The 2004 NFL Draft: The Tale of Three Quarterbacks

Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers were the top three quarterbacks in the 2004 NFL Draft (Image credit: nfl.com)

Like the 1983 Draft, the story of the 2004 NFL Draft centred on a quarterback unwilling to join the team with the No.1 pick, a controversial trade, and a general manager named Ernie Accorsi. The events that unfolded in the first round shaped the careers of three highly talented college football quarterbacks and the fortune of the teams that drafted them.

The key players in the 2004 NFL Draft

Going into the 2004 NFL Draft, the buzz among NFL fans and front offices across the league was that the top pick, owned by the San Diego Chargers, would be contested by the University of Mississippi's Eli Manning and “Big” Ben Roethlisberger of Miami (Ohio) University.

Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning was taken No.1 in the 2004 NFL Draft (Image credit: Ole Miss Athletics)

If quarterbacks were racehorses, Manning would be a thoroughbred with a strong bloodline. His father Archie was the second overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, selected by the New Orleans Saints. Like his son thirty years later, Archie enjoyed a highly successful career at Ole Miss where his jersey was retired. The speed limit on the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford remains 18 mph, in honour of Manning’s No.18 jersey.

Eli’s older brother Peyton, a Tennessee standout, was drafted No.1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998 and would go on to win two Super Bowls and break most NFL passing records. His nephew, Arch, is the Texas Longhorns quarterback and touted to be a first round pick in 2027.

Ben Roethlisberger broke passing records at Miami (Ohio) University. (Image credit: sportscasting.com)

Roethlisberger was more akin to a wild stallion, known for his powerful arm and ability to run away from defenders and make plays outside the pocket. His idol was the top pick in the 1983 Draft, John Elway, and so Big Ben wore No.7 accordingly. Having led the RedHawks to an unbeaten season in which he threw for close to 4,500 yards and 37 touchdowns, Roethlisberger was highly rated heading into the Draft.

Philip Rivers was traded to the Chargers so the New York Giants could land Eli Manning (Image credit: NC State Athletics)

The third player in this game of high stakes was North Carolina State’s Philip Rivers. Rivers was not regarded as being in the running for the top pick but became a key factor in the destinations of Manning and Roethlisberger. Rivers was an upbeat, chatty character, known for his unusual throwing style, likened by his offensive coordinator Norm Chow as a “javelin throw”. Rivers left college as the then second ranked all-time passer in NCAA history with 13,484 career passing yards.

Ernie Accorsi

The futures of these three top quarterbacks effectively lay in the hands of Ernie Accorsi, general manager of the New York Giants, who were picking at No.4. Accorsi had been General Manager of the then Baltimore Colts in 1983, refusing to back down from taking the consensus top pick, John Elway, who had made his displeasure at potentially playing for Baltimore abundantly clear.

Fast forward 22 years, and Accorsi was on the other side of this situation. New York was desperate for a quarterback and were said to be considering Manning or Roethlisberger. Ole Miss’s quarterback Manning was the favourite to be selected first overall, the pick held by the San Diego Chargers. Team Manning were not said to be keen on Eli going to the Chargers, eyeing up the bright lights and media markets of Manhattan for their man. Accorsi had stated that he was comfortable taking Roethlisberger at No.4. Big Ben, represented by super-agent Leigh Steinberg, was keen on a move to the Big Apple. But Accorsi sensed an opportunity to trade up for Manning.

As with Elway in 1983, the team at No.1 called the bluff of the reluctant college quarterback and selected Manning. The sight of the Ole Miss quarterback awkwardly holding up a Chargers jersey to a cacophony of boos was the image of the Draft. Accorsi then played his hand, taking Philip Rivers at No.4, much to the surprise of everyone. Rivers has said to this day no-one in the Giants’ organisation ever spoke to him when he was drafted. Leigh Steinberg, sat next to his client Roethlisberger, shook his head, as he realised what was about to unfold.

Accorsi had spoken to the Chargers about a deal for Manning but nothing had been agreed when San Diego took him as the draft kicked off. In an interview with Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

“Everybody thought my second choice was [Philip] Rivers, but that wasn’t the case — Roethlisberger was. We scouted Roethlisberger very, very thoroughly. (At the Senior Bowl) He threw four touchdowns in the first quarter or the first 20 minutes. He was on fire. I loved him. We all did.” - Ernie Accorsi.

With Manning now a Charger, Accorsi was ready to select his man. Wary of a hold out from their selection, San Diego proposed a new deal with the Giants. They liked Philip Rivers. The Chargers would trade Manning if New York selected Rivers at No.4. It was high risk for Accorsi. If San Diego backed out, he would be left without either of his preferred options.

Ernie Accorsi (right) and Coach Tom Coughlin got their man. (Image credit: New York Post)

The trade went ahead, and the situation worked out well for all the players. Manning would go on to win two Super Bowls in New York and Rivers usurped Drew Brees in San Diego, breaking every franchise passing record before taking one last unsuccessful shot at the Super Bowl appearance he craved with the Indianapolis Colts. Accorsi got his man and Super Bowl and Roethlisberger, while slipping to Pittsburgh at No.11, became then the youngest Super Bowl winning quarterback aged 23 in 2006. He added his second Lombardi trophy in 2008.

Other notable picks

Seven wide receivers were taken in round one, including the legendary Larry Fitzgerald, taken at No.3 by Arizona.

Six players from the University of Miami went in the first round, including the late Sean Taylor who redefined the safety position before being tragically murdered by intruders to his Miami home in 2007. Kellen Winslow, Vince Wilfork, and Jonathan Vilma would join him in the Pro Bowl.

Idaho State’s Jared Allen was a steal in the fourth round, taken at No.126 by Kansas City, latterly playing for the Vikings, Bears and Panthers. He notched 136 sacks in a stellar 12-year NFL career.

Undrafted gems

Texas Tech’s Wes Welker would go on to lead the NFL in receptions three times while racking up three Super Bowl appearances catching passes from Tom Brady in New England and Peyton Manning in Denver. Jason Peters became a leading offensive lineman for Buffalo and Philadelphia.

There were twenty-eight trades in the first round. The three likely future Hall of Fame quarterbacks produced four Super Bowl wins, and fifteen first round picks were selected to the Pro Bowl. 2004 has a strong case to challenge 1983 as the greatest NFL Draft class.