Yardbarker
x
Every NFL QB picked in third round of the draft in the 21st century
Joe Camporeale / USA Today Sports Images

Every NFL QB picked in third round of the draft in the 21st century

The bulk of the 2022 draft's high-profile quarterbacks went off the board in Round 3, putting them in interesting territory. Modern third-round success stories exist, with Russell Wilson being the gold standard, but many other 21st-century third-round QBs' careers reveal the difficulty this position presents. Here are the paths for every third-round passer chosen this century.

 
1 of 32

2023: Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions

2023: Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions
Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK

Viewed as a wild card in the 2023 draft, Hooker saw a November 2022 ACL tear ding his stock. Hooker had used his COVID-19 year, becoming a Heisman candidate. The Virginia Tech recruit-turned-Tennessee standout dominated in Josh Heupel's QB-friendly offense. The Vols' system, Hooker's age (25) and his injury dropped him to No. 68 overall. Dan Campbell indicated Hooker would essentially redshirt as a rookie. That has happened, with Teddy Bridgewater backing up Jared Goff. With Bridgewater on a one-year contract, Hooker will have a chance to become Goff's primary backup -- and a developmental arm -- in 2024.

 
2 of 32

2022: Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

2022: Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The 2022 quarterback class generated extreme skepticism. No passer went off the board until Kenny Pickett at No. 20. After that, Mel Kiper Jr.'s "Best Available" list stood frozen with multiple QBs populating info graphics for hours. It took 54 more picks before the next QB investment. A four-year starter at Cincinnati who helped the Bearcats become the only Group of Five team to make the four-team College Football Playoff, Ridder took over as the Falcons' starter in December 2022. The Falcons have taken heat for sticking with Ridder in 2023, but the inconsistent dual threat reclaimed his job from Taylor Heinicke. The jury is still out.

 
3 of 32

2022: Malik Willis, Tennessee Titans

2022: Malik Willis, Tennessee Titans
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

No quarterback's stock tanked like Willis' during the 2022 draft. Mentioned as a potential top-10 pick and viewed as a likely first-rounder, Willis tumbled toward the middle of Round 3. The Titans stopped his freefall at No. 86. Willis put up big numbers at Liberty, a mid-major program, after transferring from Auburn. After Willis looked unready when backing up Ryan Tannehill in 2022, the Titans preferred late-season addition Josh Dobbs to close out the year. Willis' Tennessee standing dipped further in 2023, with a new Titans GM (Ran Carthon) trading up for Kentucky's Will Levis in Round 2. Levis replaced Tannehill this season.

 
4 of 32

2022: Matt Corral, Carolina Panthers

2022: Matt Corral, Carolina Panthers
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Going off the board after Ridder and Willis, Corral went from fringe first-round prospect to the No. 94 overall pick. One of the scrutinized quarterbacks in 2022's unremarkable class, Corral entered the league as an unpolished prospect out of Ole Miss. His NFL journey has already stalled. After a season-ending foot injury in 2022, Corral saw the Panthers fire the coach that drafted him (Matt Rhule) and acquire the 2023 No. 1 pick (Bryce Young). During Frank Reich's brief time running the show, the Panthers waived Corral. The Patriots, who traded the Corral pick to the Panthers last year, also cut bait shortly after claiming him. Near the end of 2023, Corral is without a team.

 
5 of 32

2021: Kellen Mond, Minnesota Vikings

2021: Kellen Mond, Minnesota Vikings
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

After failing to trade up for Justin Fields, the Vikings waited and took a developmental player at the top of the 2021 third round. Mond did not move up from his third-string position, seeing fellow third-rounder Sean Mannion return as Minnesota's backup despite spending the offseason in Seattle. Mond threw three passes as a rookie. With Kevin O'Connell taking over as head coach in 2022, the Vikings turned to Nick Mullens as Kirk Cousins' backup. They also waived Mond. The Texas A&M product has since bounced between practice squads, venturing from Cleveland to Indianapolis in 2023.

 
6 of 32

2021: Davis Mills, Houston Texans

2021: Davis Mills, Houston Texans
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Taking over a long-term rebuild project, Nick Caserio used his first pick as Texans GM on Mills (No. 67, one slot after Mond). Entering the league with considerably less fanfare than the five first-round QBs chosen in 2021, Mills outperformed most of them -- despite a rough first leg as Houston's starter. The Texans turned to the two-year Stanford starter for the better part of two years, as they attempted to regroup after the Deshaun Watson allegations and trade. Mills fared better as a rookie than he did in 2022, but he has 26 starts on his resume. After Mills led the NFL in INTs in 2022, the Texans drafted C.J. Stroud. 

