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NFL Rankings: Top 10 seasons by a rookie QB

By Phil Watson

Dan Marino might have been the last of the first round picks in the famous 1983 quarterback draft, but he was the first to shine in the NFL.
Dan Marino might have been the last of the first round picks in the famous 1983 quarterback draft, but he was the first to shine in the NFL. /
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8. Charlie Batch, Detroit Lions, 1998

The most effective rookie quarterback in 1998 wasn’t the top pick in the draft, Peyton Manning, or the No. 2 overall selection, Ryan Leaf.

Instead, it was the guy taken with the last pick in the second round out of Eastern Michigan by the nearby Lions, Charlie Batch.

Batch took over for Scott Mitchell after two opening losses for Detroit and started every game until he was knocked out with an injury in a loss at San Francisco on Dec. 14, ending his season two weeks early.

In 12 starts, the Lions were 5-7 and Batch completed 57.1 percent of his tosses for 2,178 yards and 11 touchdowns with only six interceptions.

He also ran for 229 yards and a score.

His season high for yards came in a 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears on Oct. 4, when he was 16-for-31 for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

His most efficient game, however, was a 27-20 Thursday night upset of the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 15, during which Batch was 16-for-19 for 218 yards and two touchdowns against the two-time defending NFC champions.

Batch’s 83.5 passer rating compared to the league collective of 78.2.

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