It is no secret how weak this past year’s rookie quarterback class was. Kenny Pickett was the only first rounder and, while he is said to have improved throughout the year, he still was unspectacular. Malik Willis looked like a mess and Desmond Ridder was up and down. It is almost fitting that three of the final quarterbacks taken (Sam Howell, Skylar Thompson, and Brock Purdy) played as good, if not better, than those taken in the first three rounds. The 2023 class should be better, but it seems riddled with bust potential and could end up as another so-so class. It begs the question Is Any 2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Prospect Worth a 1st Round Pick? There may be a scenario where multiple quarterback needy teams pass on drafting one this year in favor of the absolutely loaded class that 2024 is stacking up to be.
The 2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Prospect Class
As it stands there appears to be four quarterbacks generating first round buzz. Right away the Gridiron Review’s top quarterback prospect (See our full rankings and profiles of the 2023 QB class here), CJ Stroud, has not even committed to the draft with one day to go. In the case that he returns to college the 2024 class gets even better and the current group gets incredibly weaker. We are not as high on Bryce Young as a lot of people are. He can succeed in the right system, but if a team like the Texans draft him, he will not elevate the team and he will be set up for failure. Will Levis is one of the most overrated prospects in recent memory. The infatuation with him is so confusing, what has he done to earn the praise he has gotten? He makes really bad decisions and has overrated athleticism. Anthony Richardson is physically gifted and could be special like Josh Allen. However, he absolutely has to sit for at least a year, maybe more. There are a lot of parts of his game that he needs to work on and he needs the right fit to make it work.
Why Teams May Pass This Year
As mentioned, if Stroud does not declare for the draft for whatever reason, this class becomes incredibly weak in our opinion. Young needs established weapons in place to succeed. Levis screams bust and is overhyped. Richardson has a lot of potential but also has a massive floor. This also does not factor in the stacked class that next year’s should be. Caleb Williams could be Mahomes. Drake Maye and Bo Nix offer upside passing and rushing. Ewers could take a big step forward. There are multiple prospects better than any this year and teams could elect to roll the dice with the class next year. If we are a team like the Texans or Panthers and Stroud is not an option, we would run it back with the guys we have or add a proven veteran and look to get their guy in the 2024 draft.