Since the Colts drafted Peyton Manning with the top pick in 1998, quarterbacks have been selected with the first pick in 18 of the past 24 NFL drafts.
During that same 24-year span, the first quarterback was off the board within the first three picks in all but two drafts. Chad Pennington (18th in 2000) and EJ Manuel (16th in ’13) were the exceptions.
This draft class is set to buck that trend. Barring something unexpected, 2022 will mark the third time in the past quarter century without a quarterback selected within the top three.
Unlike the past couple of drafts, with Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence locks at the top, a lack of consensus on the draft’s QB1 adds a little extra intrigue.