 
7 of 32

2019: Will Grier, Carolina Panthers

2019: Will Grier, Carolina Panthers
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Being waived by a Carolina coaching staff that was not around when he was drafted, Grier has bounced to Dallas to Cincinnati to New England. The Marty Hurney-Ron Rivera regime drafted Grier 100th overall in 2019, slotting him behind a breaking-down Cam Newton. The former MVP's season-ending foot injury that September, however, pushed former undrafted free agent Kyle Allen into the fray. Grier, a Florida transfer who starred for two years at West Virginia, made the final two starts that year. He threw no touchdown passes and four interceptions and has not appeared in a game since.

 
8 of 32

2018: Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers

2018: Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

With the Steelers coming off a 13-3 season, Ben Roethlisberger griped about the Rudolph pick at the time. The future Hall of Famer was probably right, though Rudolph is on a third contract with the Steelers. Pittsburgh put off adding a Big Ben heir apparent until the very end, but Rudolph, chosen 76th overall out of Oklahoma State, did receive the first extensive non-Roethlisberger QB work. The prolific Big 12 arm did not impress and lost his job briefly to ex-UDFA Duck Hodges. Remembered for being on the end of Myles Garrett's helmet swing, Rudolph has seen the Steelers put Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett ahead of him on the depth chart.

 
9 of 32

2017: Davis Webb, New York Giants

2017: Davis Webb, New York Giants
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

More of a dart throw during Eli Manning's final years, Webb made nary an on-field impact for the Giants and Bills. He played in just two games, starting one due to the Giants resting starters in Week 18 of the 2022 season. But his NFL legacy looks to be just beginning. The Cal product, chosen 87th overall, has already become a position coach. At just 28, Webb wowed the Broncos to the point they hired him to help Russell Wilson's bounce-back bid. While Sean Payton has led that charge, Webb's work may well have him in the mix for offensive coordinator positions in the not-too-distant future. 

 
10 of 32

2017: C.J. Beathard, San Francisco 49ers

2017: C.J. Beathard, San Francisco 49ers
Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

The 49ers' decision not to draft Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes should have received more heat than it caught, but Kyle Shanahan did not begin his San Francisco stay with a starter-caliber QB on the roster. Needing a starter post-Colin Kaepernick, Shanahan signed Brian Hoyer and drafted Beathard 104th overall. The Iowa alum has not exactly flopped, having played seven seasons, and did make five starts as a rookie in between Hoyer and Jimmy Garoppolo's time at the helm. The 49ers let him walk as a 2021 free agent. Beathard has scored a low-stress gig in Jacksonville, backing up Trevor Lawrence, who has never missed a game.

 
11 of 32

2016: Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots

2016: Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Considering his profile when taken 91st overall and the quarterback situation on the team that selected him, Brissett has more than delivered on that investment. A two-year NC State starter after transferring from Florida, Brissett was thrown into the fire during Deflategate and traded for wideout Phillip Dorsett after one Patriots season. Brissett's career has been defined by unexpected QB1 chances, with Andrew Luck's injury and sudden retirement giving him 30 Colts starts in 2017 and 2019. He has since bounced from Miami to Cleveland, where he made 11 more starts during Watson's 2022 ban, to Washington. He is one of the game's top backups.

 
12 of 32

2016: Cody Kessler, Cleveland Browns

2016: Cody Kessler, Cleveland Browns
George Walker IV/Tennessean.com

Where QB prospects end up is quite important; Kessler drew a short straw. Drafted by a Browns team attempting a scorched-earth rebuild -- to the chagrin of new coach Hue Jackson -- Kessler came to Cleveland as 2016's No. 93 overall pick. Injuries to Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown led to eight Kessler rookie-year starts. Eight losses commenced for a Browns team that went 1-15, though Kessler somehow threw just two INTs during that span. DeShone Kizer played in front of him on a worse Browns team in 2017. Kessler's NFL run wrapped after a 2018 year in Jacksonville, when he broke Jason Mendoza's heart by halting Blake Bortles' starter stretch.

 
13 of 32

2015: Garrett Grayson, New Orleans Saints

2015: Garrett Grayson, New Orleans Saints
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

During Drew Brees' 15-year New Orleans stay, Grayson was the franchise's highest quarterback draft investment. The Saints took the Colorado State product 75th overall and kept him for two years, the second of which on the practice squad. But Grayson appeared in just one game with New Orleans, seeing Luke McCown start for an injured Brees for a game in 2015. Grayson played in just one game during four seasons as a pro. He bounced from the Saints to the Falcons to the Broncos and back to the Saints. 

