April 27, 2006) -- The quarterback position is the ultimate team need. That's why 26 quarterbacks have been selected first overall since the beginning of the draft in 1936.

In the last five drafts, and seven of eight, a QB was selected No. 1 overall. In 2000, Cleveland took defensive end Courtney Brown with the first choice. Chad Pennington was the first signal-caller taken, but he wasn't plucked off the board by the Jets until No. 18.

Of the past 11 quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall, nine have led their respective teams to the playoffs. The only exceptions, so far, are David Carr (Houston, 2002) and Alex Smith (San Francisco, 2005). With experience on their side, don't bet against Carr and Smith in the near future.

Since 1970, four quarterbacks taken with the first overall selection started on teams that have won a total of 11 Super Bowls -- Terry Bradshaw (four) and Troy Aikman (three) were with the same team that drafted them. Also, Jim Plunkett (two) and John Elway (two) were with clubs other than the ones they were drafted to.

Tom Brady was the 199th player selected in the 2000 draft. And at 28 years old, Brady has already won three Super Bowls.

The last time a quarterback was not taken in the first round was 1996, which was the eighth time in NFL history that has happened. In 1988, no quarterbacks went in the first two rounds, with Chris Chandler being the first one off the board at No. 76 in the third round.

In the 1958 draft, two quarterbacks were selected from the same school, Rice University. The Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona) took King Hill with the first overall pick and the Los Angeles Rams (now St. Louis) chose Frank Ryan at No. 55. Hill played 14 years and Ryan played 13. Also, two QBs from the University of Washington were taken in 1993. Billy Joe Hobert was a third-round pick of the Raiders and Mark Brunell was the Packers' fifth-round selection.

I have spent many hours trying to figure out who the best quarterback is; I'm still working to separate the big three. I do believe that all three have the ability to be very productive in the NFL in the future.

1. Vince Young, Texas (6-4 5/8, 228, 4.58)

2. Matt Leinart, USC (6-4 7/8, 223)

3. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt (6-3¼, 226, 4.80

4. Kellen Clemens, Oregon (6-1 5/8, 224, 4.99)

5. Brodie Croyle, Alabama (6-2½, 205, 4.92)

6. Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson (6-4¾, 223, 4.75)