NFL Draft: The Top Two Pick QB Curse

Going back a generation (1981 to 2011), there have been only three instances where quarterbacks have been chosen "one-two" in the NFL Draft:

1993 - Drew Bledsoe - Rick Mirer

1998 - Peyton Manning - Ryan Leif

1999 - Tim Couch - Donovan McNabb

Hmm... Is it just me, or do I see a trend building? Like the Knights Templar in the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, teams have flipped a coin and reached for a shiny goblet filled with either fine wine or Ripple. Gasping and sputtering as they spit out the mouthful of "Leaf" wine, fans of the San Diego Chargers screamed. Muddy notes, with just a hint of bile... The fine wine that is a franchise quarterback is a rare vintage indeed. In the years where quarterbacks are taken one- two in the draft, the word disaster comes to mind?

In the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are projected, if not guaranteed, to be picked with the first two picks. They will be bumping up against history, and a well established trend to "Find" a quarterback at any cost. When a team is desperate to find a franchise QB, do they use rose colored glasses to see more than is truly there? How much of the second most talented QB is created by the media, and sold to gullible team front offices?

I see amazing talent in both Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin. I personally give the edge to Luck, based on size, skill set, and familiarity with a pro-style offense that he appears to have mastered at the college level. While I'm more than impressed with Griffin's maturity, personality, and mobility - my mind can't get past a few durability concerns.

So if one of these fine young men are going to track with a failed top two pick at quarterback, which one do you think it will be?

Need a past NFL Draft reference site? Try mynfldraft.com.