QB Draft Class: 2024 vs. 1983 (1 Viewer)

[Jewell]

The following six QBs were drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, and all of them look decent so far with the exception of J.J. McCarthy who we simply don’t have enough info on yet to fully assess.

Caleb Williams (1st)
Jayden Daniels (2nd)
Drake Maye (3rd)
Michael Penix Jr. (8th)
J.J. McCarthy (10th)
Bo Nix (12th)

The following six QBs were drafted in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft.

John Elway (1st)
Todd Blackledge (7th)
Jim Kelly (14th)
Tony Eason (15th)
Ken O'Brien (24th)
Dan Marino (27th)

The 1983 QB class is considered the best ever because it produced three Hall of Famers (Elway, Marino, and Kelly), but the other three QBs had underwhelming careers.

For pro basketball, there’s a debate between which draft was the best ever. Some people say 1984 because it was top heavy with four Hall of Famers (Jordan, Olajuwon, Barkley, and Stockton). Others claim the 1996 draft was better because it also has Hall of Famers (Iverson, Bryant, Nash, and Allen), but then it has greater depth.

Do you think the 2024 QB class eventually surpasses the ‘83 QB class for the title of “best ever” due to star power plus depth?

 

[brewer]

Interesting topic, and I am in the way too early to tell camp. It would be pretty difficult to top Marino, Elway and Kelly for their careers though so I'll say unlikely.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

To say its "too early to tell" is quite an understatement, especially with reference to the 1983 class. I think you have to say "unlikely" just because of how extraordinary it would be. These guys could all still bust.

 

[Jewell]

To say it’s "too early to tell" is quite an understatement, especially with reference to the 1983 class. I think you have to say "unlikely" just because of how extraordinary it would be. These guys could all still bust.

I agree that it’s way too early to give a definitive answer as to whether the ‘24 class will ultimately surpass the ‘83 class, but that’s the fun of prognosticating. It’s like prognosticating fantasy production.

I disagree, though, that these guys could all still bust. I’ve already seen enough of Daniels and Maye to know that they won’t bust. Both look like they may become two of the league’s best QBs.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

I think it has a chance of course, but Elway, Marino and Kelly is a huge mountain to climb. I think Daniels, Caleb and Maye are all very good and Penix and Bo are on the cusp (we don't know anything about JJ yet).
This is a better question in five years.

 

[menobrown]

2018 vs 1983 would be a more legit debate IMO.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

John Elway (1st). Hall of Fame 2 Super Bowls won
Todd Blackledge (7th). Bust
Jim Kelly (14th). Hall of Fame 4 SB appearances
Tony Eason (15th) Went to a Super Bowl and gave one of the worst performances a QB has ever done
Ken O'Brien (24th). Solid Pro QB for a few years with the Jets
Dan Marino (27th) Hall of Fame

3 Hall of Fame QBs in this class, gonna be tough to beat that

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Caleb Williams (1st)
Jayden Daniels (2nd)
Drake Maye (3rd)
Michael Penix Jr. (8th)
J.J. McCarthy (10th)
Bo Nix (12th)

-I'm not going to disparage this group, they haven't been in the NFL long enough
Jyden Daniels looks the part so far
Drake Maye is coming around in Year 2 for the Patriots
Bo Nix is pretty up and down, has a hard time hitting WRs down the field right now
Caleb has a lot of work to do
Penix looks like there is a ceiling to his abilities, just my early take and he hasn't started a lot of games, I want to give him more time
JJ McCarthy has been mostly injured since he started

 

[menobrown]

John Elway (1st). Hall of Fame 2 Super Bowls won
Todd Blackledge (7th). Bust
Jim Kelly (14th). Hall of Fame 4 SB appearances
Tony Eason (15th) Went to a Super Bowl and gave one of the worst performances a QB has ever done
Ken O'Brien (24th). Solid Pro QB for a few years with the Jets
Dan Marino (27th) Hall of Fame

3 Hall of Fame QBs in this class, gonna be tough to beat that

It will be tough but like I referenced a few posts up I think the 2018 class has a shot to at least get in the convo.

Josh and Lamar are both likely heading to the HOF.

Baker and Darnold are both in the MVP hunt this season with Baker likely the favorite right now.

What the group lacks is SB wins and appearances but they are still very young, relative to the QB position, with Baker the only one that is 30. A lot of time left.

I think they'll fall a little short when all is said and done, but to me they are at least putting heat on the 83 class.

