rookie quarterbacks since 1993 who attempted more than 200 passes.
| Rookie Quarterbacks since 1993 with 200 or more Passing Attempts (as of 11/12/2012) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Year | Team | Att | C | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rating | Round | Pick | Player | College |
| Ben Roethlisberger | 2004 | Steelers | 295 | 196 | 66.4 | 2621 | 8.9 | 17 | 11 | 98.1 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Miami (OH) |
| Robert Griffin III | 2012 | Redskins | 262 | 172 | 65.6 | 1993 | 7.6 | 8 | 3 | 93.9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Baylor |
| Russell Wilson | 2012 | Seahawks | 253 | 157 | 62.1 | 1827 | 7.2 | 15 | 8 | 90.5 | 3 | 12 | 75 | Wisconsin |
| Matt Ryan | 2008 | Falcons | 434 | 265 | 61.1 | 3440 | 7.9 | 16 | 11 | 87.7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Boston College |
| Cam Newton | 2011 | Panthers | 517 | 310 | 60.0 | 4051 | 7.8 | 21 | 17 | 84.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Auburn |
| Charlie Batch | 1998 | Lions | 303 | 173 | 57.1 | 2178 | 7.2 | 11 | 6 | 83.5 | 2 | 30 | 60 | Eastern Michigan |
| Andy Dalton | 2011 | Bengals | 516 | 300 | 58.1 | 3398 | 6.6 | 20 | 13 | 80.4 | 2 | 3 | 35 | Texas Christian |
| Joe Flacco | 2008 | Ravens | 428 | 257 | 60.0 | 2971 | 6.9 | 14 | 12 | 80.3 | 1 | 18 | 18 | Delaware |
| Andrew Luck | 2012 | Colts | 362 | 208 | 57.5 | 2631 | 7.3 | 10 | 9 | 79.1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Stanford |
| Sam Bradford | 2010 | Rams | 590 | 354 | 60.0 | 3512 | 6.0 | 18 | 15 | 76.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Oklahoma |
| Colt McCoy | 2010 | Browns | 222 | 135 | 60.8 | 1576 | 7.1 | 6 | 9 | 74.5 | 3 | 21 | 85 | Texas |
| Matt Leinart | 2006 | Cardinals | 377 | 214 | 56.8 | 2547 | 6.8 | 11 | 12 | 74.0 | 1 | 10 | 10 | USC |
| Tim Couch | 1999 | Browns | 399 | 223 | 55.9 | 2447 | 6.1 | 15 | 13 | 73.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Kentucky |
| Ryan Tannehill | 2012 | Dolphins | 280 | 165 | 58.9 | 1979 | 7.1 | 5 | 9 | 73.2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | Texas A&M |
| Jake Plummer | 1997 | Cardinals | 296 | 157 | 53.0 | 2203 | 7.4 | 15 | 15 | 73.1 | 2 | 12 | 42 | Arizona State |
| Byron Leftwich | 2003 | Jaguars | 418 | 239 | 57.2 | 2819 | 6.7 | 14 | 16 | 73.0 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Marshall |
| Patrick Ramsey | 2002 | Redskins | 227 | 117 | 51.5 | 1539 | 6.8 | 9 | 8 | 71.8 | 1 | 32 | 32 | Tulane |
| Peyton Manning | 1998 | Colts | 575 | 326 | 56.7 | 3739 | 6.5 | 26 | 28 | 71.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Tennessee |
| Tony Banks | 1996 | Rams | 368 | 192 | 52.2 | 2544 | 6.9 | 15 | 15 | 71.0 | 2 | 12 | 42 | Michigan State |
| Trent Edwards | 2007 | Bills | 269 | 151 | 56.1 | 1630 | 6.1 | 7 | 8 | 70.4 | 3 | 29 | 92 | Stanford |
| Christian Ponder | 2011 | Vikings | 291 | 158 | 54.3 | 1853 | 6.4 | 13 | 13 | 70.1 | 1 | 12 | 12 | Florida State |
| Brandon Weeden | 2012 | Browns | 336 | 185 | 55.1 | 2088 | 6.2 | 9 | 12 | 67.9 | 1 | 22 | 22 | Oklahoma State |
| Rick Mirer | 1993 | Seahawks | 486 | 274 | 56.4 | 2833 | 5.8 | 12 | 17 | 67.0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Notre Dame |
| Vince Young | 2006 | Titans | 357 | 184 | 51.5 | 2199 | 6.2 | 12 | 13 | 66.7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Texas |
| Cade McNown | 1999 | Bears | 235 | 127 | 54.0 | 1465 | 6.2 | 8 | 10 | 66.7 | 1 | 12 | 12 | UCLA |
| Bruce Gradkowski | 2006 | Buccaneers | 328 | 177 | 54.0 | 1661 | 5.1 | 9 | 9 | 65.9 | 6 | 25 | 194 | Toledo |
| Blaine Gabbert | 2011 | Jaguars | 413 | 210 | 50.8 | 2214 | 5.4 | 12 | 11 | 65.4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Missouri |
| Drew Bledsoe | 1993 | Patriots | 429 | 214 | 49.9 | 2494 | 5.8 | 15 | 15 | 65.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Washington State |
| Mark Sanchez | 2009 | Jets | 364 | 196 | 53.8 | 2444 | 6.7 | 12 | 20 | 63.0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | USC |
| David Carr | 2002 | Texans | 444 | 233 | 52.5 | 2592 | 5.8 | 9 | 15 | 62.8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Fresno State |
| Kyle Boller | 2003 | Ravens | 224 | 116 | 51.8 | 1260 | 5.6 | 7 | 9 | 62.4 | 1 | 19 | 19 | California |
| Chris Weinke | 2001 | Panthers | 540 | 293 | 54.3 | 2931 | 5.4 | 11 | 19 | 62.0 | 4 | 11 | 106 | Florida State |
| Kerry Collins | 1995 | Panthers | 433 | 214 | 49.4 | 2717 | 6.3 | 14 | 19 | 61.9 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Penn State |
| Matthew Stafford | 2009 | Lions | 377 | 201 | 53.3 | 2267 | 6.0 | 13 | 20 | 61.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Georgia |
| Donovan McNabb | 1999 | Eagles | 216 | 106 | 49.1 | 948 | 4.4 | 8 | 7 | 60.1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Syracuse |
| Joey Harrington | 2002 | Lions | 429 | 215 | 50.1 | 2294 | 5.3 | 12 | 16 | 59.9 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Oregon |
| Josh Freeman | 2009 | Buccaneers | 290 | 158 | 54.5 | 1855 | 6.4 | 10 | 18 | 59.8 | 1 | 17 | 17 | Kansas State |
| Kyle Orton | 2005 | Bears | 368 | 190 | 51.6 | 1869 | 5.1 | 9 | 13 | 59.7 | 4 | 5 | 106 | Purdue |
| Heath Shuler | 1994 | Redskins | 265 | 120 | 45.3 | 1658 | 6.3 | 10 | 12 | 59.6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Tennessee |
| Jimmy Clausen | 2010 | Panthers | 299 | 157 | 52.5 | 1558 | 5.2 | 3 | 9 | 58.4 | 2 | 16 | 48 | Notre Dame |
| Ryan Leaf | 1998 | Chargers | 245 | 111 | 45.3 | 1289 | 5.3 | 2 | 15 | 39.0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Washington State |
