3 first-overall quarterback picks who lasted less than 5 seasons in their first NFL team

Selecting a quarterback as the first overall pick is not unusual in the NFL draft. Nonetheless, not all of the picks were able to fulfill their potential. A good number of first-overall picks in the NFL draft have gone on to fail, a couple of them being quarterbacks.

A few quarterbacks were not just draft busts, they did not last long on their first NFL team either. Things didn't work as planned for the player and the franchise, thereby a divorce. In this article, we explore the three quarterbacks who were first overall picks but lasted less than five seasons in their first NFL teams.

#1. Jeff George

George was selected as the first overall pick in the 1990 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts got the number one spot after a trade was done with the Atlanta Falcons. Coming out of the Illinois Fighting Illini football program, things didn't go as planned for George at the Colts.

Signing a $15 million rookie deal, the richest rookie contract in the NFL at the time, George was overly underwhelming for the Colts. His three seasons with the team didn't bring out the star, it was thought he could be. He was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 1993.

30 years ago today, Jeff George went No. 1️⃣ overall to the Colts.

📺: 2020 @NFLDraft April 23-25 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC

#Illini | #ProIllini https://t.co/fZ4z9tMOk6

#2. JaMarcus Russell

In what is widely considered the biggest draft bust in NFL history, Russell was selected as the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He was a talented player who had a brilliant college career and impressed most teams at the 2007 NFL Combine.

It's amazing how Russell went from being the next big thing in the league to becoming team-less within three seasons. He was easily the worst quarterback in the league and became incredibly overweight. The LSU Tigers alum only had a three-season career in the NFL.

JaMarcus Russell talked about his NFL career. https://t.co/EJqCsG2DgK

#3. Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is the latest first-overall pick to have spent less than four seasons with his first NFL team. Drafted from the Oklahoma Sooners football program by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, Mayfield signed a four-year rookie contract worth $32.68 million in guaranteed earnings.

In Baker's case, a poor performance wasn't the reason for his short stay at the Browns. The quarterback threw for over 3,000 yards in each of his four seasons with the franchise with over 50 passing touchdowns overall. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021 after a series of complicated contract fallouts.