Draft With Us On Underdog! Use Promo-Code: YARDSPER for a 100% deposit match up to $100!
What History Tells Us About 3rd Round QB’s
The 2022 draft class was always labeled as a weak QB class. There were lots of question marks heading into the draft. With many teams having a need at the QB position, mocks were all over the place with the landing spots for the big four quarterbacks: Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, and Matt Corral (five if you consider Sam Howell). I’m going to look back at each season since 2012 to see how many quarterbacks drafted in the 3rd round produced QB1 or QB2 seasons to let you form your own opinion if Ridder, Corral, and Willis are worthy of their draft positions in superflex leagues.
2012
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
7th |
275.62 |
17.23 |
16 |
| Matt Schaub – HOU |
12th |
222.82 |
13.93 |
16 |
| Colt McCoy – CLE |
23rd |
8.66 |
2.89 |
3 |
2013
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
5th |
270.18 |
16.89 |
16 |
| Mike Glennon – TB |
18th |
158.02 |
12.16 |
13 |
| Josh McCown – CHI |
19th |
136.06 |
17.01 |
8 |
| Matt Schaub – HOU |
20th |
104.8 |
10.48 |
10 |
2014
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
2nd |
327.6 |
20.48 |
16 |
| Josh McCown – TB |
18th |
126.94 |
11.54 |
11 |
| Mike Glennon – TB |
21st |
89.58 |
14.93 |
6 |
| Colt McCoy – WAS |
24th |
62.88 |
12.58 |
5 |
2015
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
3rd |
336.36 |
21.02 |
16 |
2016
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
11th |
268.06 |
16.75 |
16 |
2017
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
1st |
347.92 |
21.75 |
16 |
| Jacoby Brissett – IND |
20th |
205.92 |
12.87 |
16 |
| Josh McCown – NYJ |
21st |
205.44 |
15.8 |
13 |
2018
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
9th |
298.42 |
18.65 |
16 |
2019
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
4th |
333.6 |
20.85 |
16 |
| Jacoby Brissett – IND |
24th |
222.68 |
14.85 |
15 |
2020
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
6th |
372.78 |
23.3 |
16 |
2021
| Quarterback |
Overall Finish |
Overall Points |
PPG (points per game) |
Games Played |
| Russell Wilson – SEA |
19th |
223.8 |
17.22 |
13 |
All stats courtesy of Fantasy Pros
Takeaways
Since Josh McCown was drafted in 2002, 27 quarterbacks have been drafted in the 3rd round. Only two of those quarterbacks have produced a QB1 season (Wilson & Schaub). That’s a whopping 7.4%! Cut that in half to find a quarterback that has multiple QB1 seasons. These percentages are even lower than I initially thought when starting the research for this article.
I’ve heard the arguments that these landing spots may provide opportunity for these young quarterbacks and about how athletic some of them are. Both of which have very valid points, but you need to ask yourself if the hit rate on these quarterbacks is worth it in some of the spots they’re being drafted. Taking a stab at one in the 3rd round is different from reaching in the late 1st or early 2nd. People get too caught up in drafting for need, instead of value.
