NFL Drafts, many times, are defined by their quarterback class. The QB position is the glitch and glamour of the NFL. Why should the draft be any different?
No NFL Draft epitomizes the QB headliners like 1983. The 1983 NFL Draft has become legendary, from the Hall of Fame QB class to the intrigue and controversy at the top.
There have been many great drafts since, but no draft has ever duplicated the 1983 version. What type of careers did the quarterbacks of the 1983 draft have?
How Many Quarterbacks Were Drafted in Round 1 of the 1983 NFL Draft?
The 1983 NFL Draft isn’t legendary just for the top-tier QB talent but for the sheer volume of signal-callers. The 1983 draft had six quarterbacks drafted in the first round, which remains a record today.
Who Was the First QB Selected?
The Baltimore Colts selected John Elway from Stanford as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. Elway was considered a generational prospect, capable of changing the fortune of whichever NFL franchise selected him.
The future Hall of Famer played hardball, however, informing Baltimore that he would not play for them. He had a unique leverage due to his uncanny athleticism. On top of his superb football ability, Elway was a big-time baseball prospect, and the New York Yankees and owner George Steinbrenner owned his rights.
The Elway camp, namely his father, stated John would play baseball before he suited up for the Colts organization. To the surprise of the Elway family, Baltimore selected Elway anyway. In the coming days, though, the Colts caved, trading the future Hall of Famer to the Denver Broncos — and the rest was history.
Who Was the Final QB Selected in the First Round?
Before Aaron Rodgers and Will Levis, there was Dan Marino. The Pittsburgh Panthers product was the first legendary fall in NFL Draft history.
NFL scouts highly coveted Marino, who had one of the strongest arms in draft history, but accompanying front offices weren’t so sure. There were some unfounded off-the-field concerns, causing Dan the Man to drop in the draft.
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The Miami Dolphins were more than happy to oblige, and they drafted the future Hall of Famer with the second-to-last pick in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft. Several teams who selected quarterbacks earlier in the draft lived to regret passing on Marino.
Which Hall of Famer Wanted Nothing To Do With the Team That Drafted Him?
In the 1980s, the Miami Hurricanes became Quarterback University, and part of their legacy was Jim Kelly. Kelly entered the 1983 NFL Draft, and the one team the South Florida signal-caller wanted nothing to do with was the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo organization passed on Kelly with their first first-round selection, but they had two Round 1 picks in 1983.
Fortunately for the Hurricanes legend, the Bills selected him, much to his initial chagrin. Kelly would find a home in Buffalo, leading the Bills to four consecutive AFC titles. Although Buffalo lost all four Super Bowls they reached, Kelly is still revered in Buffalo as the best QB in franchise history.
Who Were the Other QBs Selected in the 1983 Class?
The Kansas City Chiefs selected national championship-winning QB, Penn State’s Todd Blackledge. The Chiefs’ quarterback flamed out quickly and became better known as a college football commentator than an NFL signal-caller.
The New England Patriots selected Tony Eason from Illinois. Eason was a solid starter, and before the Tom Brady legacy, the first Super Bowl appearance by the Patriots was guided by Eason. The ’85 Chicago Bears, who many consider to be one of, if not the greatest team of all time, throttled New England, however, in Super Bowl XX.
The New York Jets selected Cal-Davis QB Ken O’Brien No. 24 overall in 1983. O’Brien gets a bad rap, especially in New York. Known as the quarterback the Jets chose instead of Marino, O’Brien was a very accurate QB who made multiple Pro Bowl selections. O’Brien wasn’t Marino, but few quarterbacks are.
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