 
14 of 32

2015: Sean Mannion, St. Louis Rams

2015: Sean Mannion, St. Louis Rams
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Daniel has generated more attention; Nathan Peterman receives more ridicule. Somewhere in the middle of the seldom-used backup wing: Mannion, who has been an NFLer nine years and made three starts. The Rams took Mannion 89th overall out of Oregon State. While he started just one game in four years, because Sean McVay rested regulars in Week 17 in 2017, Mannion caught on with the Vikings and spent parts of four seasons there. His two Minnesota starts came when Kirk Cousins rested in 2019 and contracted COVID-19 in 2021. 

 
15 of 32

2013: Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2013: Mike Glennon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Glennon has intrigued more than a few coaches during his career, beginning with NC State's Tom O'Brien, who keyed Russell Wilson's transfer by indicating the 2011 Wolfpack job was Glennon's. After two years as the ACC team's starter, Glennon went 73rd overall to the Bucs, who were souring on Josh Freeman. Glennon replaced Freeman as a rookie and made 13 starts. Later Jameis Winston's backup, Glennon scored $19 million guaranteed from the Bears in 2017 (the QB market used to veer heavily toward sellers). Since Trubisky replaced him, Glennon has been with the Cardinals, Raiders, Jaguars, and Giants. The 6-foot-7 passer played nine NFL seasons.

 
16 of 32

2012: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

2012: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Wilson beat his former Wolfpack teammate to the pros and remains the crown jewel for teams hoping to hit big on a third-round QB. He shined after transferring to Wisconsin, completing 73% of his passes and dropping a 33-4 TD-INT ratio. Wilson was 2012's sixth QB selected, going 75th overall. Despite the Seahawks' three-year, $20.5 million Matt Flynn deal, Wilson never spent any NFL time as a backup. Flynn was gone by 2013 when Wilson began his Hall of Fame journey in earnest by piloting the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowls. He later became one of this period's top QBs. After the Seahawks sold high, Wilson flatlined in a clunky Broncos debut. No. 3 all time in QB rushing yards, the nine-time Pro Bowler has crafted a 2023 bounce-back effort with Sean Payton.

 
17 of 32

2012: Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles

2012: Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

2012 marks the exception for the third-round quarterbacks' NFL plight. Wilson is Canton-bound, and the QB chosen after him has a Super Bowl MVP trophy and a statue at an NFL stadium. Rob Gronkowski's QB at Arizona, Foles started three years with the Wildcats and went 88th overall during Andy Reid's final Eagles draft. Although Foles has bounced around and has been benched by a few teams in recent years, he holds a share of the NFL's single-game TD pass record (seven) and rescued the Eagles following Carson Wentz's 2017 injury. Foles has made 58 NFL starts (with six teams) and has been twice traded, but he has achieved too much to be called a journeyman.

 
18 of 32

2011: Ryan Mallett, New England Patriots

2011: Ryan Mallett, New England Patriots
Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire

Unlike the Saints, the Patriots took a few midround QBs during their future Hall of Famer's stay. Mallett arrived via the draft choice obtained when the Pats sent Randy Moss back to the Vikings (No. 74 overall). After three years backing up Tom Brady, alongside Brian Hoyer, Mallett netted only a seventh-round pick in a 2014 trade with the Texans. He won a semi-memorable competition with Hoyer, a battle featured on 2015's "Hard Knocks," but lost the job in Week 1. Mallett ran afoul with Bill O'Brien and was cut midway through that season. The Arkansas alum finished his career with the Ravens and played seven NFL seasons. Tragically, Mallett drowned in June 2023.

 
19 of 32

2010: Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns

2010: Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns
Michael Chow-Arizona Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK

Becoming one of the NFL's better backup arms, McCoy lasted 13 seasons. The Browns drafted McCoy in 2010, shortly after trading Brady Quinn and cutting Derek Anderson. McCoy, taken 85th overall after guiding Texas to the 2009 national title game, became the Browns' primary starter over the next two years. Twenty-one of his 36 career starts came in Cleveland, but the team changed course and drafted Brandon Weeden in the 2012 first round. McCoy became a Jay Gruden favorite, being a Washington backup throughout the coach's run. He most recently helped the Cardinals to the playoffs, winning two games in Kyler Murray's stead. A new Cards regime cut McCoy in 2023.

