QB Class Of 2009 Already Making Its Mark

The five quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft are collectively regarded as busts. Given the failures of Tim Couch, Akili Smith, and Cade McNown, and the eventual disintegration of Daunte Culpepper's career, it's hard to disagree.

Ten years removed from that debacle, however, two of the three quarterbacks selected in the first round of this year's draft are already asserting themselves as future stars.

More surprising, of course, is the level at which New York Jets rookie Mark Sanchez has been playing. After leaving USC a year early, many questioned whether Sanchez was ready for the NFL, or if he'd be a bust. The pressure only mounted when the Jets selected him at number five overall to replace departed legend Brett Favre.

Sanchez has responded with 606 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 91.3 through his first three games.

The Jets are now 3-0, and it's been Sanchez's strong play that has helped orient the team. He's the first quarterback to ever win his first three NFL games as a rookie, and he did it against three very talented teams: the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, and Tennessee Titans.

Only one quarterback was selected before Sanchez in the draft: Matthew Stafford went first overall to the lowly Detroit Lions, fresh off an 0-16 season. Stafford supplanted Culpepper as the team's starting quarterback in the preseason, and despite throwing three interceptions in the team's season opener at New Orleans, he's been improving every week.

His play was improved against division rival Minnesota the following week, and while the team still lost, he threw his first career NFL touchdown to Calvin Johnson.

This weekend, however, Stafford contributed to the Lions' first win after a 19-game losing streak. He accumulated 241 passing yards, throwing one touchdown and wound up with a solid 87.8 passer rating. He didn't throw any interceptions, and the Lions 9 for 12 conversion rate on third down is a testament to his maturity on the field.

Josh Freeman, the 17th overall pick in the Draft with Tampa Bay, hasn't played an NFL down yet as his team struggles. Whenever he does line up under center, however, expectations will be high, as Buccaneers fans hope that he can work the same magic as Stafford and Sanchez.

It's early in the season, and early in their respective careers, but so far the quarterback class of 2009 looks nothing like the class of 1999. Only time will tell, however, if Stafford and Sanchez will have more fulfilling rookie seasons than Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, 2008's first-round quarterbacks, both of whom lost early in last year's playoffs.