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The 2024 NFL Draft is almost upon us, and as always, we're excited to see who our favorite teams will select. A draft pick can change the trajectory of a franchise forever, for better or worse. That is especially true for the quarterback position, arguably the most important position in team sports.
While the first-round QBs will get all the hype from the media, you shouldn't sleep on signal callers from the later rounds, including second-round QBs. Many future franchise quarterbacks have been picked in the second round, proving that a team can still strike gold outside the first 32 picks.
With that being said, let's take a quick look at all the second-round QBs since 2000.
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Second-Round QBs In The 2000s
Drew Brees was the first second-round QB of this century, and he is easily the best second-round QB ever since Brett Favre. Brees is a future Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players of all time, but the same can't be said about Quincy Carter, who was also picked in the second round of the 2001 draft.
Carter had all the tools to succeed but couldn't overcome his demons during his playing career. Their 2001 draft classmate Marques Tuiasosopo would only throw 90 passes in the NFL.
Drew Brees and his dog watch the 2001 Draft from his apartment at Purdue: pic.twitter.com/78zFMXYQPf
— SI Vault (@si_vault) April 25, 2013
After Tuiasosopo, there wouldn't be another second-round QB until 2006, when the Jets selected Kellen Clemens. Clemens would spend 11 years in the league but only started in 21 games.
Tarvaris Jackson was also picked in the second round of that draft, and he sadly passed away in 2020 after spending two seasons as a starter in the NFL. 2007's second-round QB trio of Kevin Kolb, John Beck, and Drew Stanton had little success in the pros, while the last three second-round quarterbacks of the decade (Brian Brohm, Chad Henne, and Pat White) also failed to make a meaningful impact.
Second-Round QBs In The 2010s
Jimmy Clausen was picked in the second round of the 2010 draft, and he was, with all due respect, one of the worst QBs ever. 2011's second-round duo of Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick both became stars in their primes, while Brock Osweiler (2012) had his moment in the sun with the 2015 Broncos and got paid big time by the Texans.
Geno Smith (2013) looked like a bust until becoming a two-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, and 2014's duo of Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo are two talented but polarizing quarterbacks.
This moment between Drew Lock and Geno Smith after the game-winning TD was so great.
True teammates. Love this.pic.twitter.com/aqUhFz2IIf https://t.co/rB92AnMDsa
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 19, 2023
Christian Hackenberg was picked 51st overall in 2016 but never played a down in the league. DeShone Kizer (2017) was infamously the starting quarterback of the 0-16 Browns, and Drew Lock (2019) is a QB who has had some great moments but has never really put it all together to become a consistent starter.
Second-Round QBs In The 2020s
Jalen Hurts (2020) exceeded all expectations and became the first second-round QB since Carr in 2016 to get a first-place MVP vote in a season. Hurts finished second in MVP voting in 2022 and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in the same season.
This is the best rushing TD of Jalen Hurts career🔥#FlyEaglesFly #Eagles pic.twitter.com/WAacRl7iwm
— ☆𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘦𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘎𝘖𝘋☆ (@JalenCarterDPOY) April 4, 2024
Bucs QB Kyle Trask (2021) was drafted to be an eventual successor to Tom Brady, but he hasn't been able to overtake Baker Mayfield since Brady's retirement. Lastly, Will Levis (2023) was projected to be a first-round pick but slid in the draft. He is now slated to be the Titans' franchise QB, so it could all work out well for him in the end.
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