Quarterbacks and the NFL Draft - Part 1

In this post, I want to take a trip back in time (back to 1979, specifically), to see which quarterbacks were picked first overall in the regular NFL Draft.  

Why 1979?  Two reasons.  First, it gives us exactly 30 years of data.  Second, it was the year where Joe Montana was drafted out of Notre Dame.  Since 1979, there have been 13 quarterbacks selected as the first overall pick in the regular NFL draft.  This does not include Steve Young, who was taken first overall in the 1984 Supplemental Draft.

A couple of observations.  In the 1980's, 3 quarterbacks were taken as the first overall pick.  In the 1990's there were 4.  In the 2000's, there have been 6 taken, through 2008, and, with the Detroit Lions taking Matthew Stafford first overall in 2009 , that would make 7.

Another way to look at it:  In the 19-year period from 1979 to 1997, there were 5 quarterbacks taken first overall.  Since then, 12 years if you include the 2009 draft, 9 quarterbacks have been taken first overall.  2000, 2006 and 2008 were the exceptions.

Here's the full list.