 
20 of 32

2008: Kevin O'Connell, New England Patriots

2008: Kevin O'Connell, New England Patriots
Kelvin Ma/Icon Sportswire

Despite O'Connell arriving in New England the year Tom Brady missed 15 games, he threw only six career passes. Matt Cassel played in front of the San Diego State alum, whom the Pats took 94th overall in 2008. This was the earliest QB pick the Pats made since Brady between Drew Bledsoe (1993) and Jimmy Garoppolo (2014), but O'Connell fizzled out, being waived after a year. While he lasted until 2012, bouncing around as a practice arm, O'Connell has climbed the coaching ladder swiftly. He landed Washington's offensive coordinator job at 34, won a ring as the Rams OC, and guided the Vikings to a 13-4 season in his head coaching debut in 2022.

 
21 of 32

2007: Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills

2007: Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills
Rich Kane/Icon Sportswire

The Ravens traded two third-round picks and a seventh for Willis McGahee in 2007; Edwards came to Buffalo via the first of those choices. Chosen 94th overall out of Stanford, Edwards received more run than many third-round QBs this century. He replaced ex-first-rounder J.P. Losman early in his rookie season and won the Week 1 gig in 2008. Certainly not a standout, Edwards nevertheless guided the '08 Bills to a 7-7 record in 14 starts and completed 66% of his throws. After starting ahead of Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2009, Edwards lost the job to the bearded future journeyman. Edwards bounced around as a practice arm until 2014.

 
22 of 32

2006: Charlie Whitehurst, San Diego Chargers

2006: Charlie Whitehurst, San Diego Chargers
George Walker IV/The Tennessean

Tabbed "Clipboard Jesus" during his lengthy QB2 run, Whitehurst blazed the trail for Sean Mannion. In 11 NFL seasons, Whitehurst made nine starts. The Chargers, in their first post-Drew Brees offseason, drafted Whitehurst 81st overall out of Clemson. He backed up the indestructible Philip Rivers for four seasons, throwing zero passes as a Charger, before being traded to the Seahawks in 2010. Whitehurst did start Seattle's Week 17 do-or-die game that year, enabling a 7-9 team to enter the playoffs and thus allowing "Beastquake" to happen, but his most QB1 burn came as a Titan in 2014. Whitehurst made five starts that year. 

 
23 of 32

2006: Brodie Croyle, Kansas City Chiefs

2006: Brodie Croyle, Kansas City Chiefs
Jeff Moffett/Icon Sportswire

Famously avoiding first-round QB investments between Todd Blackledge and Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs made three second- and third-round choices in that span. Croyle was the final such choice. Coming to the Chiefs after a career at pre-Nick Saban Alabama, Croyle qualifies as a notable attempt by the franchise. The Chiefs gave Croyle a shot as a starter in the late 2000s but were rebuilding by that point. Croyle went 0-10 as a starter, and his knee injury in 2008 closed any QB1 path. The Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel the following March. Croyle hung around through the 2011 season, playing that year with the Cardinals.

 
24 of 32

2005: Charlie Frye, Cleveland Browns

2005: Charlie Frye, Cleveland Browns
Davis Turner/Icon Sportswire

The Browns yo-yoed between rookies and veterans during their first 10 years back as a team. They drafted Frye during Trent Dilfer's season at the controls. Frye, who had played at Akron, went 67th overall and finished his rookie year as Cleveland's starter. He kept going in 2006, starting 13 games during the second Romeo Crennel season. Despite the Browns trading back into the 2007 first round to take Brady Quinn, Frye opened the '07 season as their starter. Crennel benched him for Derek Anderson in Week 1; Frye did not throw another pass as a Brown. Frye finished his career with the Seahawks and Raiders. 

 
25 of 32

2005: Andrew Walter, Oakland Raiders

2005: Andrew Walter, Oakland Raiders
Christophe Dupont Elise/Icon Sportswire

Arriving during one of the Raiders' dysfunction peaks, Walter was thrown into a rough situation in his second season. The former Arizona State QB, whom the Raiders took 69th overall, sat behind Kerry Collins as a rookie but was in the lineup in 2006. The Raiders offense cratered during Art Shell's second stay as head coach -- a one-year stopover -- and Walter took over in September after an Aaron Brooks chest injury. The backup did lead Oakland to its two wins that season, but he sported a 3-13 TD-INT ratio. The Raiders still kept Walter around for two more years as one of JaMarcus Russell's backups.

