Chargers Great Makes Top-10 First-Round QB's Taken This Century

Philip Rivers ranked among the best QBs taken on day one of the draft

The NFL Draft is approaching, and a handful of players are set to make their mark in the league, especially the quarterbacks. The QB position is the most challenging and vital in the game and in all of sports. A great QB can lead a team to places a team wouldn't think is possible, and the NFL draft can make that wish come true for a franchise. 

We've witnessed some great QBs this century, guys who are put in a league of their own, and most of them were taken on the first day of the draft. With the draft so close by, NFL Draft expert for CBS Sports Tyler Sullivan ranked the top 10 QBs to be taken in the first round since 2000. Sullivan put Chargers great Philip Rivers near the top of a stacked list. 

5. Philip Rivers

Draft selection: No. 4 overall, New York Giants (2004)*
Career: San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004-2019), Indianapolis Colts (2020)

Rivers' lack of postseason success (5-7 playoff record and zero Super Bowl appearances) is what has him just below Manning, but he had a career that most would envy. He's sixth all time in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and seventh in completions. He's also a Chargers legend. Rivers is the franchise leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, fourth-quarter comebacks, and game-winning drives, all ahead of Hall of Famer Dan Fouts. His 123 career regular-season wins are also the most in franchise history.

Just above Rivers are Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes; not a bad way to round out the top 5. 

Rivers is one of the greatest Qbs of all time; he's an 8-time Pro Bowler, NFL passing yards leader in 2010, NFL passing touchdowns co-leader in 2008, the NFL passer rating leader in 2006, and the NFL comeback Player of the Year in 2013. 

Philip was a Charger through and through; he gave his all to the organization, and Charger fans are forever grateful for his play in San Diego and Los Angeles.