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Jordan ReidESPN
We’re through Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl practice weeks, and we have a little under three months until the 2023 NFL draft. Nothing is set in stone, but we’re getting a better understanding of this upcoming class. After an underwhelming 2022 quarterback group that included only one first-round selection, this year’s class promises to be much more interesting. The race for QB1 is heating up, and there still isn’t a consensus top option. But the QB class is deep, too.
So how do the quarterbacks stack up? I ranked every passer with a draftable evaluation in my second edition of the QB Hot Board, an in-depth list that provides a look at 15 signal-callers. We’ll hit brief breakdowns of strengths and weaknesses, current draft stock and even potential team fits. A lot can still change, but here’s how top draft-eligible options rank right now.
HT: 6-foot | WT: 194 pounds | Class: Junior
Projected range: Round 1
Young is a poised dual-threat thrower who plays the game with the same heartbeat no matter the magnitude of the situation. His sufficient arm strength is coupled with great accuracy to all parts of the field. Young is slippery in the pocket and can maneuver outside of structure to create throwing windows.
At 6-foot, his height will be talked about leading up to the draft. We’ve seen shorter passers, such as Kyler Murray, get drafted early in recent years, but Young’s frame — he’s under 200 pounds — makes for a unique evaluation. But he entered the season as my QB1, and that hasn’t changed to this point. Young had 3,328 passing yards, 32 touchdown throws and five interceptions in 2022, and he finished his college career with a huge five-TD day against Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.
Potential team fit: Houston Texans. The inconsistency of Davis Mills places the Texans in the hunt for another quarterback. Houston holds the No. 2 overall pick and has plenty of draft capital, and new coach DeMeco Ryans could look to fill the QB1 spot immediately. Young would provide the team with a young passer with loads of potential to build around.
HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 218 | Class: Junior
Projected range: Round 1
Stroud is a smooth distributor with a clean and fluid throwing motion, and his feet are routinely tied to his eyes. I love the way he dissects and attacks any type of coverage, as he always seems to have a plan. And Stroud isn’t afraid to trust his targets in one-on-one situations.
He threw for 3,688 yards and 41 touchdown passes with six interceptions, and his 88.9 QBR was third in the nation. And his best game came in the College Football Playoff, in which Stroud threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns against a dominant Georgia defense. Stroud is a true pocket passer who uses his running ability only when necessary, but scouts still want to see him outside of structure a bit more when plays don’t operate as planned. He started to do so during the Buckeyes’ stretch run.
Potential team fit: Indianapolis Colts. Inside the top 10 and desperate to find a solution under center, the Colts make a lot of sense here. Indy hasn’t found a new coach yet, but Stroud would fit in well with the current personnel. With visible building blocks in Quenton Nelson, Jonathan Taylor and Alec Pierce, he could come in and have immediate success.
HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 232 | Class: Redshirt sophomore
Projected range: Round 1
The phrase “boom or bust” is often used for prospects who have a lot of traits but lack positive game film. That’s Richardson. The redshirt sophomore started only 13 career games at Florida and is a roller coaster of highs and lows. He had nine interceptions this season and completed only 53.8% of his throws, a result of inconsistent decision-making and spurts of inaccurate passes. He finished the 2022 season with 26 total touchdowns (17 passing, nine rushing), and he is a competitive runner with a strong build (654 rushing yards). Richardson releases the ball with an easy flick of the wrist. But his game is still raw in every sense of the word.
Potential team fit: Seattle Seahawks. The key to Richardson’s success at the next level will be a team having patience, believing in him as a prospect and coaching staff consistency. Geno Smith was one of the biggest surprises of the 2022 season and enters the offseason as a free agent. He’s likely to return to Seattle, but the Seahawks’ commitment to him will be a factor to monitor. Richardson has to be in an offense that leans on running the ball and gets him outside the pocket while he develops, and in that regard, he makes sense for the Seahawks. Seattle picks early at No. 5, but it also has the No. 20 selection — which might be a landing spot for Richardson.
HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 232 | Class: Redshirt senior
Projected range: Round 1
A well-built and powerful thrower, Levis is already doing a lot of the things inside of the Wildcats’ offense that will be asked of him on the next level. He often operates from under center and out of the shotgun, and he seems to be at his best when the offense centers around play-action (68.5% completion rate and 9.7 air yards per attempt out of play-action).
