for the nfl history nerds, has there ever been a draft where both of the top 2 qbs in a class have performed well? I cant think of any offhand, it seems like one is solid or great and one is always a bust, but which will be which?
The 2004 Draft was filled with Quarterbacks! Eli Manning at #1, Rivers at #4 and Big Ben at #11 were the first three QB's that year. Schaub was a 3rd round pick that year too.
As far as more recent the case can be made for 2008. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco neither one have proven that they are elite QBs but they have won a lot of games.
Ryman might be on to something - assuming he meant first two QBs off the board and not QBs taken 1st and 2nd overall (actually hasn't happened that much), there's generally either two terrible QBs, or one really good one and one mediocre to decent one. Jury is still out on Jake Locker & Sam Bradford, and probably Mark Sanchize also.
2011: Cam Newton, Jake Locker
2010: Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow
2009: Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez
2008: Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco
2007: JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn
2006: Vince Young, Matt Lienart
2005: Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers
2004: Eli Manning, Philip Rivers
2003: Carson Palmer, Byron Leftwich
2002: David Carr, Joey Harrington
2001: Mike Vick, Drew Brees
2000: Chad Pennington, Giovanni Carmazzi
1999: Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb
1998: Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf
1997: Jim Druckenmiller, Jake Plummer
1996: Tony Banks, Bobby Hoying
1995: Steve McNair, Kerry Collins
1994: Heath Shuler, Trent Dilfer
1993: Drew Bledsoe, Rick Mirer
1992: David Klingler, Tommy Maddox
1991: Dan McGwire, Todd Marinovich
1990: Jeff George, Andre Ware
1989: Troy Aikman, Mike Elkins
1988: Chris Chandler, Don McPherson
1987: Vinny Testaverde, Kelly Stouffer
1986: Jim Everett, Chuck Long
1985: Randall Cunningham, Frank Reich
1984: Boomer Esiason, Jeff Hostetler
1983: John Elway, Todd Blackledge
1982: Art Schlicther, Jim McMahon