The 2023 NFL Draft is only a month away, so it is time for an updated look at our top 10 quarterbacks in the class.
The 2023 NFL Draft class is a stark contrast to the previous year. In 2022, Kenny Pickett was the only signal-caller off the board on day one, with the next one (Desmond Ridder) not being taken until No. 74 overall in the third round.
It would be a surprise to see less than five go before No. 74. We have already witnessed a team trade the farm to move up and secure one of the top passers, even if they are not sure which passer yet.
2023 NFL Draft: Bryce Young, CJ Stroud Lead Updated Top 10 QB Rankings
The Panthers traded multiple firsts, multiple seconds, and DJ Moore to jump from No. 9 to No. 1. Rumors are swirling about another team moving into the top three to position themselves for a franchise player behind center, too.
Is the talent worth all the hype? Find out now in our updated top 10 quarterback rankings. Do you agree with my order? What would you change?
QB10: Aidan O’Connell (Purdue)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 213 pounds
DOB: 9-01-1998 (24 years old)
Good Stat: 90.6 PFF grade in 2021
Bad Stat: 24 INTs past two seasons
Aidan O’Connell looks the part of an NFL quarterback when sizing him up. He is built well, strong-armed, and displays top-tier accuracy on throws outside the numbers. O’Connell received little fanfare after high school, signing with a JuCo program before changing his mind and walking on to the Purdue team.
This belief in himself paid off, with O’Connell taking over the QB1 role full-time in 2021 and 2022. He burst onto the scene last season, completing 71.8 percent of his passes and setting a school record in passing yards in a single campaign.
O’Connell wins with his touch to the sideline. His timing and anticipation on these throws are impeccable, and he is never shy to stand in the pocket and take a monster hit to deliver a pass to his receiver. NFL teams will love his leadership and intensity.
His UDFA grade on my board is due to his rawness in every other aspect… plus his advanced age. O’Connell will turn 25 years old as a rookie and has to develop for a couple of seasons before he is ready to even think about starting an NFL game.
His size profile, arm strength, and unwavering belief in himself will help O’Connell stick around longer than some others in this class. If the Boilermaker signal-caller is drafted, he would be the first from the school since Curtis Painter in 2009.
NFL Draft Grade: UDFA
QB9: Tanner McKee (Stanford)
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 231 pounds
DOB: 4-27-2000 (22 years old)
Good Stat: 22 career starts
Bad Stat: 61.2% completion in 2022
Tanner McKee is another prospect who checks every box physically. He stands tall at 6-foot-6, allowing him to see over the tall linemen that litter NFL rosters. McKee holds his 231 pounds well, but his time at Stanford left an underwhelming feeling for draft scouts.
Now, the talent around McKee was a far cry from the supporting cast that most of these quarterbacks had in 2022. He had virtually zero time to work the pocket and allow the receivers to come out of their breaks. McKee was sacked 65 times since becoming the Cardinal starter in 2021. No one can succeed in these circumstances.
That being said, McKee’s relative inexperience shows up on tape. The former four-star recruit took a two-year mission to Brazil before enrolling at Stanford, and while the trip is bigger than football, it did negatively impact his time to develop and hone his craft.
McKee’s lack of talent around him is apparent, but he tends to drift, even with a clean pocket. Add in his happy feet and this presents a clear and present danger for his projection to Sundays. On top of that, McKee is a tick slow as a processor, sometimes closing the window to his receiver before the ball ever leaves his hands.
McKee is still an intriguing option late on day three, but I don’t see the top 50 hype that some others do. He has the tools to become a long-time backup quarterback in the NFL.
NFL Draft Grade: Late Day Three
QB8: Tyson Bagent (Shepherd)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 213 pounds
DOB: 6-08-2000 (22 years old)
Good Stat: 41 TDs; 69.9% completion in 2022
Bad Stat: All numbers came vs. D2 opponents
Before the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, I cannot blame you if you had never heard Tyson Bagent’s name. However, his performance at both events should have the Shepherd quarterback firmly on your radar.
Bagent only fetched offers from non-FBS programs coming out of high school. Rather than sign at a more prestigious FCS program, the talented signal-caller opted for the D2 route — choosing the Shepherd Rams.
