After a seemingly lackluster quarterback class in 2022, the next wave of top prospects at the game’s most important position hopes to deliver the kind of hope and promise was saw in 2021, perhaps with a little more consistent success.
There’s plenty to like about the top of the 2023 group, with multiple passers who could make a strong case for the No. 1 overall pick.
As we arrive at the midseason mark, here’s how I stack the top five passers in the 2023 NFL draft class:
5. Will Levis | Kentucky
Levis will probably one of the most polarizing prospects in this group. He entered the season with tons of first-round hype thanks to clear physical traits that NFL teams are sure to love at the position, but he’s been inconsistent at best so far this season, and just had perhaps his worst game of the year against Tennessee.
He’s got one of the fastest releases of the group, with a quick arm that can launch a deep ball perfectly at times. His size and athleticism also puts his upside near the top of his class. His tool box, leadership qualities, and prototypical size will be enough to keep him in the first-round conversation.
4. Hendon Hooker | Tennessee
In what has been a breakout campaign so far this year, not only is Hooker pushing to be picked in the first round, he might be the current front-runner for the Heisman Trophy.
While Hooker made a lot of progression last season, his rise to the top
of the class this year has been astronomical. He currently has 21 touchdown passes through eight games, and has guided the top offense in all of college football, blowing most of his opposing defenses out along the way.
Hooker’s most impressive (and important) performance came against Alabama’s always-stellar defense, where he was brilliant in executing a game plan and consistently making elite throws, tossing five touchdowns against Nick Saban’s crew.
Should Hooker continue his meteoric, Joe Burrow-like rise to the top, he could easily make a case to be the No. 1 overall pick. He’s got all the physical and mental skills to be a franchise quarterback at the next level, and he might take the Heisman on his way there.
3. C.J. Stroud | Ohio Stte
Stroud might be the most popular pick for the No. 1 spot on this list, and that’s not without merit. He’s been downright dominant for most of this season, tossing a whopping 29 touchdowns already, and putting himself in the thick of the Heisman race.
While he doesn’t have a singular attribute you can point to as his trump card compared to the rest of the class, Stroud is the most well-rounded prospect in the group. He possesses prototypical size, a nice release, a NFL-level arm, he processes the game at a high level, and his accuracy is among the best in the nation.
Barring anything unforeseen, Stroud should have a strong case to be the No. 1 overall pick, even if others in this class might have more upside.
2. Anthony Richardson
If you’re looking for the next Josh Allen or Cam Newton, Richardson is your best chance. Listed at 6-4, 232 pounds, Richardson has prototypical size for the position, and rare athleticism for a quarterback with that kind of frame.
Even with that impressive stature, Richardson is the most athletic quarterback in this class, constantly creating highlight-reel plays that border on the absurd. He can be a run-first weapon, or use his athleticism to put himself into position to flick the ball down the field with his massive arm, which also happens to be the strongest in the class.
Richardson has every physical tool you could possibly want in a potential superstar quarterback at the next level.
Now, if you’re looking for the most productive quarterback in the box score, Richardson definitely won’t be your guy. He’s been inconsistent (at best) this year as a passer, throwing as many touchdown passes as interceptions. He might be the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the group, but NFL decision-makers have proven in the past that they’re willing to bet on the upside, and nobody has more than Richardson.
1. Bryce Young | Alabama
Young has been the top quarterback in the nation for the last two years, and he still continues to improve. He’s put up some eye-popping numbers over that stretch, tossing 65 touchdown passes and a quarterback rating of over 160.
There’s a lot to like about Young, with the quickest release of his class, a proven track record of operating and executing a complex, pro-style offense, a top-level arm, excellent athleticism, and consistent growth and production throughout his career against top competition.
It’s obvious on tape that the Crimson Tide field general has everything it takes to be an elite quarterback at the next level, and should continue to grow once he gets there.
Listed at just six feet and 194 pounds, Young’s size is sure to concern some teams, as they’ll wonder whether or not he can hold up against the pounding of the NFL game. That said, he’s an absolute stud in every other area of his game, which should override those concerns and keep him in the running for the No. 1 overall pick.
