Tim Tebow and the 25 Worst Quarterback First Round Selections

Tim Tebow cannot be declared an NFL "bust." At least not yet.

But if he is indeed shipped out of Denver following the firing of Josh McDaniels, it would be one of the worst first round draft choices of a quarterback ever. Even if Tebow went on to have a hall of fame career.

The point of a draft choice is to benefit the team they were selected by!

If Tebow ends up in Jacksonville or Buffalo or wherever else and leads them to a title, how are the Broncos gonna feel?

That scenario has us thinking about other cases where a team selected a quarterback in the first round, hoping they would be the franchise's starter for the better part of a decade, only to that never happen.

Technically, these players aren't NFL "busts," just busts to the team that chose them: Steve Young was certainly a bust for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.....certainly not for the San Francisco 49ers. If he had been a first round choice  (not a supplemental draft choice) Young would make this post-merger-only list. 

And as you'll see when you get near the top of the list, it's not always the player who made the selection a disaster.

Honorable Mention: Eli Manning

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NEW YORK CITY - APRIL 24: Quarterback Eli Manning (Mississippi) was selected first overall by the San Diego Chargers at the 2004 NFL Draft on April 24, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Manning was later traded to the New York Giants in exc

Team: San Diego Chargers

Overall Selection: 1st

Year: 2004

Stats: None

Obviously the deal worked out pretty well for both clubs: Manning won a Super Bowl and has the Giants in contention nearly ever season; Phillip Rivers also has been a remarkable passer for the Chargers.

But it should at least get mentioned, considering how bizarre and awkward it was to see Manning hold up that Charger jersey.

Honorable Mention: Jim Everett

George Rose/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 7: Quarterback Jim Everett #11 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Anaheim Stadium on Ocotober 7, 1990 in Anaheim, California. The Bengals won 34-31 in overtime. (Photo by George Rose/

Team: Houston Oilers

Overall Selection: 3rd

Year: 1986

Stats: None

Much like the Eli Manning-Philip Rivers situation in 2004, this selection didn't end up setting the Oilers quarterback status back for very long.

Houston took Everett, but they couldn't sign him and eventually shipped him to the Rams, where he had a pretty good career.

But the Oilers had a nice backup plan: Warren Moon.

No. 25: Jim Druckenmiller

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15 Aug 1998: Quarterback Jim Druckenmiller #14 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the American Bowl Game against the Seattle Seahawks at the B. C. Place in Vancouver, B. C., Canada. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Otto Gr

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Overall Selection: 26th

Year: 1997

Stats: (2 years) 1-0 record, 40.4% completion, 239 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT

Eventually the string of 49er quarterback genius had to come to an end.

The club selected the huge, physically gifted Virginia Tech quarterback late in the first round, hoping to groom a replacement for Steve Young.

But it didn't work out and the 49ers sent him to Miami after just two years.

No. 24: Kyle Boller

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

BALTIMORE - OCTOBER 26: Quarterback Kyle Boller #8 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to pass during his team's 26-6 win over the Denver Broncos on October 26, 2003 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo By Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Overall Selection: 19th

Year: 2003

Stats: (5 years) 20-22 record, 56.9% completion, 7,846 yards, 45 TD, 44 INT

Brian Billick's confidence in himself and his offense led the Ravens and Ozzie Newsome to stretch a bit with this pick. Sure, Boller had a tremendous arm and was very athletic, but he didn't do all that much at Cal.

And he didn't do that much for the Ravens.

2004 wasn't bad for Boller and the Ravens, but his fumble and interception problems persisted.

Don't feel bad for him for making this list however: he gets to go home to Carrie Prejean.

No. 23: Dan McGwire

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 28: Quarterback Dan McGwire #10 of the Seattle Seahawks looks down field for a receiver during the exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on August 28, 1992 in San Francisco, California. The 49ers

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Overall Selection: 16th

Year: 1991

Stats: (4 years) 2-3 record, 50% completion, 745 yards, 2 TD, 6 INT

The same year when his older brother Mark had the worst season of his young career (he hit .201) Dan McGwire was selected by the Seattle Seahawks as a future replacement for aging Dave Krieg.

Ironically, Krieg, who was nine years older than McGwire, would go on to play another eight seasons, three more than McGwire.

The club would try again just two seasons later......