This decision proved to be a great one as Bagent started from day one. He posted impressive numbers in 2019 and had his 2020 campaign canceled due to COVID, but 2021 is when a star was born. Bagent threw for 5,000 yards and 53 touchdowns en route to earning the D2 Heisman, also known as the Harlon Hill Trophy.
In 2022, Bagent continued his torrid pace by setting an NCAA record for career touchdown passes (158). This success earned him an invitation to Mobile and Indianapolis, where he made the most of each opportunity.
Bagent’s NFL projection is a difficult one due to the level of competition he played against. I see starting upside if the team that drafts him is committed to developing the youngster. At worst, Bagent should stick around as a backup and spot starter.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day Three
QB7: Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA)
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 203 pounds
DOB: 11-14-1999 (23 years old)
Good Stat: 69.3% completion in 2022
Bad Stat: 10 fumbles; 10 INTs in 2022
Dorian Thompson-Robinson feels like he has been at UCLA since the mid-2000s. Way back in 2018, DTR committed to the Bruins and appeared in 10 games as a freshman, but never was named the full-time starter behind center.
In 2019, Thompson-Robinson took the reins and never looked back. He accounted for 25 touchdowns and proved to be a threat as a passer and a runner. The COVID-shortened 2020 season stalled his momentum a bit, but DTR saved his best play for his last two seasons.
Under the guidance of Chip Kelly, Thompson-Robinson took major leaps as an all-around player as a senior. In 2022, DTR posted career highs in completion percentage (69.3) and passing touchdowns (27). He also did the same with rushing yards (741) and rushing touchdowns (12). Simply put, his fingerprints are all over the box scores for UCLA.
At the Combine, Thompson-Robinson boosted his stock. He displayed his arm strength, with the velocity standing out the most for me. The zip DTR puts on the football is as good as any in this class. He also moved well, which was to be expected from a dual threat.
The shortcomings in his game showed up in Indy as well. In passing drills, Thompson-Robinson failed to control his timing and anticipation on throws. He regularly put too much steam on it or too much air under it. This happened frequently on tape, too.
If an NFL coaching staff can get DTR more comfortable in the pocket and more willing to win with his arm first before tucking and running, there is potential for him to be a lower-end starter in this league. It will take some creativity, but I would feel comfortable taking a chance on the UCLA star on day three.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day Three
QB6: Jake Haener (Fresno State)
Height: 6-foot-flat
Weight: 207 pounds
DOB: 3-10-1999 (24 years old)
Good Stat: Only 18 INTs in 1,237 dropbacks
Bad Stat: 33 career turnover-worthy plays
Jake Haener is another prospect that helped himself out during the pre-draft process. His podium time at the NFL Combine was mesmerizing, and he did a phenomenal job of explaining what he is good at, what he wants to improve, and how he sees himself going forward.
Haener has had an interesting journey thus far. He started his college career as a highly-touted recruit for the Washington Huskies, but following his freshman season in 2018, he decided to look at other opportunities to start elsewhere. Haener landed with the Fresno State Bulldogs.
With Fresno State, Haener put his name in the record books. David Carr, Derek Carr, and Trent Dilfer all had varying degrees of success in the NFL, and those are the names that Haener finds himself in the company of. His 2021 season in particular, as he eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark and tossed 33 touchdowns.
A mid-season injury derailed Haener’s final season in Fresno, but this didn’t stop the NFL from wanting a closer look. His time at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine make Haener a viable day-two option for teams. He won the Senior Bowl MVP, proving his talent translates against stiffer competition.
The strong points of Haener’s game include his ample arm talent, an unmatched leadership trait, and overall confidence in himself. His lack of size hurts the projection, as does his advanced age, but do not be surprised if we look up in a few years and Haener is a QB1 somewhere in the league.
NFL Draft Grade: Late Day Two
QB5: Hendon Hooker (Tennessee)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 217 pounds
DOB: 1-13-1998 (25 years old)
Good Stat: 58 TDs; 5 INTs in 2 seasons w TENN
Bad Stat: Coming off torn ACL
Hendon Hooker began his collegiate career at Virginia Tech, where he was more of a runner than a passer. His time with the Hokies helped Hooker develop a superb rushing ability, but it also set up his biggest red flag.
