Worst QB decision by NFL franchise.

[Starman]

Scott Mitchell would like a word
Lions could have signed Warren Moon but ...
THAT's why they're the Lions
Lions also had a lot of situations where they couldn't decide who was No 1 and it hurt both QBs
Milt Plum and Earl Morrall
Greg Landry and Bill Munson
Rodney Peete and Erik Kramer

Don't forget Hipple and Danielson.

Yep, those are all examples of trying to compensate for shirtting the bed when your previous hope for a QB superstar evaporated, signing a couple of mid level journeyman guys and hoping one will catch fire and become the seasoned savvy leader to take the team to glory. (Although they drafted Landry and Peete.)

 

[Shelbyville Manhattan]

You could write a book about the Broncos' poor decisions, even though they got 20 seasons out of Peyton Manning and John Elway over the last four decades. But drafting Brock Osweiler over Russell Wilson is the one that made possible all of the poorly-considered choices of the last five years. Drew Lock is the best decision the Broncos have made at QB in that span, and that says it all.

 

[Scout]

Steelers had Unitas and Dawson, but recent success probably takes them off this list.

 

[outofplace]

The Steelers have quite a few massive screw-ups in their history.

The worst was probably not giving Johnny Unitas a chance. They drafted him in the ninth round in 1955, but their idiot coach didn't even give Unitas a chance to prove himself in practice before cutting him. Supposedly, he got it in his head that Unitas wasn't smart enough to be a pro quarterback.

Two years later, the Steelers used their first-round pick on Len Dawson. As a rookie, they played him in four games, allowing him to attempt only four passes. Then they traded for Bobby Layne, allowing Dawson to rot on the bench for two more years before trading him to the Browns.

Those two were part of the bad old days, from 1933 until Chuck Noll was hired as head coach in 1969.

The Steelers haven't been immune to really bad decisions about quarterbacks in the years since then. The worst was passing on Dan Marino in the 1983 draft because they thought Terry Bradshaw wasn't done. Bradshaw played in one game in 1983, throwing eight passes before his surgically-repaired elbow gave out.

 

[micropolitan guy]

You could write a book about the Broncos' poor decisions, even though they got 20 seasons out of Peyton Manning and John Elway over the last four decades. But drafting Brock Osweiler over Russell Wilson is the one that made possible all of the poorly-considered choices of the last five years. Drew Lock is the best decision the Broncos have made at QB in that span, and that says it all.

Mickey Slaughter. Steve Tensi. Steve Clarkston. John Hufnagel. Norris Weese. Jackie Lee. Scot Glacken. Jarious Jackson. Brady Quinn. Don Horn. Hugh Millen. They've had a few clankers.

 

[outofplace]

Steelers had Unitas and Dawson, but recent success probably takes them off this list.

You posted that as I was writing mine. I thought the idea of the thread was the worst decision by each franchise. I think it has to be Unitas for the Steelers. This was back when Art Rooney, Sr. was hiring buddies to coach the team instead of somebody who actually knew what the heck they were doing.

 

[DanOregon]

The Texans SIGNING Brock Osweiler sight-unseen (and without the coach's knowledge) makes what junior is doing with Watson seem reasonable. It's not like Bob McNair was a genius.

And the Broncos could have drafted Kirk Cousins or Nick Foles in addition to Wilson when they picked Osweiller.

 

[Shelbyville Manhattan]

Especially in the draft. The best QB they've drafted was Brian Griese -- because, of course, Elway was a Colts pick. The only QB they've drafted who was the starter in a playoff win for them was Jesus H. Tebow.

Mickey Slaughter. Steve Tensi. Steve Clarkston. John Hufnagel. Norris Weese. Jackie Lee. Scot Glacken. Jarious Jackson. Brady Quinn. Don Horn. Hugh Millen. They've had a few clankers.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Browns traded this guy for Mike Phipps:

 

[micropolitan guy]

Browns traded this guy for Mike Phipps:

Well Phipps was 30 years younger ...

 

[PCLoadLetter]

The Texans SIGNING Brock Osweiler sight-unseen (and without the coach's knowledge) makes what junior is doing with Watson seem reasonable. It's not like Bob McNair was a genius.

And the Broncos could have drafted Kirk Cousins or Nick Foles in addition to Wilson when they picked Osweiller.

It's rarely a good idea to draft a guy who was mediocre in college. Brock Osweiler was only the starter at ASU because the QB ahead of him retired after suffering too many concussions.

It worked for the Bills with Josh Allen. Otherwise, maybe draft guys who have shown they can actually play well.

 

[DanOregon]

I was looking up Jake Plummer - and dang, forgot he retired rather than compete for the Bucs starting job against Gradkowski, Tim Rattay, Jeff Garcia and Luke McCown (Garcia - 37 at the time, won the job