Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Awhile back I mentioned a number of records that I think are practically impossible to break.

Well one of those was the GM’s who took part in the 1988 NFL draft who went 67 picks before selecting a college quarterback.

That being Ohio State quarterback Tom Tupa. That was 13 picks into round three. I doubt we’ll ever see a draft where the first quarterback selected is that late.

All told, the draft class of 1988 saw only five quarterbacks taken who actually played an NFL game:

Tom Tupa (round three, pick 68)
Chris Chandler (round three, pick 76)
Scott Secules (round six, pick 151)
Stan Humphries (round six, pick 159)
and Kerwin Bell (round seven, pick 180)

Chandler and Humphries both appear to have had substantial careers and started a Super Bowl each, Tupa became a punter of course and Secules and Bell both appear to have been backups.

Out of curiosity, the careers these guys had aside, what about these quarterbacks as prospects would have felt underwhelming enough that nobody spent a first or second round pick on any of them?

It probably had to do with mobility. Back then, college QBs were still throwers rather than mobile athletes like Randall Cunningham. NFL pass rushers could tee off, without getting flagged contantly--the violent games under Pete Rozelle rather than Roger Goodell--and if a college QB about to get drafted didnt have mobility or a fast release of the football, they wouldnt get a first round grade. There was no rookie scale, if you were drafted in the first round, you were going to get what most veteran QBs got paid, so the team drafting had to get it right with the scouting.

Chandler had the talent of a poor man's Jim Kelly, but not his toughness or consistency. He got injured constantly, while Humphries had to keep his weight down and develop a quicker release in the NFL but at least they both won conference championships.