After venturing out and entering his name in the transfer portal, Hooker decided to move on from VaTech and become a Tennessee Volunteer in 2021. New head coach Josh Heupel arrived at the same time, helping convince Hooker into taking his talents to Knoxville.
The Heupel-Hooker duo unraveled a whole new side of the quarterback. He completed 68.1 percent of his passes and threw 31 touchdowns, compared to 22 in two seasons with Virginia Tech. In 2022, it got even better for Hooker and his entire team.
The Volunteers were one of the best in the country this past season. The reason for this is due to Hooker’s spectacular play behind center. He was arguably the Heisman front-runner before disaster struck. Hooker tore his ACL in a late-season matchup vs. South Carolina.
This injury brought his college career to a screeching halt. In two seasons as the starting signal-caller for Heupel and Co., Hooker threw for more than 6,000 yards, 58 touchdowns, and only was intercepted FIVE times in 796 dropbacks.
So, with numbers like these, why is Hooker not ranked higher? The timing of his injury was unfortunate because Hooker is unable to work out for teams before the draft. His age is also a concern, as Hooker will turn 26 at the end of his rookie season. For a prospect that may not be available in 2023, that will be a deal-breaker for some front offices.
On the field, Hooker lacks the proper feel in the pocket. He is too hesitant to get the ball out and doesn’t sense pressure well as he reads through the progressions. Furthermore, Hooker can make plays on the run but fails to do it as much as you’d expect for a player with his traits.
On the bright side, Hooker is as accurate as any quarterback in this class. His ball placement is special, and there are several instances on tape where Hooker throws a receiver open. Sure, the Heupel system is a cheat code in college, but the star quarterback is why it worked so well.
For teams looking to draft Hooker, he has all the tools to be a starting quarterback. It is a roll of the dice banking on him recovering from the torn ACL, but this isn’t 1995 anymore, and ACL injuries are not the death nail they used to be.
My reason for having Hooker as a day two grade is his lack of availability as a rookie and overall age. He needs some real development in the pocket, and the only way to truly get there is to practice, practice, practice. It is a gamble in the top 50, but Hooker should go somewhere in that range.
NFL Draft Grade: Early-to-Mid Day Two
QB4: Will Levis (Kentucky)
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 229 pounds
DOB: 6-27-1999 (23 years old)
Good Stat: 54 total TDs
Bad Stat: 23 INTs; 24 turnover-worthy plays in 2 seasons w KEN
Will Levis was a Penn State Nittany Lion not long ago. He had a regular goal-line package but could not beat out incumbent starter Sean Clifford. After being used in a gadget role his first two seasons, Levis began looking around for a starting gig.
He found it in Lexington. Levis joined the Kentucky Wildcats, and the rest is history. With Liam Coen as offensive coordinator in 2021, Levis started showing signs of being a high draft pick. He took snaps under center and used heavy play action sets, something most college quarterbacks don’t experience until the NFL.
Levis failed to repeat this success the following season, but several changes to the roster and coaching staff are the cause. He lost multiple starters to the NFL, and play caller Liam Coen returned to the Rams, serving the same role under Sean McVay.
Rich Scangarello was tabbed as the next offensive coordinator for Kentucky, but he never quite got his feet under him. Levis started carrying more of the load and trying to single-handedly win games… which is a nearly impossible task in the SEC.
Levis’ numbers took a nosedive, and a nagging lower-body injury limited his ability to create and improvise as plays broke down. Still, the tape he put up with the Wildcats is NFL quality, and the traits jump off the screen any time you watch.
At the NFL Draft Combine, Levis commanded the attention of the room. He dripped confidence and by the time he was done talking, I found myself believing everything he said. If Levis can somewhat win me over in 15 minutes, imagine what he can do in an hour-long interview with prospective teams.
The on-field drills and his tape were uncannily familiar. Levis has more than enough arm strength to hit every level of the field, and his release is free and easy. However, much like his tape, there were lapses in accuracy and footwork. He failed to keep a wide base and struggled mightily on timing routes.
Levis’ success in the league will come down to two factors: how high he is drafted and how patient his franchise is with him. If Levis goes top five, there’s a certain set of expectations that come with that. He is not the type of quarterback to carry the team to victory week in and week out, at least not yet.
