Some quarterbacks enter the NFL with sky-high expectations and enough hype to power a small city. First-round picks especially get crowned as saviors before they’ve even taken a snap, sometimes with little more than a strong arm and a good pro day.
But the spotlight burns hot, and when these guys don’t deliver, the fall is fast and brutal. From draft-day darlings to cautionary tales, here are 17 first-round quarterbacks who were spectacularly overhyped.
17. Blake Bortles
The Jaguars took him third overall, hoping they’d found their long-term franchise guy. Instead, Bortles delivered a few chaotic seasons before quietly fading away.
16. Christian Ponder
The Vikings reached for Ponder in the first round, and it showed. He never looked comfortable as a starter and left fans wondering what the front office saw in him.
15. EJ Manuel
Buffalo rolled the dice on Manuel as the only QB taken in the first round of his draft. He showed flashes but never put it all together, quickly losing the starting job.
14. Josh Rosen
Touted as one of the most “NFL-ready” quarterbacks in his class, Rosen looked lost from the jump. One year and one win later, Arizona was already moving on.
13. Johnny Manziel
The hype around Johnny Football was unreal, but his play didn’t come close to matching the headlines. Off-field chaos and on-field inconsistency doomed him from the start.
12. Blaine Gabbert
Gabbert had the tools scouts drooled over, but the game never slowed down for him. He bounced around as a backup after failing to stick as a starter in Jacksonville.
11. Mitch Trubisky
Chicago traded up to grab Trubisky second overall, over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. The decision still haunts Bears fans, and Trubisky never lived up to the billing.
10. Brady Quinn
He was hyped as the next golden boy out of Notre Dame, but that shine faded fast. Quinn struggled mightily in the pros and never became the star many expected.
9. Tim Tebow
Tebowmania was a phenomenon, but the quarterbacking was never sustainable. Even with a playoff win under his belt, NFL defenses quickly figured him out.
8. J.P. Losman
Buffalo hoped Losman would finally solve their long-running quarterback issues. He didn’t, and fans were left with another forgettable chapter in the Bills’ QB saga.
7. Daniel Jones
Drafted surprisingly high by the Giants, Jones teased potential without ever fully delivering. Turnovers and inconsistency have been his calling card so far.
6. Mark Sanchez
He had early playoff success, but Sanchez was never the answer long-term. His infamous “butt fumble” became a symbol of unmet expectations.
5. Jake Locker
Locker had a cannon arm and athleticism to spare, but accuracy issues sank him. He never looked like a comfortable NFL quarterback and retired young.
4. Josh Freeman
Freeman looked promising early on, but things unraveled quickly. His career was a rollercoaster that ended in a hurry after a bizarre fall from grace.
3. Matt Leinart
Leinart came into the league with a Heisman and a Hollywood shine. But the transition to the NFL exposed major flaws, and he never found a rhythm as a pro.
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2. Ryan Leaf
He’s the poster child for draft busts, entering the league with sky-high expectations. Leaf flamed out in spectacular fashion, both on and off the field.
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1. Zach Wilson
Wilson rocketed up draft boards after one flashy season at BYU, but the NFL learning curve hit him like a brick wall. The Jets hoped he was the future—turns out, he was just another painful reminder of their QB woes.
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