While the National Football League is often criticized for not knowing what translates from a college quarterback to a successful signal caller in the pros, note Joe Montana was a third-round draft choice, Tom Brady a sixth and Brock Purdy the last player chosen in the 2022 draft, this season throws shade on that criticism. The 14 teams that advanced to the playoffs this year tell a different story.
Three of the teams are led by quarterbacks who were the first overall selection in their draft. The Los Angeles Rams have Matthew Stafford behind center, he was the Detroit Lions first overall pick in 2009, and the Lions have Jared Goff running their offense, he was the Rams first overall pick in 2016. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are led by Baker Mayfield, who was the Cleveland Browns first overall selection in 2018.
A dozen of the teams that advanced to the playoffs this season were manned at quarterback by first round selections. Only the Philadelphia Eagles, who got Jalen Hurts with a second-round choice, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are led by Russell Wilson who was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 draft, don’t have a first round pick running their offense.
I mention quarterbacks today because we have an intriguing QB matchup in store tonight when the Buccaneers host the Washington Commanders. This battle features a top draft pick and Jayden Daniels, who was the second overall selection of the Commanders last April. Mayfield has led the Buccaneers to the playoffs in both his seasons in Florida, and Daniels is completing one of the most successful rookie seasons for a quarterback in history. His 69% completion percentage this year is slightly higher than the all-time mark of career leader Joe Burrow. That stat requires 1500 passing attempts to make the list, Daniels tossed the ball 480 times this season.
Rookie quarterbacks do not have a winning record in the playoffs, and their mark is worse on the road than it is at home. But, before we eliminate the two rookies opening on the road for their teams today, Bo Nix led the Broncos into Buffalo before having his season ended by Josh Allen and company earlier today, Daniels has a real shot tonight.
Under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders leaped from a record that earned them the second overall pick in the 2024 draft to the playoffs this season. Their success is anchored by the outstanding play of their rookie quarterback and a point total third best in the NFC. While their defense ranks near the middle of the league in most categories, the stop unit has made big plays throughout the season to earn Washington a won/loss record two better than their hosts.