5 of the Greatest NFL Quarterback Draft Picks of All Time

The 2016 NFL draft is getting tantalizingly close and this year sees a lot of teams, including last year’s Super Bowl winners the Broncos, desperate to sign a future hall of fame quarterback. But who are some of the greatest quarterback draft signings of all time? You might just be surprised at how low some of these legendary quarterbacks were in the overall picks:

1. Brett Favre

Everyone knows the name Brett Favre, he is after-all one of the all-time great quarterbacks in NFL history and is the holder of many NFL records including most passes attempted, most passes completed and was the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 500 touchdowns. He even won the AP MVP three consecutive years in a row.

Favre was first drafted in 1991 where the University of Southern Mississippi graduate was selected as the 33^rd overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. He was traded the following year to the Green Bay Packers where he became the starting quarterback in 1992 after Don Majkowski became injured. Favre went on to become a legendary player for the Packers leading them to two Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl win in 1997.

2. Joe Montana

Joe Montana is perhaps the biggest steal in NFL draft history when, in 1979, he was picked as the 82^nd overall pick at the end of the third round. Chosen by the San Francisco 49ers, Montana went on to become a four time Super Bowl champion and the first player ever to be named Super Bowl MVP three times.

Montana was inducted into the Pro Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000, which was his first year of eligibility.

3. Peyton Manning

When the Colts decided to use their number 1 draft pick and receive Peyton Manning did they fully realize just how exceptional this young quarterback was going to be? Regardless, Manning went on to play 13 seasons for the Indianapolis Colts until he was sidelined with a neck injury that put him out for an entire season in 2013. After his recovery Manning played from the 2012 till 2015 season with the Denver Broncos before retirement.

Manning is the only starting quarterback in history to have appeared in a Super Bowl more than once for two different teams and to have won the Super Bowl with two different teams.

4. Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers had a nerve-wracking 2005 NFL draft. The young quarterback, who should have realistically been the number 1 pick, actually slid down all the way to 24^th where he was picked up by the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers backed-up Brett Fayre for his first three years before becoming the starting quarterback in 2008.

Rodgers has certainly been one of the greatest signings in the Packers history with Rodgers helping the team gain Super Bowl victory in 2010. Indeed, Rodgers is the reason that the Packers are consistently one of the most backed teams in the NFL to win the Super Bowl but has been let down in recent times with poor catchers. The 32 year-old certainly has more Super Bowl glory in his future.

5. Dan Marino

Like Aaron Rodgers, Dan Marino was expected to top the 1983 NFL yet slid to 27^th overall and had four other quarterbacks picked before him. Chosen by the Miami Dolphins, Marino went on to become one of the most famous quarterbacks in NFL history.

In his career Marino has held various NFL records and still holds dozens to this day. He led the Dolphins to the playoffs ten times in the seventeen seasons of his career yet failed to win himself a Super Bowl title.