But if you look at it, the top QBs taken in the draft are more often than not being busts. Here are the first round QBs over the last ten years. I bolded the guys who are, could be, or were (in Murray's and possibly Watson's cases) franchise QBs. I highlighted the ones that are considered top or even elite QBs in the league. Out of 23 QBs taken in the first round (excluded this year's QBs since it it too early), I would say nine of them were legitimate franchise QBs. I count 16 QBs that I would consider busts or at least major disappointments and I everyone in the 2021 class not named Trevor. Gave Pickett a free pass for now, but he is trending towards bust in a hard way.
2023 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Bryce Young | Panthers | Alabama |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | C.J. Stroud | Texans | Ohio State |
2022 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 20 | Kenny Pickett | Steelers | Pittsburgh |
2021 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Trevor Lawrence | Jaguars | Clemson |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Zach Wilson | Jets | Brigham Young |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Trey Lance | 49ers | North Dakota State |
| 4 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Justin Fields | Bears | Ohio State |
| 5 | 1 | 15 | 15 | Mac Jones | Patriots | Alabama |
2020 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Joe Burrow | Bengals | Louisiana State |
| 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | Tua Tagovailoa | Dolphins | Alabama |
| 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Justin Herbert | Chargers | Oregon |
| 4 | 1 | 26 | 26 | Jordan Love | Packers | Utah State |
2019 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Kyler Murray | Cardinals | Oklahoma |
| 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Daniel Jones | Giants | Duke |
| 3 | 1 | 15 | 15 | Dwayne Haskins | Redskins | Ohio State |
2018 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Baker Mayfield | Browns | Oklahoma |
| 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Sam Darnold | Jets | USC |
| 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Josh Allen | Bills | Wyoming |
| 4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Josh Rosen | Cardinals | UCLA |
| 5 | 1 | 32 | 32 | Lamar Jackson | Ravens | Louisville |
2017 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Mitchell Trubisky | Bears | North Carolina |
| 2 | 1 | 10 | 10 | Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | Texas Tech |
| 3 | 1 | 12 | 12 | Deshaun Watson | Texans | Clemson |
2016 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Jared Goff | Rams | California |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Carson Wentz | Eagles | North Dakota State |
| 3 | 1 | 26 | 26 | Paxton Lynch | Broncos | Memphis |
2015 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Jameis Winston | Buccaneers | Florida State |
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Marcus Mariota | Titans | Oregon |
2014 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Blake Bortles | Jaguars | Central Florida |
| 2 | 1 | 22 | 22 | Johnny Manziel | Browns | Texas A&M |
| 3 | 1 | 32 | 32 | Teddy Bridgewater | Vikings | Louisville |
013 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 16 | EJ Manuel | Bills | Florida State |