2003 NFL Draft 1st Rd. QB Comps: Should Johnny Manziel Sit This Year?
Nov 25, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer (3) before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
2003 NFL Draft
| Started as Rookie? | Year One | First 3 Years | Career | |
| No | Grade | N/A | B | B |
Palmer sat his entire rookie season behind John Kitna, possibly a fair comparison to Brian Hoyer. Palmer played in 13 games his second season and was solid but unspectacular. His 3rd season is when he took off. He threw for almost 4 thousand yards, had 32 TDs to only 12 INTs on over 60% completion percentage. Palmer’s career has a unique spin in it when he planned to sit out an entire year instead of play for the Bengals. He held true to his word but was traded to the Oakland Raiders during that season and played 10 games for his new team. He continues to start in the league, the only QB from this class that does, and had a solid season last season. He never dominated the game, and moved around a bit but Palmer has had a solid B career in the NFL after being drafted #1 and sitting an entire year.
| Started as Rookie? | Year One | First 3 Years | Career | |
| Yes | Grade | C | C | D |
Leftwich came out of small school Marshall and was thrown into the NFL game quickly with the Jaguars. He never played a full season in the NFL, 15 games his rookie season was the most. Injuries and his long delivery cost him, but he also failed to develop the feel for the game that a franchise QB needs. He played in 11 games his 3rd year with the Jaguars and 6 the next before moving on. The Jags hope they finally got their Franchise Guy this year in Blake Bortles but have gone through a number of QBs since Leftwich failed to take the reigns. He last played in the NFL in 2012 with the Steelers.
| Started as Rookie? | Year One | First 3 Years | Career | |
| Yes | Grade | D | D | D |
A familiar name to Browns fans is Boller. The Cal product who could throw the ball through the goal post never was asked to do much in Baltimore but surprisingly lasted there for 5 seasons. He played one complete season, his second year, but always struggled to help the team get over the top. His best stats were also in year 2 with 13 TDs and 11 INTs. His completion percentages when up the next couple years but the Ravens were looking for a new QB after a couple seasons with Boller.
| Started as Rookie? | Year One | First 3 Years | Career | |
| Yes | Grade | D | D | D |
A familiar name to Browns but this time because they were preparing for the possible signing of Sexy Rexy this year. Grossman played sparingly most of his career. His first 3 seasons in Chicago he played a total of 8 games, his last 2 years with the Bears he played in 12 games. In 2006 he started all 16 games and led the Bears to the Super Bowl. His career was that year. 2011 was the only other season where he started double digit games and he last played in an NFL game in 2011. Nothing spectacular except for that one year in Chicago. The definition of a fluke season.