In the last 20 years, there have been 41 quarterbacks taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Of those, only nine were allowed to sit their rookie seasons without earning a start. The list and how each has fared:
2005 | Aaron Rodgers | Packers | 24th overall | California
The reviews have been mixed for Rodgers, a Jeff Tedford protege who will have to be ready by next season if Brett Favre finally retires. Favre will extend his NFL record of 244 consecutive starts when the Packers visit Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday to play the Chiefs, meaning by the end of the season, Rodgers will likely have had the luxury of three complete seasons on the bench, learning behind one of the NFL's all-time greats. And if Favre doesn't retire ... well, there's always 2010 -- the first year Rodgers is eligible for free agency.
2005 | Jason Campbell | Redskins | 25th | Auburn
The Redskins selected Campbell as their QB of the future, and he became just that when Mark Brunell put together a strong season in 2005. Under the tutelage of QB guru Al Saunders last year, Campbell made so much progress in his adjustment to the NFL that the Redskins -- off to a 3-6 start under Brunell -- made him their starter by Week 11. He struggled, as did the Redskins, who finished 5-11. This season, he has rewarded the Redskins for their confidence, although like most second-year starters, the road has had some potholes.
2004 | Philip Rivers | Giants | 4th | N.C. State
Rivers sat two complete seasons behind Pro Bowler Drew Brees before receiving his first regular-season start in the 2006 season opener after Brees left in free agency. By sitting, Rivers was fully armed with a clear knowledge of the Chargers' offense, and he had safety nets such as LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates to lean on. It all set up for a successful starting campaign, which culminated in a Pro Bowl selection. This season, Rivers' early struggles coincided with the Chargers' struggles, but both he and the team appear to be back on track.
2004 | J.P. Losman | Bills | 22nd | Tulane
As a rookie, Losman sat behind Drew Bledsoe. In 2005, Losman won the starting job in a training camp battle with Kelly Holcomb, only to lose it after just four games -- and three defeats. An injury to Holcomb handed the job back to Losman, who led his team to just two wins in eight starts. He was the Bills' starter for 16 games last season with mixed results, and won the job again this season, only to lose it to rookie Trent Edwards when he went down in Week 3 with a knee sprain. He could get his job back this week with Edwards injured.
2003 | Carson Palmer | Bengals | 1st | USC
In 2003, Marvin Lewis handed the clipboard to Palmer and the ball to Jon Kitna, who led the Bengals to an 8-8 record and kept any pressure off Lewis to play his No. 1 pick. Palmer was awarded the starting job in 2004 and threw for 18 TDs while duplicating Kitna's 8-8 record. In 2005, he threw for 32 TDs, gained a Pro Bowl spot and led Cincy to its first playoff berth since 1990. The last two seasons he has put up strong numbers, but his teams have struggled. He's a perennial Pro Bowler, but will he become the next Dan Marino?
2000 | Chad Pennington | Jets | 18th | Marshall
Pennington, who sat behind Vinny Testaverde his first two seasons, showed flashes of greatness as a starter in 2002, throwing for 22 TDs in 12 starts. However, he started only 25 out of a possible 48 games between 2003 and 2005 because of hand and shoulder injuries -- the latter of which required two surgeries. He had a nice bounce-back campaign in 2006, starting every game and leading the Jets to the playoffs. This season -- with the team off to a 1-7 start -- he was benched, and Eric Mangini handed the QB reigns to Kellen Clemens.
1999 | Daunte Culpepper | Vikings | 11th | Central Florida
Culpepper sat behind Jeff George and Randall Cunningham as a rookie. Both players left in the offseason and the starting job was given to Culpepper, who threw for 33 TDs and led the Vikings to a division title and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. A devastating knee injury put an end to a poor 2005 season, and he was later dealt to Miami, where he spent one season before being cast away. He now plays for the Raiders, who are biding their time while waiting for No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell to be ready.
1991 | Dan McGwire | Seahawks | 16th | San Diego State
Chosen ahead of Brett Favre, McGwire sat behind Dave Krieg as a rookie. He played so poorly, it only took the Seahawks two years to completely give up on him. McGwire never started a game in five NFL seasons, throwing only two TDs and six INTs. With stats like those, Mark's younger brother probably doesn't like to talk much about his past, either.
1990 | Andre Ware | Lions | 7th | Houston
After taking Ware, the Lions were so confident in the Heisman Trophy winner's abilities they awarded him a $1 million signing bonus. But Ware rarely got off the bench in his four NFL seasons, playing in 13 games and starting only six -- his first in 1992 after the Lions were out of playoff contention. He ended his disappointing pro career in the CFL and didn't fare any better there.
