The first (and last) Fennelly No. 1 QB rankings: Where will Jameis rank? 
Will Jameis Winston spark more thoughts of John Elway or JaMarcus Russell? ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE By Martin Fennelly | Tribune Staff Published: April 12, 2015 
What will it be, Jameis Elway or JaMarcus Winston?Outright legend or downright lousy?The draft approaches, with the Bucs first on the clock.And so we turn back the clock for the first (and last) annual No. 1 pick QB power rankings. Since the merger, 20 quarterbacks have been picked first overall in the NFL draft. After exhaustive hours of research and debate, not to mention consultation with Mikey the football wonder dog, we have our results.These No.1’s are breathtaking and scary all at once. They go from the great to the good to the average to, as they say in “Clue,” JaMarcus Russell, with a blintz, in the bakery.The 20 of them have thrown for a combined 558,448 yards and 3,448 touchdowns. They’ve gone to 56 Pro Bowls, won seven league MVPs. Six of them have combined for 14 Super Bowl wins and eight Super Bowl MVPs.Five won Heisman Trophies. Three are in the Hall of Fame. One did prison time.Martin Fennelly’s No. 1 Pick QB Power Rankings 
Rk. QB Year Draft team1. John Elway 1983 Baltimore Colts Comment: The arm, the legs, the aura. Two Super Bowl rings with Broncos despite often so-so offensive support. Went 14-7 in playoffs. Throw in 2.1 million clutch comebacks and he’s the man.2. Peyton Manning 1998 Indianapolis Colts Comment: Best regular-season quarterback of all-time. Yes, that’s a shot. One Super Bowl win, but 11-13 in playoffs. On the other hand, there’s a small matter of 530 touchdown passes.3. Troy Aikman 1989 Dallas Cowboys Comment: Three rings. Would have been more but for Jerry and Jimmy’s steel-cage match. Among most accurate passers in history, always put winning above stats (only 165 touchdown passes). Went 11-4 in playoffs.4. Terry Bradshaw 1970 Pittsburgh Steelers Comment: More than along for the ride for four world titles. Was 14-5 in postseason. The arm, toughness and leadership helped forge a dynasty, but barely threw more TDs than interceptions. Two-time Super Bowl MVP.5. Eli Manning 2004 San Diego Chargers Comment: Can look positively awful — until stakes are highest. He’s 8-3 in postseason. Two Super Bowl wins, two Super Bowl MVPs.6. Andrew Luck 2012 Indianapolis ColtsComment: A projection, for sure. But, hey, when you do your rankings, you can make the rules.7. Jim Plunkett 1971 New England Patriots Comment: Never looked pretty, was traded, released, benched a few times, but did it twice in Super Bowl with Raiders. Went 8-2 in playoffs.8. Drew Bledsoe 1993 New England Patriots Comment: Lest we forget, he was a four-time Pro Bowler and threw for 3,000 yards nine times. But along came Tom Brady.9. Vinny Testaverde 1987 Tampa Bay BuccaneersComment: He was supposed to lead the Bucs out of the wilderness, only to lead them deeper into it. But you don’t throw for 46,000 yards without ability. And he made fans out of Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, a tough double.10. Michael Vick 2001 Atlanta Falcons Comment: Changed the way quarterback was played, then showed why it had to be changed back. Running for a living can’t last. Paid for horrific life choices, but has apparently turned life around. Maybe it can be done after all.11. Matthew Stafford 2009 Detroit Lions Comment: Unmatched arm talent wasted in Motor City as team can’t break through. No playoff wins.12. Carson Palmer 2003 Cincinnati Bengals Comment: Prototype pocket passer. Injuries cut short two most promising seasons. No playoff wins.13. Cam Newton 2011 Carolina Panthers Comment: Still way too much style over substance. Superstar flashes, poor fundamentals. One career playoff win.14. Steve Bartkowski 1975 Atlanta Falcons Comment: Huge arm buried behind a bad team. Career sub-.500 record and one victory in four postseason starts.15. Alex Smith 2005 San Francisco 49ers Comment: Some NFL scouts thought, “Sure, I’d take him over Aaron Rodgers.” Oops.16. Jeff George 1990 Indianapolis Colts Comment: Arm made coaches swoon. Attitude made teams sick.17. Sam Bradford 2010 St. Louis Rams Comment: With injuries, we have no idea what he could be. Maybe Chip Kelly finds out.18. David Carr 2002 Houston Texans Comment: Beating he took as a rookie likely ended chance of fulfilling potential.19. Tim Couch 1999 Cleveland Browns Comment: Early “college system” bust. Had no interest in standing in NFL pocket.20. JaMarcus Russell 2007 Oakland Raiders Comment: Such a disaster that rookie salary structure was overhauled. Took millions from Al Davis, jelly rolled into oblivion.
