What is the best QB class in NFL draft history ?
Take a look at the best QB class in NFL draft history.
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Dan Marino (Image via Pro Football Hall of Fame)
There have been many great quarterbacks in NFL history. Some have been better than the others. The NFL draft has been a source of excitement for football fans for decades. Every year, top college football players are selected by teams in the hopes of bolstering their rosters and leading them to championship success.
One of the most important positions in football is quarterback, and over the years, there have been several highly-touted quarterback classes in NFL draft history. We will examine what is considered by many to be the best QB class in NFL draft history, the 1983 QB class.
The 1983 QB class was headlined by six quarterbacks who were eventually drafted in the first round. These quarterbacks included John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Tony Eason, Ken O’Brien, and Todd Blackledge. Each of these quarterbacks had a unique skillset and potential, which made them highly sought-after by NFL teams.
The 1983 QB class is known for creating high quality players and has been widely regarded as the greatest QB class of all time. It consisted of six quarterbacks with different qualities and specialties. Let’s take a look at the QBs of 1983 draft class down below.
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1. John Elway (1st overall pick)
The first quarterback selected in the 1983 draft was John Elway, who was taken first overall by the Baltimore Colts. However, Elway was later traded to the Denver Broncos, where he went on to have a legendary career. He won two Super Bowls with the Broncos and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
Elway was known for his athleticism, his strong arm, and his ability to lead his team to victories in clutch situations. He was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1987. He retired after the 1998 season with 51,475 passing yards and 300 touchdown passes, both of which were Broncos records at the time.
2. Jim Kelly (14th overall pick)
Jim Kelly was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 14th overall pick. He led the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s, but unfortunately, the team came up short in each of those games.
Kelly was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and was named to the All-Pro team in 1991. He threw for over 35,000 yards and 237 touchdowns in his career and led the Bills to six division titles.
3. Tony Eason (15th overall pick)
Tony Eason was selected by the New England Patriots with the 15th overall pick. He had a solid career, but he was often overshadowed by the other quarterbacks in the 1983 class.
Eason’s best season with the Patriots came in 1985, when he threw for over 3,200 yards and 23 touchdowns and led the team to a Super Bowl appearance against the Chicago Bears. However, Eason struggled in the game, throwing for just 118 yards and no touchdowns as the Patriots lost 46-10.
4. Ken O’Brien (24th overall pick)
Ken O’Brien was selected by the New York Jets with the 24th overall pick, and he had a productive career, but he never achieved the same level of success as his classmates. However, He had a strong rookie season, throwing for over 2,000 yards and eight touchdowns, and helped lead the team to the playoffs.
Despite his success with the Jets, O’Brien struggled with injuries and inconsistent play in his later years with the team. He was eventually traded to the Green Bay Packers in 1993 and played one final season before retiring from football.
5. Dan Marino (27th overall pick)
The most iconic QB of the 1983 NFL draft class was drafted way in the end compared to his peers. Dan Marino is safely regarded as the greatest QB who never won a Super Bowl in his career. It is always the underdogs who prove everyone wrong and succeed the most.
Marino was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 27th overall pick. In his rookie season, Marino threw for over 2,200 yards and 20 touchdowns and helped lead the Dolphins to the playoffs.
Marino’s best season came in 1984, when he threw for a then-NFL record 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns and led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl. Although the Dolphins lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the game.
Marino’s record-breaking season cemented his place as one of the league’s top quarterbacks. He was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and was selected as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1984.
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