An NFL Rookie QB Barometer For The Bucs' Josh Freeman

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Since the 1995 NFL Draft, there's been 35 quarterbacks chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Many of the League's franchises have done it differently during that time. Some throw their rookies right into the fire in a sink or swim type scenario. Others coddle their quarterbacks, not playing them for several years.

Now that Buccaneers Quarterback Josh Freeman has ascended to the throne, let's take a look at how other fellow first round picks have performed in their rookie seasons to give us a reference point of where Josh Freeman is.

Keep in mind, each of these quarterbacks had several factors working either for them or against them in their rookie seasons. Many QB's were drafted by downright horrible football teams with absolutely no weapons.

Others were plugged into a young developing team that just needed him as the final piece to the puzzle.

The First Dayers

Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Joey Harrington (after Week two), David Carr, Vince Young (after Week two), Peyton Manning, Kerry Collins (After Week two), Ben Roethlisberger (after Week one), Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford , Ryan Leaf .

We all know the stories of Roethlisberger, Flacco, and Ryan, taking the reigns of their team from Day One (or Day two as the case was for Roethlisberger).

Roethlisberger was perhaps the best of the bunch. Finishing his rookie season with an unreal 13-0 record as a starter. Big Ben was no slouch statistically either, in his 14 total games for the Steelers, he was 196 of 295, 66.4 comp pct., 2621 yds 17 TDs, 11 INTs. In his first start as a Steeler, Ben went 12 of 22, 163 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int in 13-3 win over Miami.

Matt Ryan started all 16 games for the Falcons, going 11-5 as a starter. He 265 of 434, with a 61.1 completion percentage, 3440 yds, 16 TD and 11 ints. His first NFL start (albeit against a Detroit Lions team that would go winless), Ryan was 9 of 13 for 161 yds, 1 TD, 0 Ints in the win. We all know the story how Ryan's first pass in the NFL was an 80 yard touchdown.

Flacco wasn't quite as successful as Ryan. He also started all 16 games (11-5 as a starter), going 257 of 428, 60.0 comp pct, 2971 yds, 14 TDs, and 12 INTs. Flacco's first start was against the Cincinnati Bengals and he struggled a bit, 9-for-24, for just 94 yds and an interception, but won 17-10.

Joey Harrington moved into the starting role in Week Three of his rookie season and started 12 games, going 3-9 as a starter. He had the typical rookie season, 215 of 429, for just a 50.1% pct, 2294 yds, 12 TDs, 16 Ints. His first career start was against the Green Bay Packers and he had some turnover issues. Harrington went 15 of 35 for 182 yds, 2 touchdowns but four interceptions in a 37-31 loss.

David Carr had the double whammy, being the No. 1 overall draft pick and playing for the expansion Houston Texans. Carr started from day one for the Texans and wasn't very effective, going 4-12 in 16 starts and 233 of 444, with a 52.5 completion percentage, 2592 yds passing, 9 TDs and 15 ints. Carr's first start was a 19-10 upset of the Dallas Cowboys. He played decently, going 10 of 22 for 145 yds, 2 TDs and 1 Int.

Kerry Collins knew Carr's pain, starting for the expansion Carolina Panthers but he fared a little better. Taking over in Week Three, Collins was a surprising 7-6 in 13 starts for the Panthers despite struggling statistically—214 of 433, only a 49.4% comp pct, 2717 yds 14 TDs, 19 Ints. Collins first start was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he played well in the Panthers 20-13 loss to the Bucs, going 18 of 32, 234 yds, 1 TD and 1 Int.

Vince Young took over the struggling Titans in Week Three as well, exploding on to the NFL scene. Young was 8-5 as a starter, 184 of 357, 51.5 completion percentage, 2199 Yds, 12 TDs, 13 Ints. He also added 552 yds and seven touchdowns rushing. Young's first start was an ugly 45-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Young went 14 of 29 for 155 yds with a touchdown and two picks. He was held to just three yards rushing on five carries.

Peyton Manning had an ugly rookie season, going 3-13 as a day one starter. Manning statistically wasn't too bad although he was high in the interception department.

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