No. 22: Rick Mirer

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8 Aug 1996: Quarterback Rick Mirer of the Seattle Seahawks sets to throw a pass during the Seahawks 24-19 win over the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule/ALLSPORT

Team: Seattle Seahawks

Overall Selection: 2nd

Year: 1993

Stats: (4 years) 20-31 record, 53.4% completion, 9,094 yards, 41 TD, 56 INT

Mirer wasn't terrible for the Seahawks. Although in comparison to the man taken ahead of him (Drew Bledsoe) he was well below average.

He did start all but six of the Seahawks first games during his first three seasons in the NFL and had a few moments of glory.

In his second season, 1994 he threw for 426 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, to lead the team to a surprise 2-0 start.

But things never got much better and he continued to throw more interceptions than touchdowns.

For the heir apparent to Joe Montana, that's not good, and he was traded to Chicago.

No. 21: Jeff George

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1 Nov 1992: Quarterback Jeff George of the Indianapolis Colts throws the ball during a game against the San Diego Chargers at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Chargers won the game, 26-0. Mandatory Credit: Gary Newkirk /Allsport

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Overall Selection: 1st

Year: 1990

Stats: (4 years) 14-35 record, 57% completion, 9,551 yards, 41 TD, 46 INT

Jeff George was a pretty good NFL quarterback. He led the league in passing yards one season, threw for over 4,000 another year and led both the Falcons and Vikings to playoff berths. But he didn't achieve anything near that for the team that chose him.

As the number one overall pick in the draft (and on a team that had decent talent on offense, like Eric Dickerson, Albert Bentley, and Bill Brooks) he accomplished very little in four years on the job.

It's amazing that after George, entry #5 and entry #1 on this list, the team wasn't too afraid to choose Peyton Manning in 1998.

No. 20: Brady Quinn

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CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Brady Quinn #10 of the Cleveland Browns looks to pass the ball down the field during the game against the Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 23, 2008 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty

Team: Cleveland Browns

Overall Selection: 22nd

Year: 2007

Stats: (3 years) 3-9 record, 52.1% completion, 1,902 yards, 10 TD, 9 INT

Mel Kiper declared Quinn his top quarterback available a whole year before the 2007 draft.

Naturally the Browns (no stranger to draft day mishaps) traded up with the Dallas Cowboys to acquire him.

But he couldn't permanently beat out Derek Anderson and the club soon shipped him to Denver. If the Browns hadn't received Peyton Hillis in return, he'd probably be higher up on this list.

No. 19: David Carr (Tie)

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - DECEMBER 19: David Carr #8 of the Houston Texans looks to pass during the game against the Chicago Bears on December 5, 2004 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Texans defeated the Bears 24-5. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Team: Houston Texans

Overall Selection: 1st

Year: 2002

Stats: (5 years) 22-53 record, 60% completion, 13,391 yards, 59 TD, 65 INT

Carr was an expansion pick so he naturally had a strike against him.

Remember how they took Tony Boselli with their first expansion draft choice and he was unable to play a single game? That misstep sure surfaced during Carr's tenure, as he was sacked an NFL record 76 times in 2002.

And the pass protection didn't improve much: he was sacked a league high 68 times three years later. And Carr wasn't horrible. He actually led the NFL in completion percentage in 2006.

But he turned the ball over so much, with so few positive plays that he has to be considered a bust .

No. 19: Joey Harrington (Tie)

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DETROIT - DECEMBER 19: Joey Harrington #3 of the Detroit Lions sets to pass during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on December 19, 2004 in Detroit, Michigan. The Vikings won 28-27. (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images)

Team: Detroit Lions

Overall Selection: 3rd

Year: 2002

Stats: (4 years) 18-37 record, 10,242 yards, 79 TD, 85 INT

Because Harrington and David Carr were taken 30 minutes apart, they will share this spot on the list.

Harrington is somewhat fortunate: his "bust" status is share with several others, mainly Charlies Rogers, Roy Williams, Mike Williams, Marty Mornhinweg, and most of all Matt Millen.

Still, he did not do much for the Lions during his stay in Motown.

As a third overall pick, he probably should be higher on this list, but given the mess in Detroit, and the fact that (until Aaron Rodgers came along) the Jeff Tedford quarterback line was notoriously disappointing, there are many worse busts.

No. 18: Todd Blackledge

Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Overall Selection: 7th

Year: 1983

Stats: (5 years) 13-11 record, 48.1%, 5,286 yards, 29 TD, 38 INT

Ken O'Brien and Tony Eason weren't exactly hall of famers, but in the famed Quarterback Class of 1983, Blackledge was the class dunce.....although he is a great broadcaster.