Levis finished the season with 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Coming into the season, turnovers sat atop the negatives column on his scouting report. That hasn’t changed; Levis recorded a fumble or interception in all but three starts this year. Avoiding turnovers and improving his ball security will be something to watch.
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Will Levis lets it fly for a 55-yard Kentucky TD
Dane Key climbs the ladder to snag the 55-yard dime from Will Levis to put the Wildcats on the board.
Potential team fit: Carolina Panthers. Levis matches the kind of quarterback whom new coach Frank Reich has worked with in the past — big, strong-armed passers who operate well off play-action. And owner David Tepper, coming from the Pittsburgh Steelers, saw what Ben Roethlisberger was able to do for that franchise. The two-time Super Bowl champion has been a common comparison for Levis.
HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 218 | Class: Redshirt senior
Projected range: Late Day 2
The pilot of a high-flying offense, Hooker was one of the biggest risers of the 2022 season. He has above-average arm strength, and his accuracy improved over the past two seasons. A poised passer who can decipher and deliver with anticipation, he finished the season with 3,135 passing yards, 27 touchdown throws and only two interceptions. He’s also an underrated runner (430 rushing yards, five more scores), showcasing timely scrambles outside of the pocket that helps him take advantage of voids in defenses.
Hooker tore the ACL in his left knee in November, which makes him an interesting case. How will teams weigh the injury and recovery? Pre-draft medical reports will be important here, and it sounds like he will be ready by NFL training camps over the summer. He experienced a career resurgence since transferring from Virginia Tech following the 2020 season, but how effective can he be outside of Josh Heupel’s simulated offense?
Another point to know: Considering Hooker will be a 25-year-old rookie in the NFL, age will be a constant talking point here, too. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, only eight quarterbacks have been drafted at 25 years old or older, and only three were selected prior to the sixth round.
Potential team fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Tom Brady now officially retired, the team has serious questions under center for the foreseeable future. Former second-round pick Kyle Trask remains unproven, and this fit makes a lot of sense for Hooker because of his maturity and the average age of the roster. It would be ideal for him to step into an environment with a roster built to contend as opposed to a rebuilding scenario. The Tampa Bay offense still has a set of vertical playmakers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, though it is still awaiting the hiring of an offensive coordinator.
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 205 | Class: Redshirt senior
Projected range: Early Day 3
Thompson-Robinson played like a completely different player this season, in better control of Chip Kelly’s offense. The biggest difference? He played within the scheme and didn’t try to do too much (besides the bowl game against Pitt). DTR often found himself playing hero ball in the past, but he operated one of the most efficient attacks in the country. In 13 starts this season, he totaled 3,154 passing yards, 27 touchdown throws and 10 interceptions. The ball comes off the senior signal-caller’s throwing hand with purpose behind it, and Thompson-Robinson was a much more accurate passer this season — his completion percentage jumped from 62.2% to 69.6% since 2021.
Thompson-Robinson also showcased his dual-threat ability this season with 646 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. He adds another dimension to a team’s offense with his ability to scramble and pick up first downs on designed QB runs. During the week of practices at the East-West Shrine Bowl, DTR displayed good velocity and timing on routes, and his mobility stuck out right away.
Potential team fit: Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles’ diverse run game and play-action concepts heavily involving their tight ends fit with Thompson-Robinson. Jalen Hurts appears to be the answer moving forward, but with Gardner Minshew becoming a free agent after the season, the franchise could look to draft a developmental player here.
HT: 6-foot-6 | WT: 230 | Class: Junior
Projected range: Early Day 3
A polished passer who has experience from a multitude of pre-snap platforms, McKee displays great patience in the pocket. He is efficient and exhausts his progressions. In an offense that’s a bit of a mixed bag with its scheme, he has been exposed to a lot of different concepts, and he appears very comfortable in all of them. McKee’s greatest asset, though, is his touch. He is great with how he takes pace off of the ball and lofts it within the strike zone of his targets — but he can also put zip on it and fit his throws into tight windows.
McKee threw for 2,947 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions this past season. Pressure exposes his flaws a bit, though — he’s a pocket passer who doesn’t like to be forced off his spot.
Potential team fit: Minnesota Vikings. I’m looking at McKee’s ability off play-action and comfort from multiple pre-snap platforms here. He’d be a great fit for Kevin O’Connell’s offense in Minnesota. He is a quick decision-maker who operates well from a clean pocket, and while Kirk Cousins is the team’s locked-in starter moving forward, McKee would be a developmental prospect who could become a solid backup option in a scheme that suits his strengths.
