The 2023 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and there’s a lot of excitement surrounding this incoming draft class. Most of the fanfare concerns the incoming quarterback class, as it looks to be one of the more exciting ones to date. The top five quarterbacks in this draft class are Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, and Hendon Hooker. All five have a legitimate shot of being the No. 1 QB entering the season, depending on which team drafts them. There’s also a chance that all five quarterbacks will be drafted in the first round.
It might seem like the No. 1 pick is locked in, but it’s fluctuated since the end of the college football season. It’s mainly gone back and forth between Young and Stroud, with Richardson’s name being thrown in there.
So here’s where each of the five QBs will go in the upcoming NFL Draft.
C.J. Stroud – No. 1, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers sent a haul to the Chicago Bears to get their guy, and they’ll land him when they take Stroud. Since 2019, the Panthers have had seven different starting quarterbacks, four head coaches, and compiled a 22-44 record. Change is needed in Carolina.
Both Frank Reich and Josh McCown seem to love Stroud over Young, even though most people have Young as the better quarterback.
Stroud was great at Ohio State, throwing for 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions and completing 69.3% of his passes in two years as a starter. He has excellent accuracy and incredible poise in the pocket. Stroud is also very athletic and can turn a broken play into a significant gain.
Carolina has put together a strong cast for the incoming Stroud in Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, and Hayden Hurst. As a result, the Panthers are in a perfect spot to win a weak division next year.
Bryce Young – No. 2, Houston Texans
Both Stroud and Young are great quarterbacks, and either team should be happy to get them, but Young is the better of the two, which should make the Texans very happy.
Young has excellent accuracy and can make a big play when things break down. In two years as a starter at Alabama, Young threw for 8,200 yards, 79 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, completing 65.9% of his passes.
The Texans would be a good fit for Young, as they are a young team ready to win. He’ll also have guidance from a veteran quarterback with Case Keenum in the room. In addition, the organization is excited about hiring head coach DeMeco Ryans, who could land his future QB of the future.
Anthony Richardson – No. 3, Indianapolis Colts
With the top two quarterbacks off the board right away, teams will scramble to ensure they get the next best option. So in fear of another team leap-frogging them, the Colts trade up from No. 4 to No. 3 and take Richardson.
Richardson has the highest ceiling due to his pure athleticism. The Colts need to land their quarterback of the future, as they haven’t been able to get good quarterback play since Andrew Luck retired.
Richardson’s stats in college don’t jump off the page, but again, his athleticism and big arm make all the difference. In his one year as a starter at Florida, Richardson completed just 53.8% of his passes en route to throwing for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also had 103 carries for 654 yards and nine touchdowns.
Will Levis – No. 11, Tennessee Titans
Ryan Tannehill has been the starter in Tennessee since 2019, and he’s been good for them, but it’s time for the organization to look toward the future. Tannehill will be turning 35 this summer and is in the final year of his contract, so taking Levis with the No. 11 pick is the smart move.
Though the Titans drafted Malik Willis last year, he is not the answer at quarterback. Willis didn’t throw for over 100 yards in a single game and had no passing touchdowns despite starting three games last season.
Levis’ college numbers don’t jump off the page, as he struggled in his final year at Kentucky, but he has excellent arm strength and the potential to be a great NFL quarterback. At Kentucky, Levis threw for 5,232 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions, completing 65.7% of his passes.
Sitting behind Tannehill for a year will do Levis some good.
Hendon Hooker – No. 23, Minnesota Vikings
If it wasn’t for an ACL tear in November, Hooker might have gone higher in the draft. He was the Heisman favorite throughout the season and still finished in the top 5 of voting despite missing a month and a half. Even with the injury, Hooker might become the best quarterback from this draft class.
After transferring from Virginia Tech, Hooker had plenty of success at Tennessee. In two seasons, he threw for 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, along with completing 68.8% of his passes. Hooker also rushed for 1,046 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Kirk Cousins has been good for the Vikings, leading them to two playoff appearances in five seasons. However, Cousins turns 35 this summer and will be in the final year of his contract in 2023. Minnesota needs to look toward the future, and having Hooker develop behind Cousins for a year is the best-case scenario.
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