While fellow classmates Jim Kelly, John Elway, and Dan Marino went to Canton, Blackledge didn't have much success, despite his great run at Penn State from 1980-82.

For Joe Paterno, he won a national championship and the Davey O'Brien quarterback of the Year award. But for John Mackovic's Chiefs he couldn't do much.

No. 17: Rich Campbell

Team: Green Bay Packers

Overall Selection: 6th

Year: 1981

Stats: (4 years) 0 starts, 45.6% completion, 386 yards, 3 TD, 9 INT

Campbell was an All-American at Cal in the late 1970s and 1980, prompting the Packers (along with head coach and hall of fame quarterback Bart Starr) to take him with their first round selection.

In four season, however, Campbell was unable to unseat the very effective starter, Lynn Dickey.

Fortunately, Campbell had a great fallback plan: he went to seminary school and became a Baptist minister.

No. 16: Andre Ware

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6 Dec 1992: Quarterback Andre Ware of the Detroit Lions looks to pass the ball during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Packers won the game, 38-10.

Team: Detroit Lions

Overall Selection: 7th

Year: 1990

Stats: (4 years) 3-3 record, 51.6% completion, 1,112 yards, 5 TD, 8 INT

Ware won the Heisman in 1989, a year after his future teammate Barry Sanders.

But Ware was the first in a five year stretch from 1989-93 in which Heisman winners did not fare very well in the NFL: Ware, Ty Detmer, Desmond Howard, Gino Torretta, and Charlie Ward.

It didn't help that the Lions couldn't completely commit to Ware, having Rodney Peete and Erik Kramer looking over his shoulder.

Nevertheless, Ware wouldn't be the first Houston Cougar to struggle in the NFL.

No. 15: David Klingler

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback David Klingler #7 of the Cincinnati Bengals holds a football during the game against the Houston Oilers at Riverfront Stadium on November 13, 1994 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Oilers defeated the Bengals 35-5. (Photo

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Overall Selection: 6th

Year: 1992

Stats: (4 years) 4-20 record, 54.6% completion, 2,880 yards, 16 TD, 22 INT

Only the 1990s Bengals could make a mistake like this. Andre Ware did not achieve much during his first two season with the Lions: clearly, he was a "system quarterback" at Houston.

Still, the "Bungles" took Klingler, whose winning percentage as a starter was less than 17%.

The only saving grace: That was one of the worst overall drafts in NFL history (look at the first round here) and also one of the worst quarterback crops ever.

No. 14: Todd Marinovich

Ken Levine/Getty Images

20 Sep 1992: Quarterback Todd Marinovich of the Los Angeles Raiders passes the ball during a game against the Cleveland Browns at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Browns won the game, 28-16. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine

Team: Los Angeles Raiders

Overall Selection: 24th

Year: 1992

Stats: (2 years) 3-5 record, 50.7% completion, 1,345 yards, 8 TD, 9 INT

Considering all of Marinovich's problems BEFORE the NFL draft, for him to be selected in the first round, his NFL stardom had to be considered a guarantee. It wasn't.

Instead of taking a relatively obscure player from Southern Miss (Brett Favre, the next QB chosen, nine spots later) the Raiders selected Marinovich and gave him a relatively huge multi-million dollar contract.

But after a brilliant debut (three touchdowns, 243 yards in a December game against Kansas City) Marinovich threw four interceptions the next week in the playoffs and a year later or so later he was out of the league.

Even more destructive to his career than his play, was his drug addiction.

No. 13: Cade McNown

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

26 Sep 1999: Cade McNown #8 of the Chicago Bears looks on from the field during the game against the Oakland Raiders at the Network Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Raiders defeated the Bears 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport

Team: Chicago Bears

Overall Selection: 12th

Year: 1999

Stats: (2 years) 3-12 record, 54.6% completion, 3,111 yards, 16 TD, 19 INT

Well, it's hard to say who was the biggest bust of the 1999 Quarterback Class.

But because McNown was selected outside the top 10, and he was the fifth one taken, he cannot be too high on this list.

Even if his career stats are horrible: three wins in 15 starts.

No. 12: John Reeves

Team: Philadelphia Eagles

Overall Selection: 14th

Year: 1971

Stats: (3 years) 0-7 record, 44.9% completion, 1,609 yards, 7 TD, 15 INT

Reaves probably benefited from Steve Spurrier's tenure at Florida. Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy in 1966 and was chosen third overall in the next year's draft.

