Good morning everyone and welcome to NFL Draft day. Now I
have to admit that I am not the hugest fan of the NFL anymore, both because
life got busy and because of the shenanigans that the league continues to not
only allow, but also condone, I do admit that this day still means a lot to
whole lot of people. With that said, and seeing as this is a baseball blog, I
wanted to take a quick look at the ever-growing list of successful NFL
quarterbacks that were once drafted by a Major League Baseball team. This is
far from a complete list, to be honest, but I did try and include as much of
the Yankees-related drafting news that I could as well as hitting the high
spots with the actual players themselves. Enjoy!
The Colorado Rockies drafted Russell Wilson in the 2010 MLB
First Year Players Draft before ultimately losing him to the Seattle Seahawks
of the NFL. The Texas Rangers also acquired his services and recently traded
him to the New York Yankees who had him in their spring training camp here in
2018. Wilson worked out with the team and even received one at-bat this spring,
that at-bat resulted in a strikeout for the successful Super Bowl winning
quarterback.
The San Diego Padres drafted Johnny Manziel in 2014 before
“Johnny Football” went to the Cleveland Browns. Manziel lasted two years with
Cleveland before the team ultimately cut him.
The Texas Rangers drafted Jameis Winston in 2012 with the
promise of all the crab leg buffets that he could eat after every game. Too
soon? As a Georgia Tech fan, I would lean towards that answer being a “no.” The
whole ACC rivalry thing and all, but maybe it was a low blow. You decide.
The Chicago Cubs drafted Colin Kaepernick in the 2009 Draft.
You have to wonder what could have been for Kaepernick and the Cubs had he
tried to kneel during the national anthem in Chicago, and not in San Francisco.
Who knows, another debate for another blog I guess.
Jake Locker was drafted twice, once in 2006 and once again
in 2009, by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I guess the Angels really wanted
Locker.
Matt Moore was also drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim, this time in the 2004 MLB Draft. The only Matt Moore I know is the one
who used to terrorize the Yankees with the Tampa Bay Rays and now pitches, last
I checked, with the Texas Rangers. I assume this isn’t the same one (it isn’t,
it is called sarcasm ladies and gentlemen).
Matt Cassel was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2004
joining Moore in the 2004 QB class.
Dennis Dixon was drafted twice out of college, the first
time in 2003 by the Cincinnati Reds and again by the Atlanta Braves in 2007. I
guess I would have went to play with the Pittsburgh Steelers too if the Reds or
Braves drafted me.
The New York Yankees took Brandon Weeden in the 2002 Draft.
The Yankees traded Weeden, Jeff Weaver and Yhency Brazoban a year later to the
Los Angeles Dodgers for Kevin Brown, and the rest, as they say, is history. Weeden
never played above High-A Ball and ultimately quit the game after the 2006
season after injuries and a lack of performance began to pile up.
The Colorado Rockies drafted Michael Vick in the 2000 MLB
Draft with the promise of dog…. Yeah it is still too soon for jokes like that,
even for me. The baseball fan in me though would like to see what Vick could do
on the basepaths though. Could he be the next Ricky Henderson, speed wise?
Brooks Bollinger was drafted in consecutive years, 2000 and
2001, both times by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Chad Hutchinson was drafted twice also by MLB teams, the
first time coming in 1995 when the Atlanta Braves drafted him, and the second
time coming in 1998 when the St. Louis Cardinals organization called his name
during the draft.
The New York Yankees drafted Drew Henson to be their third
baseman of the future in 1998. We all know how that worked out for Henson, both
with the Yankees and with the Dallas Cowboys.
Move over Brett Gardner |
New York also drafted Daunte Culpepper in the 1995 Draft. The
Yankees love their quarterbacks, apparently. Culpepper went on to have a
successful career with the Minnesota Vikings after turning the Yankees down.
And of course, you cannot have one of these lists without
mentioning that the Montreal Expos drafted Tom Brady back in the 1995 MLB First
Year Players Draft. I guess some would say that Tom made the right decision
going to the Patriots and not to Montreal, which is now the Washington
Nationals.
A lot of people forget Dan Marino was also drafted into MLB
by the Kansas City Royals in 1979. Even though Marino went to Miami I would
also call that a great decision for Dan.
Not to be outdone though John Elway was drafted not once, but
twice by MLB teams including the Kansas City Royals who also drafted Elway in
1979 along with Marino, and the New York Yankees who drafted Elway in 1981.
Will the New York Yankees, or any MLB team for that matter,
take any future NFL quarterbacks tonight in the NFL Draft? Stay tuned tonight
and find out. The Yankees game today is an afternoon contest, so all our
attention can turn to the Draft.