QB · pick 40 — first ever quarterback at #40 (1972)

QB·pick 40

FIRST QB EVER DRAFTED AT #40

Pat Sullivan

Drafted by ATL · Auburn

1972

QBs drafted at #40 in NFL history

most recent: Tyler Shough (NO, 2025)

How rare was this draftigami?

Trained on every pick through 1971, the model gave a quarterback at #40 a 4.9% chance in 1972.

Quarterback at #40, year by year

Each year's estimate uses only that year's draft and the years before it — no peeking ahead. The line smooths across neighboring picks and seasons so a single oddball draft doesn't dominate. The shaded band is the model's 90% uncertainty range.

Peak: 10.6% · 2027 model: 2.6%

Surrounding picks · 1972 draft

#35RBRobert NewhouseDAL
#36DEPete LazetichLAC
#37OTDan YochumPHI
#38OTGordon GravellePIT
#39LBJohn BabineczDAL
#41OTSteve OkoniewskiATL
#42DTRosie ManningATL
#43OTJohn VellaLV
#44OTJean BarrettSF
#45CBClifford BrooksCLE

Drafted at this same coordinate later · 3 picks

2025Tyler ShoughNO — GM Mickey Loomis · Louisville
2007John BeckMIA — GM Randy Mueller · BYU
1992Matt BlundinKC — GM Carl Peterson · Virginia

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