JaMarcus Russell showed enough potential at Louisiana State to become the first overall pick by the Raiders. Initially he will be a backup and he now has Daunte Culpepper to help tutor him after Oakland signed the veteran. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Picked atop the 2005 NFL draft, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith struggled mightily in his rookie season, before showing some progress last year. With a young and improving supporting cast, Smith could be primed for a breakout season. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Eli Manning is enterting his fourth season and despite having made the playoffs in each of the past two years, he has faced significant criticism for his inconsistency. The pressure is on Manning this year to not only lead New York back to the playoffs, but this time to a postseason victory. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

Cincinnati's Carson Palmer sat his first season as veteran Jon Kitna took the reigns, but he was handed the starting job in his second year. Going into his fifth season, Palmer has overcome a severe knee injury and become one of the best quarterbacks in the league. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

David Carr was the first draft pick of the Houston Texans and confronted several hurdles as he was made the face of the expansion franchise. He struggled behind an offensive line that allowed the third-most sacks in NFL history his rookie season with 76. He is now a backup with the Carolina Panthers. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

The Falcons traded up with the Chargers to draft Michael Vick first overall in the 2001 draft. After getting limited playing time in his rookie year, Vick took off in his second year, handing Green Bay its first home loss in the playoffs. He followed that up by leading Atlanta to the NFC Championship Game two years later. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Thrust into the spotlight as the expansion Browns' first overall pick, he started 14 games his rookie season and performed relatively well, throwing 15 touchdowns against only 13 interceptions. After that, Couch suffered several injuries and never recaptured the promise of that rookie year. He was just cut by the Jaguars. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Going into the 1998 NFL draft, the raging debate was whether the Colts should take Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf. They made the right choice as Manning has won a Super Bowl with the Colts and holds the all-time record for touchdowns passes in a season with 49 in 2004. As the holder of the second-highest quarterback rating in NFL history at 94.4, Manning's place in the game is already secure. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Drew Bledsoe beat out Rick Mirer to become the Patriots' No. 1 overall choice in the 1993 draft. He responded by leading New England to Super Bowl XXXI where they lost to the Packers, 35-21. Despite being felled by injury in 2001 and losing his starting job to Tom Brady, Bledsoe came in relief during the AFC Championship game in 2001 and helped lead the Patriots past the Steelers and into the Super Bowl. Bledsoe just retired after a 14-year career.

While Jeff George's arm strength was never questioned, he had several battles with coaches throughout his career and failed to ever lead his team deep into the playoffs. Still, his career statistics are noteworthy as he threw for 154 touchdowns and over 27,000 yards. (Photo by Todd Warshaw /Allsport)