A few years later, the Eagles chose Reaves, who had led the Gators to a great season in 1969 as a sophomore.

But as a pro his game just didn't translate and he never won a game as the starter for the  team that drafted him.

No. 11: Matt Leinart

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - SEPTEMBER 10: Matt Leinart #7 of the Arizona Cardinals scrambles with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL game on September 10, 2007 at Monster Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Overall Selection: 10th

Year: 2006

Stats: (4 years) 7-10 record, 57.1% completion, 3,893 yards, 14 TD, 20 INT

There are several entries on this list that had such a lack of talent around them that no one, not Joe Montana or Tom Brady, would have been able to succeed and/or live up to their first round hype.

But Matt Leinart cannot be considered one of those players. Simply inserting Kurt Warner in his place in 2007 and 2008 proved that.

Leinart could rebound someday and become a modern day resurrection story. But it won't be with the team that drafted him.

No. 10: Alex Smith

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 29: Quarterback Alex Smith #1 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 29, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 2

Team: San Francisco 49ers

Overall Selection: 1st

Year: 2005

Stats: (6 years) 16-24 record, 56.8% completion, 8,583 yards, 46 TD, 52 INT

Even if it's not his fault that the club has failed to provide him with any semblance of continuity on the offensive coaching staff.

And maybe it was a stretch for him to be taken there. But he's only had one year in which he threw more touchdowns than interception. That is not what you expect from a number one overall selection.

No. 9: Tommy Maddox

Ken Levine/Getty Images

22 Nov 1992: Quarterback Tommy Maddox of the Denver Broncos looks to pass the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won the game, 24-0. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine /Allsport

Team: Denver Broncos

Overall Selection: 25th

Year: 1992

Stats: (2 years) 0-4 record, 54.9% completion, 758 yards, 6 TD, 9 INT

18 years before the Broncos used the 25th overall selection to draft a great prospect from a quarterback-rich program (Florida's Tim Tebow), they selected UCLA Bruin Tommy Maddox.

Maddox never really had a chance in Denver. John Elway ultimately won his power struggle, and the man who selected Maddox, Dan Reeves, was fired.

Maddox would bounce around with the Rams, Giants, and then the XFL, before having a magical season for Pittsburgh in 2002. Still, for the Denver Broncos, he was a horrific bust.

No. 8: Tim Couch

Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images

CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 15: Quarterback Tim Couch #2 of the Cleveland Browns scrambles with the ball during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 15, 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Colts won the game 28-23. (Photo by

Team: Cleveland Browns

Overall Selection: 1st

Year: 1999

Stats: (5 years) 23-37 record, 59.8% completion, 11,131 yards, 64 TD, 67 INT

Couch wasn't nearly as bad as Cleveland fans will remember. He led the team to some marvelous wins. As a rookie, his Hail Mary at the end of a game against the Saints gave the "new" Browns their first ever win.

And two weeks later Couch guided Cleveland to a stunning upset of the Steelers in Pittsburgh, a feat he repeated a few seasons later in 2003. And in 2002 he helped put the team into position for a playoff spot, before injury let Kelly Holcomb finish the job.

But because he was the first of the five quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks of the 1999 draft, he should have done better than he did.

No. 7: Heath Shuler

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

2 Oct 1994: Quarterback Heath Shuler of the Washington Red Skins in action during the Redskins 34-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Team: Washington Redskins

Overall Selection: 4th

Year: 1994

Stats: (3 years) 4-9 record, 47.7% completion, 2,403 yards, 13 TD, 19 INT

Representative Shuler has moved on from a pretty miserable NFL career: he nearly became the House's top democrat a few weeks back.

But even if he one day reaches the White House, the people of Washington will still not forget his first term in D.C.

With a brilliant offensive mind at the helm (former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator, Norv Turner) Shuler couldn't make the Washington offense anywhere near respectable, and he soon lost his job to seventh round draft choice, Gus Frerrotte.

No. 6: Jim Plunkett

Team: New England Patriots

Overall Selection: 1st

Year: 1971

Stats: (5 years) 23-38 record, 48.5% completion, 9,932 yards, 62 TD, 87 INT

Long before David Carr was battered to shreds in Houston and Tim Couch failed in Cleveland, there was Jim Plunkett.

For his first four seasons in the NFL, Plunkett started every game for the horrible Patriots. And in the fourth season, he somehow managed to lead the Patriots to a 7-7 record.

But his interception problems (he led the league in 1974) and the fact that he never completed less than half of his passes in a Pats uniform eventually led to his being dealt to San Francisco.

