History of NFL QBs waiting to start: Here's what stats since 2000 say about when they'll most likely succeed

How much do QBs' fortunes rise or fall based on how long they sit? Let's dive into the stats of 91 QBs

As most people following the NFL know by now, this is a passing league. For the most part, teams' fortunes rise and fall on the strength of the quarterback play, and the best teams tend to be led by the best quarterbacks. 

Because that's the case, it's important to put those players in as good a position as possible to succeed. A couple weeks ago, we examined the impact that having an offensive- or defensive-leaning head coach can have on a young quarterback. Today, we're going to take a look at the timing of when the player actually steps into the lineup. 

Between 2000 and 2019, there were been 91 quarterbacks that entered the league and become a team's full-time starter at some point. (That's an average of around 4.5 per year.) It may have happened right away, or it may have happened a few weeks or even years down the line. It may have happened with the team that drafted them or it may have happened with another team entirely. But at one point or another, they all got a shot to prove themselves.