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There have been 21 quarterbacks drafted overall in the NFL Draft in the modern era, including Jameis Winston this year. The Arizona Cardinals has one of those players -- Carson Palmer, whom the Cincinnati Bengals selected in the 2003 NFL Draft.
A recent list on NFL.com ranked the 20 QBs drafted first overall before Winston from worst to first. Palmer is ranked eighth overall.
So far, Palmer has had the most successful NFL career for any Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback over the past quarter century. After helping drag the Bengals out of the depths of mediocrity in the mid-2000s, Palmer is now a vital cog in the Cardinals' hopes to make back-to-back postseason appearances.
He is ranked just ahead of Drew Bledsoe, taken first overall in 1993 by the Patriots. He is just below Andrew Luck, who many believe will race up this list in his career.
The active QBs selected overall ranked ahead of Palmer are Luck (seventh), Eli Manning (fifth) and Peyton Manning (second).
Who is number one? John Elway, and that is probably an easy answer. Peyton could pass him up with another championship, but that is another debate.
Is this a fair ranking for Palmer? I think so. What do you think?