 
26 of 32

2005: David Greene, Seattle Seahawks

2005: David Greene, Seattle Seahawks
David Gonzales/Icon Sportswire

Greene succeeded Quincy Carter at Georgia and started four seasons for the Bulldogs, enticing the Seahawks to take him 85th overall at one of the franchise's high points. Greene did not prove a threat to Matt Hasselbeck, who was entrenched as Seattle's starter and played behind Seneca Wallace. Greene did not see any game action as a pro, with the Seahawks cutting him after two years. He bounced around as a practice performer until 2008.

 
27 of 32

2004: Matt Schaub, Atlanta Falcons

2004: Matt Schaub, Atlanta Falcons
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

While Schaub is best known for his success with the Texans, being their longest-tenured starting quarterback, he rewarded the team that drafted him as well. The Falcons took the Virginia passer 90th overall, slotting him behind Michael Vick ahead of the Pro Bowler's fourth season. Beginning its Bobby Petrino "regime," the Falcons traded Schaub three months before Vick's controversy swirled. Schaub took over for David Carr and made two Pro Bowls with Houston, leading the team for six-plus years and producing the franchise's first two playoff berths. Atlanta benefited from Schaub's twilight years as well; the 17-year veteran spent his final five seasons as Matt Ryan's backup.

 
28 of 32

2003: Dave Ragone, Houston Texans

2003: Dave Ragone, Houston Texans
John Cordes/Icon Sportswire

Back to the coaching wing of this collection, Ragone did not pan out as a player but has resurfaced on the sidelines. In their second year of existence, the Texans took Ragone to back up David Carr. This did produce two Ragone rookie-year starts (both losses), and the Louisville southpaw spent three years in Houston. The Texans cut him in 2006, however. Ragone is in his third season as the Falcons' offensive coordinator, coming over after four years with the Bears.

 
29 of 32

2003: Chris Simms, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2003: Chris Simms, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Livingston/Icon Sportswire

Tampa Bay drafted Simms near the end of the third round (97th) but received some value from the move, which capped a two-lefty third round. The second-generation NFL QB's most notable stretch came in 2005 when he replaced Brian Griese and quarterbacked the Bucs to the playoffs. This included a shootout win over Washington that November, though Joe Gibbs' team won the wild-card rematch. The future NBC regular lasted until 2009 when a scary spleen injury ended his short Broncos stint.

 
30 of 32

2002: Josh McCown, Arizona Cardinals

2002: Josh McCown, Arizona Cardinals
Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

In 2021, McCown wrapped one of the longest and most interesting careers in quarterback history. Counting his time as the Eagles' remote practice squad QB during the first COVID-19-impacted season, McCown played 18 NFL seasons and 19 as a pro. (He spent the 2010 slate in the United Football League.) The Cards draftee (81st overall) logged 76 starts, beginning his run post-Jake Plummer and pre-Kurt Warner in Arizona, and spent time with twelve NFL teams. McCown's only playoff game came in 2019 when he relieved Carson Wentz in a wild-card game. Interviewing twice for the Texans HC job, McCown became the Panthers QBs coach in 2023. The team fired him shortly after axing Frank Reich.

 
31 of 32

2000: Giovanni Carmazzi, San Francisco 49ers

2000: Giovanni Carmazzi, San Francisco 49ers
Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images

We move to the "Brady 6" section of the list. Carmazzi was the second quarterback taken in 2000, going 65th overall out of Hofstra, after only Chad Pennington had come off the board. Carmazzi spent two seasons with the 49ers but never played in an NFL game. He did see an extensive run with NFL Europe's Rhein Fire during that time and later played in the CFL. The 49ers found Jeff Garcia's backup four rounds later, in Louisiana Tech's Tim Rattay, who played six seasons with the team. 

 
32 of 32

2000: Chris Redman, Baltimore Ravens

2000: Chris Redman, Baltimore Ravens
Todd Kirkland/Icon Sportswire

The third QB taken in 2000, Redman enjoyed a unique career interrupted by a stop in the Arena League and the insurance business. Shortly after signing Trent Dilfer, the Ravens took Redman 75th overall. Behind Dilfer and Tony Banks as a rookie, Redman moved into Baltimore's starting lineup in 2002 -- after both were gone and before Kyle Boller's arrival -- but did not play during the 2005 and '06 seasons. Bobby Petrino's Atlanta arrival preceded a call to his former Louisville QB, pulling Redman out of the insurance game. Even after Petrino's quick exit, the Falcons kept Redman on until 2012. He collected more than $12 million from the team.

Sam Robinson is a Kansas City, Mo.-based writer who mostly writes about the NFL. He has covered sports for nearly 10 years. Boxing, the Royals and Pandora stations featuring female rock protagonists are some of his go-tos. Occasionally interesting tweets @SRobinson25.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.