With the recent news of WVU quarterback Garrett Greene declaring for the NFL draft as a wide receiver, let’s look at some of the other players who have made that switch.
Julian Edelman
Julian Edelman was a collegiate quarterback at Kent State who recorded 4,997 passing yards and 30 touchdowns with 31 interceptions. Edelman made the switch to wide receiver before entering the 2009 NFL draft. He would go on to play 12 seasons for the New England Patriots recording 6,822 receiving yards with 36 touchdowns while winning three Super Bowls throughout his career, including a Super Bowl MVP in the Patriots’ Super Bowl 53 victory over the Los Angeles Rams 13-3.
Terelle Pryor
Terelle Pryor was a collegiate quarterback for Ohio State, recording 6,177 passing yards with 57 touchdowns to 26 interceptions. Pryor was selected with the first pick in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders, Pryor made the switch to wide receiver after three seasons as a backup quarterback, he recorded 1,994 passing yards with nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions before making the switch to wide receiver in 2015. As a receiver, Pryor recorded 1,563 yards and seven touchdowns over 115 receptions with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, New York Jets, and Buffalo Bills.
Antwaan Randle-El
Antwaan Randle-El was a collegiate quarterback for the University of Indiana and recorded 7,469 passing yards with 42 passing touchdowns and 37 interceptions as a quarterback including a Big 10 offensive player of the year in 2001 and even placed sixth in Heisman voting that season. Randle-El was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft before switching to wide receiver. Randle-El- went on to have a nine-year NFL career, recording 4,467 receiving yards with 15 touchdowns while winning one Super Bowl in 2005, and even threw a game-clinching 43-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Hines Ward.
In recent history, not many have gone on to make a successful career as an NFL wide receiver after switching from quarterback, Garrett Greene looks to be the next after declaring for the 2025 NFL draft as wide receiver.
