NEW YORK — Cam Newton and Andy Dalton were the only rookie quarterbacks to start every game last season. This year, four rookies have a chance to do the same thing.

Start with Andrew Luck for Indianapolis and Robert Griffin III for Washington, toss in Ryan Tannehill for Miami and Brandon Weeden for Cleveland, and you've got a quartet of QBs drafted with immediate starter potential.

Dating to 1950, it would be the first time four rookie quarterbacks start their team's first game, according to STATS LLC.

"Quarterbacks are learning earlier, learning faster and they've gotten so much better over the years," said NFL draft consultant Gil Brandt, the former Dallas Cowboys general manager.

And, of course, NFL teams covet franchise quarterbacks and will do just about anything to lock one up for a decade or so.

Mr. Irrelevant

INDIANAPOLIS — Mr. Irrelevant suddenly has a whole new meaning for Chandler Harnish.

The Northern Illinois quarterback who was taken with the 253rd and final pick of the draft didn't just get a title and a vacation. He got a chance to play for his favorite NFL team and potentially to be a backup for Luck.

Note

• Vikings running back Caleb King was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault in the beating of another man outside a birthday party in Oak Grove, Minn.