Ideally, Levis wins the starting gig as a rookie, but he should not be forced into the lineup just for the sake of it. He turns 24 this summer, which is older than the names ahead of him on this list, but age is not enough to keep Levis from going on day one.
He grades out as an early day two player on my board due to my concerns with his ‘hero ball’ mentality. Assuming a coach can eliminate the bone-headed plays, or at least limit them, Levis will be a starter and potentially a great one.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day Two
QB3: Anthony Richardson (Florida)
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 244 pounds
DOB: 5-22-2001 (21 years old)
Good Stat: 19 big-time throws in 2022
Bad Stat: 53.9% completion (in career)
Anthony Richardson has become the most polarizing NFL Draft prospect in recent memory. His tape is undoubtedly a roller coaster, with some inexcusable misses scattered throughout. But, he also owns some of the best throws I’ve ever seen — period.
Richardson never started full-time until 2022, so the amount of game film on him as a quarterback is lacking. The rawness and inexperience reared their head consistently in his first year as the starter in Gainesville.
Richardson sailed throws to wide-open receivers and is known to snipe a kneecap a few times a game. It’s like he owns a car with 800 horsepower but doesn’t know how to drive it. If NFL coaches can look at his top plays and bring those out more, Richardson can actually live up to his impossible “Josh Allen” comparison.
Like Allen, Richardson is a rocket-arm quarterback built like a brick house. He can run past you with his 4.4 speed, through you with his 244-pound frame, or maybe even over you with his 40+ inch vertical.
The most slept-on part of Richardson’s game is his eye usage. While he is raw in other facets as a passer, he is elite at looking off defenders and disguising his reads. Richardson maneuvers the pocket incredibly well during this, almost like he has sensors to move away from oncoming pass rushers.
The easy misses are infuriating, though. There are throws every game that he simply cannot miss in the NFL. A vast majority of these misses can be chalked up to velocity control and timing. It is hard to teach anticipation on throws; some people have it — or they don’t.
Richardson can smooth out these rough edges with more on-field experience and competent NFL coaching. He may never be the most accurate passer in the league, but with his otherworldly blend of athleticism and arm talent, it would be foolish to be out on Richardson on day one.
He grades out as a late-day one player on my big board, but I would be shocked to see him make it outside the top five in the 2023 NFL Draft. It will require a lot of work on Richardson’s part and the coaching staff, but a path to being a top player in the NFL is there. Like Levis, he needs a spot that won’t ask him to carry the team to victory as a rookie.
NFL Draft Grade: Mid-to-Late Day One
QB2: CJ Stroud (Ohio State)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 214 pounds
DOB: 10-03-2001 (21 years old)
Good Stat: 85 TDs-12 INTs as starter
Bad Stat: 16 turnover-worthy plays in 2022
CJ Stroud is a different story from anyone else previously mentioned on this list. He is ready to play right now and can be the focal point of a high-powered offense as a rookie. The former Buckeye proved this during his college career.
Stroud enrolled at Ohio State before the 2020 season and redshirted as the primary backup to Justin Fields. Stroud credits Fields with showing him the way and what it means to be a leader by example.
Stroud took over as QB1 following Fields’ departure, beating Quinn Ewers and Kyle McCord in a tightly-contested preseason battle for the top spot. Head coach Ryan Day was quickly proven correct, as Stroud became one of the best players in the country in 2021.
He completed 71.6 percent of his passes, 4,424 passing yards, and 44 touchdowns in his first year as the starter, finishing second in Heisman voting. Stroud did what he could to beat the hated rival, but Michigan prevailed, preventing the Buckeyes from a playoff appearance.
Stroud returned hungrier than ever in 2022. His stats dipped a bit, but that is expected when you lose your top three receivers from the year prior. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson are already NFL stars, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in the running to be the first receiver taken in this year’s draft.
The nagging injury that kept JSN sidelined hurt Stroud and the team as a whole. Marvin Harrison Jr. emerged as the top target for Stroud, who would be named a finalist for the Heisman trophy yet again. Unfortunately, the same fate vs. Michigan awaited.
