Why was Tom Brady a sixth round pick??

Question

I mean, I would understand if he was 2nd or 3rd, even 4th, but SIXTH?? Why??? How???

Answer 1

Good question, BKelly.

I think the fact that Brady didn't seem that impressive at Michigan. He spent much of his college career splitting time with Drew Henson, and wasn't regarded as one of the top quarterbacks. He flew under the radar and was picked up by the Pats.

Basically, it's because he was splitting time at Michigan, and wasn't particularly impressive.

BTW this is NBAMarketing from the ESPN Boards

Answer 2

It's true that Brady sat behind Griese for 2 years at Michigan and rotated with Henson for the other 2, but he started almost every game and went 20-5, including an Orange Bowl win as a senior, so that's not why.

6 other QBs were selected before Brady, but only 1 (Pennington, #18 overall) went before the 3rd round and one other (Bulger, 6th round) is still a starter. Overall, the draft that year did not feature many teams with a need at QB (besides the Jets) and there wasn't someone who set the NCAA world on fire like Vick or Manning did. This combination of need and overall athleticism led to Brady slipping through the cracks like his childhood hero, Joe Montana (a 3rd round pick if I'm not mistaken.) Heck, Dan Marino was a 1st round QB, but FIVE other QBS went ahead of him!

It ain't rocket science, otherwise, Heath Shuler and Ryan Leaf wouldn't have been drafted so high...in the end, I'm as perplexed as you.

Answer 3

Because man is not perfect! If football teams had crystal balls, Brady would have been the first pick.
Bart Starr was a 17th round pick, back when they had more rounds.
Sometimes you just can't tell, I guess.
I don't think Jerry Rice was a first round pick either, I could be wrong about that.
I think Brady didn't have the flash in college, and he really doesn't now either. He just knows how to play and gets the job done. I like Drew Brees a lot too, but Brady a 6th round pick? Sometimes that just happens.
Give me a Brady anyday than a numbers freak like Peyton Manning. Just win baby!

Answer 4

Back in 2000, Patriots GM Scott Pioli (sp?) was looking for a reliable back up to Patriots QB then and for the foreseeable future Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe got hurt in the middle of the 2001 season and was replaced by the unknown backup, 6th round pick Tom Brady. Like Gehrig replacing Wally Pipp, the rest is history.
To try to repeat history, last year the Patriots drafted Matt Cassel, the USC backup quarterback to Carson Palmer and Matt Lienart.

Answer 5

Because he was sharing quarterbacking duties with another guy at Michigan, so many didn't think he was going to be able to lead a team well. He got to sixth because the way Michigan as a whole finished could not be ignored for the talent of the players. . .

I think you might see that the best quarterbacks don't go 1st in the drafts. . . They never live up to expectations. I mean, let's look at the guy that went before Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf. How the hell is he doing in the NFL?? Oh, wait - HE ISN'T!!!!!

Answer 6

Because the draft is a crap shoot. How many other highly drafted QBs never panned out to accomplish anything in the NFL? Many many. Kurt Warner was a SB winning QB, league MVP, and was an undrafted QB. John Unitas, one of the best QBs ever to play was a 9th round pick. Terrel Davis, a 2 time SB winner, a SB MVP, 2,000 yard rusher, and soon to be Hall of Fame RB was a 6th round pick. Like I said the draft is a crap shoot. Brady got drafted by a good team with a good O plan, he got the chance when Bledsoe went down to injury and made the most of his talents

Answer 7

Because he sucks and is overated he is no Peyton Manning that`s for sure