 

[Jewell]

John Elway (1st). Hall of Fame 2 Super Bowls won
Todd Blackledge (7th). Bust
Jim Kelly (14th). Hall of Fame 4 SB appearances
Tony Eason (15th) Went to a Super Bowl and gave one of the worst performances a QB has ever done
Ken O'Brien (24th). Solid Pro QB for a few years with the Jets
Dan Marino (27th) Hall of Fame

3 Hall of Fame QBs in this class, gonna be tough to beat that

It will be tough but like I referenced a few posts up I think the 2018 class has a shot to at least get in the convo.

Josh and Lamar are both likely heading to the HOF.

Baker and Darnold are both in the MVP hunt this season with Baker likely the favorite right now.

What the group lacks is SB wins and appearances but they are still very young, relative to the QB position, with Baker the only one that is 30. A lot of time left.

I think they'll fall a little short when all is said and done, but to me they are at least putting heat on the 83 class.

Good points about the 2018 class. They already have three NFL MVP awards among them, and they may have a fourth on the way with Baker this season.

I’m also a big Darnold supporter. Seems like many people still picture Jets Darnold rather than the top-level QB he’s been the past two seasons.

For the sake of the 2018 class, though, let’s conveniently forget that Josh Rosen was part of it. You can’t hit ‘em all.

 

[menobrown]

For the sake of the 2018 class, though, let’s conveniently forget that Josh Rosen was part of it. You can’t hit ‘em all.

I kind of feel like he and Blackledge cancel each other out.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

John Elway (1st). Hall of Fame 2 Super Bowls won
Todd Blackledge (7th). Bust
Jim Kelly (14th). Hall of Fame 4 SB appearances
Tony Eason (15th) Went to a Super Bowl and gave one of the worst performances a QB has ever done
Ken O'Brien (24th). Solid Pro QB for a few years with the Jets
Dan Marino (27th) Hall of Fame

3 Hall of Fame QBs in this class, gonna be tough to beat that

It will be tough but like I referenced a few posts up I think the 2018 class has a shot to at least get in the convo.

Josh and Lamar are both likely heading to the HOF.

Baker and Darnold are both in the MVP hunt this season with Baker likely the favorite right now.

What the group lacks is SB wins and appearances but they are still very young, relative to the QB position, with Baker the only one that is 30. A lot of time left.

I think they'll fall a little short when all is said and done, but to me they are at least putting heat on the 83 class.

 

[msudaisy26]

We also skipped 2020 and 2004

 

[msudaisy26]

For reference 2020

Joe Burrow
Tua
Justin Herbert
Jordan Love
Jalen Hurts

 

[IHEARTFF]

Every time I see that I get mad about Marino going 27th and also the QB selection KC made. They didn't take a QB again in round 1 until 2017 and chose wisely that time.

 

[Jewell]

We also skipped 2020 and 2004

The 2004 QB class has already run its course, and while it’s a great class, I don’t see anyone slotting it above ‘83.

The 2020 class still has a chance to surpass the ‘83 class, but it’s an uphill road. Plenty of time remaining, though.

 

[msudaisy26]

We also skipped 2020 and 2004

The 2004 QB class has already run its course, and while it’s a great class, I don’t see anyone slotting it above ‘83.

The 2020 class still has a chance to surpass the ‘83 class, but it’s an uphill road. Plenty of time remaining, though.

I am not saying above 83, I am not sure if 2024 can pass 04, let alone catch 83.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

We also skipped 2020 and 2004

The 2004 QB class has already run its course, and while it’s a great class, I don’t see anyone slotting it above ‘83.

The 2020 class still has a chance to surpass the ‘83 class, but it’s an uphill road. Plenty of time remaining, though.

2004 could still have three HoF quarterbacks though.

 

[Jewell]

We also skipped 2020 and 2004

The 2004 QB class has already run its course, and while it’s a great class, I don’t see anyone slotting it above ‘83.

The 2020 class still has a chance to surpass the ‘83 class, but it’s an uphill road. Plenty of time remaining, though.

2004 could still have three HoF quarterbacks though.

Yep, there’s certainly a chance the 2004 QB class also has three Hall of Famers. Personally, I think Philip Rivers was a better QB than Eli Manning, but Eli has the Super Bowls, last name, and he played in the largest market.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

2018 is unreal...IMOm, likely to surpass 1983 and even has it's black sheep.

Baker Mayfield
Sam Darnold
Josh Allen
Josh Rosen
Lamar Jackson

3 MVP's already. Baker in the lead this year (obviously a long way to go). But the Class of '83 largely carried by Marino/Elway/Kelly.