This time, Ohio State still found its way to the playoff and came within a last-second field goal of beating the defending National Champs — the Georgia Bulldogs. In that game, Stroud played the best game of his Buckeye career. He carved up a defense boasting several NFL starters and even showcased some rushing ability that scouts were begging to see more of.
He revealed at the NFL Combine that he heavily considered returning to Columbus. However, the NFL came calling. Stroud is projected as a top-10 pick in every mock draft — and for good reason. He possesses the best anticipatory throws in the class and shows touch on his throws that remind me of Joe Burrow.
The downside to Stroud’s game is centered around his ability to handle pressure in the pocket. At times, his brain quits working when he feels a pass rusher approaching, leading to inconsistent mechanics and errant throws. While it is something he must improve, it is one of the easiest things to fix in a young quarterback.
Stroud dispelled most mobility concerns vs. Georgia. He gained some chunk yardage on the ground and rolled out the pocket to complete a pass numerous times. Add this improvement to his exceptional touch on throws, and you get a franchise quarterback.
He ranks No. 4 overall on my Big Board, regardless of position. I would confidently take Stroud early on day one and slot him into the QB1 role immediately.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day One
QB1: Bryce Young (Alabama)
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 204 pounds
DOB: 7-25-2001 (21 years old)
Good Stat: 2021 Heisman Winner; Highest-graded passer in 2022
Bad Stat: 18 career fumbles
The best quarterback prospect in the class also happens to be the most unconventional quarterback in the history of the NFL Draft. Bryce Young’s list of accolades is taller than he is, and the weight of his fourth-quarter comebacks tip the scale more than he does.
Young, a California native, originally committed to the USC Trojans before reneging and flipping to Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. The flip occurred before Lincoln Riley arrived, otherwise Young would have likely never made it to Tuscaloosa.
Nonetheless, he arrived to Alabama during the 2020 COVID-shortened offseason. Young didn’t get much of a chance to win the starting gig, as Mac Jones already knew the offense and had on-field experience in 2019 thanks to a Tua Tagovailoa injury.
Young learned the motions from Jones as a freshman, serving as the backup during Alabama’s National Championship run. Jones went on to be a first-round pick via New England, but Young made fans quickly forget about this loss.
He assumed the top spot on the depth chart in 2021 and put up the best season by any Alabama quarterback in program history. Young won the Heisman Trophy and is still the only quarterback to beat Georgia since the end of the 2020 season. In the 2021 SEC Title game, Young lit up a defense featuring a dozen NFL players.
His 2022 season was a step back but through no fault of his own. Young was asked to carry the most underperforming team in Saban’s tenure, and he did it. Two losses in overtime kept Alabama from earning a playoff spot and brought Young’s storied career to an end.
Young arrived at the NFL Combine with two things on everyone’s mind — his official height and weight. He checked in a shade over 5-foot-10, which is what most expected. The surprise came when he stepped onto the scale, as the slender signal-caller weighed 204 pounds.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what water weight is. He likely will play 10-15 pounds lighter than that, and this presents the only red flag in his NFL Draft profile: size.
Young’s height is easier to look past, even if it is shorter than any starting quarterback currently in the NFL. His overall frame is where the worries begin. Young suffered multiple injuries during his Alabama career, and the hits are only going to be harder on Sundays.
That being said, the reason I don’t worry as much is that Young rarely puts himself in harm’s way. He knows when to get rid of the ball and when to slide/run out of bounds. Go look at his tape. I bet you can count on one hand the number of times he took a big hit.
As far as talent goes, Young is the top quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is precise, intelligent, and never wilts under pressure. In fact, I can guarantee my heart rate is higher during clutch moments than Young’s. He is that poised.
Young’s size is only an issue if his play caller doesn’t protect him. Other than that, the Alabama superstar enters the NFL with zero red flags.
If Young is still on the board after the first two selections, the teams that passed on him will live to regret their decision. He is a plug-and-play starter as a rookie and should be the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
NFL Draft Grade: Early Day One
2023 NFL Draft Honorable Mentions:
Lindsey Scott Jr. (Incarnate Word)
Stetson Bennett (Georgia)
Chase Brice (Appalachian State)
Tim DeMorat (Fordham)
Jaren Hall (BYU)
Max Duggan (TCU)
Malik Cunningham (Louisville)
Clayton Tune (Houston)