Soon, the Stanford quarterback would return as a California football legend, by leading the Raiders to two Super Bowl titles, becoming the poster boy for NFL redemption.

But for the New England Patriots, he was a bust...no matter how bad the team was.

No. 5: Art Schlichter

Team: Baltimore Colts

Overall Selection: 4th

Year: 1981

Stats: (3 years) 0-6 record, 45% completion, 1,006 yards, 3 TD, 11 INT

Schlichter and his gambling problems were probably his ultimate NFL legacy. But his tenure with the Colts was almost as sad.

He never won a game as a starter, never threw for 200 yards in a game, and was suspended by the league for the Colts entire last season in Baltimore.

No. 4: JaMarcus Russell

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

DENVER - DECEMBER 20: Quarterback JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter at Invesco Field at Mile High on December 20, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 20-1

Team: Oakland Raiders

Overall Selection: 1st

Year: 2007

Stats: (3 years) 7-18 record, 52.1% completion, 4,083 yards, 18 TD, 23 INT

No one had more physical tools at the quarterback position that Russell. But for a variety of reasons he never panned out.

Despite being called in by Mike Shanahan for a tryout with the Washington Redskins a few weeks ago, it doesn't seem likely that he'll return to the field anytime soon.

And even though he was the first overall pick (in a draft that included stars like Calvin Johnson, Darrelle Revis, Joe Thomas, and Adrian Peterson) and was given an enormous contract, he doesn't get the top spot on the list.

Why? He wasn't that bad as a starter his second season. In 2008, he threw just eight picks in 15 starts and led the Raiders to a few surprise upsets. 

No. 3: Akili Smith

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

22 Oct 2000: Quarterback Akili Smith #11 of the Cincinnati Bengals scrambles with the ball during the game against the Denver Broncos at the Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Broncos 31-21.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Overall Selection: 3rd

Year: 1999

Stats: (4 years) 3-14 record, 46.6% completion, 2,212 yards, 5 TD, 13 INT

Although he was the third quarterback chosen that year, behind Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb, Smith has to be considered the biggest bust of the infamous 1999 class.

He certainly did not play well. But the Bengals deserve just as much blame for this one.

You get the feeling, they didn't do their homework on this one.

Sure Smith had physical skills, running a 4.66 40-yard dash at the combine. But he had just one year's experience as a starter at the Division I level, and in an offense that had yielded another borderline NFL bust, Trent Dilfer.

No. 2: Ryan Leaf

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO, CA - DEC 3: Ryan Leaf #16 of the San Diego Chargers reacts to a call during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 3, 2000 at QualComm Stadium in San Diego, California. The 49ers defeated the Chargers 44-17. (Photo by Stephen

Team: San Diego Chargers

Overall Selection: 2nd

Year: 1998

Stats: (3 years) 4-14 record, 48% completion, 3,666 yards, 13 TD, 33 INT

Leaf's legacy in San Diego is ruined for two reasons that had nothing to do with his on-the-field play.

1) His poor relationship with the media.....see his infamous outburst here:

2) Being selected one spot after one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Peyton Manning

But his play on the field was pretty terrible as well.

He began his career strong, earning the starter's job as a rookie and winning his first two games.

But after that, he fell apart, throwing just one touchdown and 13 interceptions, along with eight fumbles, the remainder of the season.

He didn't take a snap in 1999, and was a part of the historically bad 1-15 Charger team of 2000 and was soon released.

No. 1: John Elway

Team: Baltimore Colts

Overall Selection: 1st

Year: 1983

Stats: None

Before you start commenting away on this slideshow hear me out.

The purpose of the post is not to declare "worst quarterbacks" but to declare "worst quarterback selections."

And was there a worse quarterback selection than the Colts picking John Elway. They knew he wouldn't sign with Baltimore, yet they chose him anyway. And Elway was content to (or so he bluffed) play baseball for the Yankees, rather than sign with the Colts.

That was a bad decision. But not unique. The Chargers knew Eli Manning wouldn't sign with them, but the drafted him anyway.

Still, the Chargers had two backup plans: Phillip Rivers and Drew Brees.

The 1983 Baltimore Colts had already wasted a top five pick two seasons earlier on a quarterback, Art Schlichter.

Drafting Elway was the last bonehead move by a franchise that would move to Indianapolis less than a year later. And while Elway would go on to become one of the all-time greats, the Colts waited 15 more years until they made a successful quarterback draft selection.