Is Bill Belichick in a league of his own when drafting QBs?

Regarding Belichick's prowess at drafting QBs, as discussed earlier by Clark and me, I did a little research to find out just how successful all 32 teams have been at drafting QBs by how many games every draftee played in the NFL since being drafted. (Of course, with the more recent drafts, several players have not had a chance to match their elders in games played, so I advanced current comfortable starters into the top category, and moved one or two others up a category because they are currently starting, but definitely not comfortable (Daniels Jones, Sam Darnold/Baker Mayfield).) 

Here's what I discovered

In the interest of classifying QBs as a success, a failure, or something in between, I have broken them down according to these categories:

1. Players drafted between 2000 and 2021 that played more than 100 games in the NFL (plus a few drafted in 1998-99 who were long-term starters like Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, and Matt Hasselbeck) 

2. QBs who played between 76 and 99 games 

3. QBs who played between 51 and 75 games 

4. QBs who played between 31 and 50 games 

5. QBs who played between 21 and 30 games 

6. QBs who played between 10 and 20 games 

7. QBs who played between 1 and 9 games 

8. QBs who never played in a game

Then I tallied up the results as follows, in what can only be described as a crude analysis (you got that, Scratch?), originally intended only as a post in reply to Clark’s declaration that Bill Belichick “is in a league of his own when it comes to drafting and developing NFL QB’s.” Owing to excessive length, and in order to give folks time to tear it to pieces over the course of days, not minutes, I offer this:

They keep swinging away... What teams spent the highest number of picks of QBs (regardless of Round)?

1. Jets and Broncos 13

2. Patriots and 49ers 12

3. Ravens 11

4. Brownies, Jags, Eagles, and WFT 10 

They play it cool... Lowest number of picks of QBs: 

1. Miami and Atlanta at 6

2. KC at 4

Feeding the NFL... What teams had the highest number of 100+ game QBs?

Patriots, Bengals, Chargers, and Falcons at 3 a piece

Hey, we must be pretty smart... What teams had the highest percentage of 100+  game QBs?

1. Falcons 50%

2. Chargers 38%

3. Bengals 33%

4. Packers 29%

5. Pats, Chiefs, Cowboys (counting Tony Romo, UDFA), and Cardinals 25%

They just don’t get it… What teams had the lowest number of 100+ game QBs?

1. Brownies, Titans, Buccaneers, and Saints with 0

2. Broncos and Jets also had just 1 of 13 picks each

Let’s be a bit more generous... What teams had the highest percentage of picks play 51+ games, a career that can be called successful, though not great?

1. Jags and Falcons 50%

2. Ravens 45%

3. Bears 44% 

4. Packers 43% 

5. Pats 42% 

6. Jets, Texans, Chargers, Vikings, and Cardinals 38%

Struggling to find pay dirt... What teams had the lowest percentage of picks play 51+ games?

1. Bills 7%

2. Steelers 9%

3. Raiders and Broncos 12.5

4. Giants, Saints, and Panthers 14%

Staying squeaky clean... What teams had the lowest number of QB picks never to play in the NFL?

Bills, Browns, Cowboys, Bucs, and Cardinals have not drafted a QB that never played.

The Misery Index... What teams had the highest percentage of QB picks who only played 1-9 games in the NFL?

1. Broncos 54%

2. Cowboys 50% 

3. Steelers 44%

4. Bills, Giants, Packers, and Panthers 43%

5. Patriots, Bengals, Bears, and Falcons 33%

They did play QB in college, right?... What teams had the highest number of QB picks never to play in the NFL?

1. Seahawks at an incredible 5

2. Jets and Chargers at 4

3. Ravens, Saints, and 49ers at 3

The Futility Index... What teams had the highest percentage of QB picks never to play in the NFL?

1. Seahawks at an incredible 71%

2. Chargers and Chiefs (only 4 picks) 50%

3. Saints 43%

4. Dolphins 33%

5. Jets 31%

Anyway, that’s one man’s quick look into who is and who ain’t good at drafting and developing QBs. 

The Seahawks definitely ain’t! The long-tormented Browns aren’t the worst by a long shot, except in finding the Franchise Guy. The Patriots are very good at finding QBs who can play, but also find a lot who can’t. 

Is Bill the best QB finder? No, the Falcons, Chargers, and Bengals are the best at finding NFL starters. The Falcons at an extraordinary 50% of their picks! Belichick’s output of 5 decent starter prospects is matched by the Jets, Ravens, Jaguars, and nearly by the Bears!

So no, Clark, Bill is not in a league of his own. It’s a pretty crowded league after all.