Fansided

15 biggest NFL quarterback busts of all-time

By John Buhler

368299 Todd Marinovich of the Los Angeles Raiders against the Rams in 1991/92 season. On APRIL 25, 2000 - LOS ANGELES, CA - Former gridiron goldenboy Todd Marinovich was arrested on suspicion of rape today by deputies from the sheriff''s Marina del Rey station, authorities said. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/Allsport/Online USA
368299 Todd Marinovich of the Los Angeles Raiders against the Rams in 1991/92 season. On APRIL 25, 2000 - LOS ANGELES, CA - Former gridiron goldenboy Todd Marinovich was arrested on suspicion of rape today by deputies from the sheriff''s Marina del Rey station, authorities said. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/Allsport/Online USA /
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Cade McNown
Cade McNown /

. Quarterback. UCLA Bruins. Cade McNown. 9. player. 57

Southpaw quarterback Cade McNown may have been a record-setting passer for the late ’90s UCLA Bruins, but he was no help in solving the Chicago Bears’ quarterback woes as their No. 12 overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, which featured three high-end quarterback busts.

McNown was an All-American for the Bruins in 1998, but when he entered the 1999 NFL Draft scouts were highly questionable on his perceived lack of arm talent. Being that he would have to have an entire offense catered around the fact he was a lefty didn’t seem to help either.

The Bears foolishly cut former Pro Bowl quarterback Erik Kramer before McNown joined the team that fall. Then head coach Dick Jauron wanted him to gradually be worked in as the Bears starter, playing at least one series while Shane Matthews started for the Bears. Matthews got hurt early in 1999 and McNown wasn’t ready for the onslaught of NFL pass rushers.

He would go in and play poorly and Jauron would have to bench him in favor of any other quarterback dressing out for the Bears. McNown was then traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2001. Before the trade he was in a battle for third place on the Bears’ quarterback depth chart with 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerrfel.

McNown would spend 2001 as a backup with the Dolphins and in a similar role with the 2002 49ers before being out of the league in four seasons. His career stats were 3,111 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, a 54.6 completion percentage, and quarterback rating of 67.7. Arm talent and accuracy were the undoing of McNown’s forgettable NFL career.

Next: 8. Todd Blackledge

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