Truthteller
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- Oct 19, 2009
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Watching a college game Saturday, I saw a very odd trivia question: Who was the last player to win the Heisman Trophy and not be a top 10 NFL Draft pick?
Answer was Lamar Jackson, who won the Trophy back in 2016 and drafted in 2018 (first round).
Since 2010, every non-white quarterback (except Jackson) to win the Heisman has been a top 2 pick: (2024), Jayden Daniels (2023), Caleb Williams (2022), Bryce Young (2021), Kyler Murray (2018), Marcus Mariota (2014), Jameis Winston (2013), Robert Griffin III (2011), Cam Newton (2010).
Since 2019, Burrow was clearly a legitimate "Franchise Prospect" and Daniels also had the size and skills that teams might covet. But the other three, particularly Murray and Young, seemed well out of the norm -- too short, too small overall and nothing particularly special? Yet they all went #1 overall!
Here's my question: When did winning the Heisman, or finishing runner-up (Cam Ward), become a "Golden Ticket" to being #1 overall in the draft?
It was not always that way. I went back to 1970, NFL-AFL merger, and noted quite a few Heisman quarterback's came no where close to first round, let alone #1 overall. List includes Pat Sullivan, Doug Flutie, Ty Detmer, Gino Torretta, Jason White (undrafted), Eric Crouch and Chris Weinke. Even black quarterbacks Charlie Ward (NBA) and Troy Smith went undrafted.
So, again, has winning Heisman become a "Golden Ticket" to being #1 overall in the draft?
Notes:
** Looking back, I didn't realize how much the Heisman Trophy skewed towards running backs from early 1970's to end of the 1990's. From 1972 to 1999, QB's winning the Heisman was fairly rare.
**Mel Kiper dubbed Bryce Young the "Steph Curry" of the NFL Draft. Yet, based on what I've seen his talent level is very similar to Colt McCoy. Colt is actually bigger. Yet Carolina frittered away consecutive #1 overall's for him? If Young was white, would he have been drafted at all? Considering Will Howard, who led Ohio State to a national title and has ideal NFL size and decent arm strength, went round 5?
** Tim Tebow won a Heisman, sneaked into round and led the Broncos to a playoff win as a rookie. But was moved to H-back/punt protector early in his career. Eric Crouch, never got a chance to play quarterback in NFL, as he was moved to wide receiver (Rams 3rd round). Frustrated, he retired. When he ran out of cash, he went to NFL Europe to play safety, but never got a legit shot as a NFL safety (Green Bay) and never played in the NFL.
Answer was Lamar Jackson, who won the Trophy back in 2016 and drafted in 2018 (first round).
Since 2010, every non-white quarterback (except Jackson) to win the Heisman has been a top 2 pick: (2024), Jayden Daniels (2023), Caleb Williams (2022), Bryce Young (2021), Kyler Murray (2018), Marcus Mariota (2014), Jameis Winston (2013), Robert Griffin III (2011), Cam Newton (2010).
Since 2019, Burrow was clearly a legitimate "Franchise Prospect" and Daniels also had the size and skills that teams might covet. But the other three, particularly Murray and Young, seemed well out of the norm -- too short, too small overall and nothing particularly special? Yet they all went #1 overall!
Here's my question: When did winning the Heisman, or finishing runner-up (Cam Ward), become a "Golden Ticket" to being #1 overall in the draft?
It was not always that way. I went back to 1970, NFL-AFL merger, and noted quite a few Heisman quarterback's came no where close to first round, let alone #1 overall. List includes Pat Sullivan, Doug Flutie, Ty Detmer, Gino Torretta, Jason White (undrafted), Eric Crouch and Chris Weinke. Even black quarterbacks Charlie Ward (NBA) and Troy Smith went undrafted.
So, again, has winning Heisman become a "Golden Ticket" to being #1 overall in the draft?
Notes:
** Looking back, I didn't realize how much the Heisman Trophy skewed towards running backs from early 1970's to end of the 1990's. From 1972 to 1999, QB's winning the Heisman was fairly rare.
**Mel Kiper dubbed Bryce Young the "Steph Curry" of the NFL Draft. Yet, based on what I've seen his talent level is very similar to Colt McCoy. Colt is actually bigger. Yet Carolina frittered away consecutive #1 overall's for him? If Young was white, would he have been drafted at all? Considering Will Howard, who led Ohio State to a national title and has ideal NFL size and decent arm strength, went round 5?
** Tim Tebow won a Heisman, sneaked into round and led the Broncos to a playoff win as a rookie. But was moved to H-back/punt protector early in his career. Eric Crouch, never got a chance to play quarterback in NFL, as he was moved to wide receiver (Rams 3rd round). Frustrated, he retired. When he ran out of cash, he went to NFL Europe to play safety, but never got a legit shot as a NFL safety (Green Bay) and never played in the NFL.
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