Since 2000, four quarterbacks have been chosen in the third round of the NFL Draft and ascended to long-term starting status.
Super Bowl winners Russell Wilson and Nick Foles join former Falcons QB Matt Schaub and journeyman extraordinaire Josh McCown in quarterbacks who have overcome their draft status and become notable figures in the league. Most quarterbacks taken since 2000 in this round have gotten some starting experience at some point, but positioned themselves as stop-gap starters at best and backups on average.
When the Falcons drafted Desmond Ridder this past draft cycle, it created an expectation that he’d at least get a chance showing what he’s got during what most assumed would be an extremely down year for the franchise.