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 200 | Class: Senior
Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3
Haener’s career originally started at Washington in 2018, but he transferred to Fresno State after one season. His best season came in 2021 when he totaled 4,096 passing yards, 33 touchdown throws and nine interceptions. In 10 starts this season, his production wasn’t nearly as good as a year ago (2,896 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes and three interceptions).
Haener is considered undersized at the position, but he plays the game with moxie and toughness. He is able to overcome average arm strength because he’s a high-level anticipator when attacking throwing windows in the intermediate and deeper areas of the field. He’s unafraid to make those passes because he can see targets come open. Taylor Heinicke has been a common comp for him among NFL scouts, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him carve out a similar career path.
Some scouts at the Senior Bowl felt Haener was the most consistent of the QBs in Mobile, Alabama. The structured environment didn’t shine a lot of light on his skill set, but his “gamer” mentality was on display during the competitive periods.
Potential team fit: Las Vegas Raiders. In an offense that’s predicated off of rhythm and timing, Haener would fit well in Las Vegas. He has a limited arm but plenty of mobility and playmaking ability, so being in a Josh McDaniels offense could help him eventually become a serviceable No. 2 option in the NFL.
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 205 | Class: Redshirt junior
Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3
Since he took over in 2021, the second-year starter has been in full control of the BYU offense, displaying plenty of arm strength and improved accuracy. Hall plays with a quiet lower half and distributes the football around the offense. In 12 starts this season, he recorded 3,171 passing yards, 31 TD throws and six interceptions. And his completion percentage was up from 63.9% in 2021 to 66.0% this season.
Eye manipulation is the one area Hall must continue to improve. He tends to lock onto his targets, hoping they come open rather than manipulating defenders with his eyes and moving them where he wants them to go. During practices at the Senior Bowl, Hall’s ability to decipher and attack coverages was clear, but his eyes and accuracy still need improvement.
Potential team fit: New Orleans Saints. Since the retirement of Drew Brees, the Saints haven’t been very aggressive in finding a quarterback of the future. Jameis Winston hasn’t been healthy enough to prove that he’s the long-term solution, and Andy Dalton is at the “spot starter” stage of his career. Hall is another prospect who will be 25 years old during the pre-draft process, and the Saints — with just the one late first-round pick — could look to add a young signal-caller later in the draft.
HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 210 | Class: Senior
Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3
A former walk-on, O’Connell made the most of his final two seasons as the Boilermakers’ QB1. In 12 starts this season, he passed for 3,490 yards and 22 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. O’Connell has a quick, over-the-top release, and he’s a timing-based passer who gets the ball out in a hurry. And despite an average arm, he shows the ability to anticipate when throwing to the intermediate areas and quickly process pre-snap reads to attack the underneath areas.
During practices at the Shrine Bowl, O’Connell was sharp in getting through his reads and placing the ball in adequate spots for his targets. He displayed efficient footwork and was often able to marry it up with concepts that were asked of him. If O’Connell improves ball placement consistency, he could be a popular target for teams in the fourth or fifth round.
Potential team fit: Los Angeles Chargers. O’Connell needs to be in a scheme that keeps him on schedule, and the Chargers are an ideal fit because of their propensity to rely on getting the ball out quickly. O’Connell’s at his best when he can make quick decisions and keep pass-rushers from bearing down on him.
HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 210 | Class: Senior
Projected range: Late Day 3/UDFA
Duggan was a do-it-all player in Sonny Dykes’ scheme. He threw for 3,698 yards and 32 touchdowns with eight interceptions while also rushing for 423 yards and nine touchdowns. Duggan makes plays from both inside and outside the pocket, and in an offense that’s in attack mode all of the time, he operates out of the pistol formation with a lot of comfort. And he thrives when taking chances throwing to big targets on the perimeter.
His biggest hurdle at the next level? He needs to show that he can consistently exhaust multistep progressions in a timely manner.
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Max Duggan muscles his way in for a TCU TD
TCU’s Max Duggan keeps it himself and powers through a tackle into the end zone for a touchdown.
During Senior Bowl practices, he progressively improved each day and answered some questions about his ability to play within structure and take what’s given to him. Duggan was at his best during the situational periods of practice, as he’s a prospect who performs better during in-game situations.
