Some quarterbacks get drafted because of their arm. Some because of their IQ. And then there are the ones who hear their name called because, well… they just look the part.
NFL teams have a long history of falling for tall, strong-armed prospects who check every physical box, even if the tape screams “maybe don’t.” These are the quarterbacks who got their chance under center, mostly because they were built like they came off a Madden create-a-player screen.
19. Mike Glennon
At 6’7″, Glennon was hard to miss—literally. He never quite lived up to the hype, but his height always kept him in backup conversations longer than expected.
18. Brock Osweiler
Osweiler had the frame and the cannon arm, which got everyone talking. Unfortunately, decision-making and accuracy weren’t included in the package.
17. Paxton Lynch
Lynch looked like a franchise QB walking off the bus, but once the game started, it was a different story. Denver saw the size and fell for the potential, too bad it never showed up on Sundays.
16. Logan Thomas
He was a freak athlete with a tight end’s build even before switching positions. The arm strength was there, but quarterback instincts were a different matter.
15. Kyle Boller
Boller had a big frame and an even bigger arm. He was the poster child for “prototype tools, questionable results.”
14. Sean Mannion
Mannion stood tall in the pocket, but the plays rarely matched the physical promise. NFL teams kept giving him chances just because he looked like he belonged.
13. Brandon Weeden
A classic “big, strong, mature” prospect, mainly because he was already 28. His size helped him get drafted in the first round, but age and underwhelming play caught up fast.
12. JaMarcus Russell
Russell was the ultimate size-and-arm-strength dream. But once he got to the league, it became clear that raw tools don’t mean much without discipline.
11. Josh Freeman
Freeman had the build and physical gifts to wow any scout. He showed flashes but couldn’t put it all together for long.
10. Derek Anderson
He had a cannon arm and a sturdy frame, which helped him land starting gigs even when his production dipped. Coaches kept convincing themselves he could recapture the magic.
9. Christian Hackenberg
The measurables were ideal, and that was enough to get him drafted early. Unfortunately, the game always seemed a step too fast for him.
8. Charlie Whitehurst
“Clipboard Jesus” had the look of a classic NFL passer. He rarely saw the field, but his physical profile kept him around longer than his stat sheet deserved.
7. Drew Stanton
Stanton’s size and mobility teased potential, but he never fully broke through. Still, he had a knack for sticking on rosters because of that frame.
6. Scott Mitchell
Mitchell got his chance because he was big and left-handed with a live arm. He cashed in after a brief run but struggled to sustain any momentum.
5. Tom Savage
Savage had a rocket arm and prototypical size. That combo kept him in the mix way longer than his tape should’ve allowed.
4. Jeff Driskel
Driskel looked every bit the modern dual-threat QB, at least on paper. His athletic profile kept drawing interest, but the results never quite followed.
3. Andrew Walter
He was built like a tank and had a rifle arm, which got scouts drooling. Too bad the mechanics and feel for the game didn’t keep up.
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2. Brock Berlin
Berlin had the frame and pedigree from a big-name school. But his arm strength and decision-making never rose to NFL standards.
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1. Brady Quinn
Quinn looked like a quarterback in a movie: muscular, tall, clean-cut. Unfortunately, the NFL wasn’t casting for looks, and the performance never matched the image.
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