Potential team fit: New York Jets. The Zach Wilson selection simply hasn’t worked out, and Mike White was a bit of a season-saver. White is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, though, and continuing to throw darts to find answers under center would be smart for the Jets. They are an ideal fit for Duggan, a developmental project who would enter as a possible No. 3 option.
HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 220 | Class: Senior
Projected range: Late Day 3/UDFA
A fifth-year senior, Tune is an experienced passer who shows a lot of maturity in his game, operating out of Dana Holgorsen’s wide-open offense. He’s a quick decision-maker with enough arm strength. And in 13 starts this season, Tune had 4,074 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions. An added element to his game this season was his effectiveness as a runner — he recorded 546 rushing yards and another five scores there.
Potential team fit: New York Jets. The hope with Tune is that he starts out as a No. 3 on the depth chart and eventually turns into a secondary option. And his game translates to the Jets’ rhythm- and timing-based offense.
HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 210 | Class: Senior
Projected range: Late Day 3/UDFA
The Harlon Hill Trophy winner last season as Division II’s MVP, Bagent was once again a finalist for this year’s award and is getting some buzz as a potential late-round draft sleeper. He has a polished, over-the-top delivery, he’s decisive and he displays efficient footwork.
Bagent broke the Division II record for touchdown passes (159), and in 2022, he threw for 4,580 yards and 41 touchdowns with eight interceptions while helping the Rams to a 13-2 record. Evaluators are always intrigued to see how small-school prospects adjust to the speed of the pro-level game, and Bagent got off to a slow start against Senior Bowl competition. But throughout the third day of practices, the game appeared to slow down for him. The arm strength was apparent, and he wasn’t hesitant to test tight windows in spurts.
Potential team fit: Denver Broncos. It’s fair to say the first year of Russell Wilson in Denver was a massive failure. It would be wise for the Broncos to invest in a cheap developmental option who potentially could ease the blow in the future if things continue to go poorly. Seen as a long-term developmental project, Bagent has a bit of a steep learning curve coming from the Division II ranks. But he has the touch and anticipation necessary, though his decision-making has to happen at a faster pace. Bagent fits well in a Sean Payton offense that stresses utilizing space and executing quick perimeter routes.
HT: 5-foot-11 | WT: 190 | Class: Senior
Projected range: Late Day 3/UDFA
Bennett will forever be etched into the storied history of Georgia’s program after a magical run to its first national title in 40 years. But what does his draft stock look like? Bennett will turn 26 years old during the early stages of his rookie season, which might concern some teams. He also won’t meet a lot of teams’ threshold for size at the position.
But there is no arguing that he’s a gamer, playing with instincts and savvy. Bennett seems to always figure out a way to come out on top in crucial moments. He is an efficient processor who can play within structure, but he can also create when things break down. A surplus of talent at Georgia helped uplift his deficiencies, but he has enough arm strength for the next level. Case Keenum has been a common comparison for him among NFL scouts. Bennett threw for 4,127 yards and 27 TDs with seven interceptions en route to his second national title.
Potential team fit: Miami Dolphins. Bennett is one of the most highly decorated college passers ever. With a full supporting cast, he was able to showcase his decision-making and accuracy. A similar situation in Miami and an offense that stresses execution in the middle of the field suits his best traits well. The odds are heavily against Bennett being a long-term solution for any team, but he’s worth a shot as a well-accomplished late-round hopeful.
HT: 6-foot-1 | WT: 190 | Class: Redshirt senior
Projected range: Late Day 3/UDFA
After a fast start to his career as a full-time starter in 2019 (22 TD passes), Cunningham became one of the most electric playmakers in the country. He ran coach Scott Satterfield’s offense at an efficient clip and surprisingly returned for his senior season after recording 2,941 passing yards, 39 total touchdowns (20 rushing, 19 passing) and six interceptions. Injuries hurt his output significantly in 2022, though (only 1,568 passing yards and 20 total touchdowns).
Cunningham was at practices at both the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and Senior Bowl, and we saw an average arm there. But we also got an up-close glimpse of how dangerous he can be as a runner.
Potential team fit: Baltimore Ravens. The Lamar Jackson contract situation will be the talk of the offseason, and Tyler Huntley has proved to be a viable No. 2 option. Baltimore clearly has certain traits that translate well in its scheme. The Ravens recently parted ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, so the team’s next scheme remains a mystery. But Cunningham is a versatile passer who adds another dimension to a team’s offense as a dynamic runner.