The 2022 NFL Draft was not kind to those of us who play Superflex, as the quarterback class we just had was rough. Thankfully, the 2023 quarterback class is here. This should be something all fans of college football and the NFL Draft should be happy about now that we are pivoting to it.
The 2022 class was headlined by Kenny Pickett, who was drafted 20th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that, we saw no quarterback drafted until round three. It was unheard of. We all know the value of the position; there are only 32 of them starting in the NFL.
What did we learn from it, though? No matter how hard we stare at a donkey, it won’t turn into a Clydesdale.
To keep the horse analogies moving, this 2023 class is not only a Clydesdale, but it belongs in a Budweiser commercial. This quarterback class is Super Bowl commercial-worthy. Are the players good enough to play in one, though?
I think there are some players good enough to be franchise cornerstones in this 2023 quarterback class.
1). C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Best Trait: Awareness/Mobility in the Pocket
Player Comparison: Joe Burrow
No quarterback made me “wow” when I watched them this summer more than C.J. Stroud did. He has the tremendous arm talent to go with his physical gifts, which set him apart. His best trait, without a doubt, is his mobility inside the pocket. He has no problem rolling out or stepping up whenever he senses pressure closing in. Staying clean through a busy pocket is the same trait that made Joe Burrow special in 2020.
2). Bryce Young, Alabama
Best Trait: Accuracy
Player Comparison: Aaron Rodgers
His decision-making and accuracy set Aaron Rodgers apart from the other great NFL quarterbacks. Those same traits set Bryce Young apart from others in the 2023 quarterback class. The way he puts the ball precisely where only his guy can make a play time and again is beautiful. No quarterback in 2022 had this type of accuracy. Young has a chance to usurp Stroud as QB1, but the physical traits are what have him here at two.
3). Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL)
Best Trait: Ball Placement
Player Comparison: Carson Palmer
Arguably my favorite comp here, Tyler van Dyke physically and mechanically, reminds me so much of Carson Palmer. Van Dyke, has great arm strength and unique ball placement to go with it. He has excellent talent around him, and he knows that. He can flash some pretty insane arm strength, but at the same time, he knows his ball placement is what makes him. He doesn’t try and play hero ball. He simply gets the ball in his playmaker’s hands and lets them create. Keep in mind that Mario Cristobal was accused of holding back Justin Herbert at Oregon. I think we will see more of that this year making van Dyke a better pro than he was in college.
4). Jaren Hall, BYU
Best Trait: Arm Talent
Player Comparison: Russell Wilson
Jaren Hall might be old enough to see his car insurance dip, 25, when he enters the league but don’t overthink him. Hall has all the arm talent that we have come to expect from BYU passers, and while he isn’t Zach Wilson, that’s a good thing. Hall is much cleaner mechanically than Wilson, in my opinion. Not to mention, he has the arm talent to make all the same throws that Wilson can and did at BYU, just without the flash. Remember, vanilla ice cream is still ice cream, and Jaren Hall is still a great quarterback prospect despite the lack of flash.
5). Anthony Richardson, Florida
Best Trait: Overall Vision
Player Comparison: Cam Newton
We barely saw Anthony Richardson last year, but it was highlight-reel material when we did. His ability to find the open man, sometimes before they are open, is unparalleled. He throws his receivers open, which is something we don’t see much of in the college game. Not to mention, his vision as a runner makes him the best dual-threat quarterback in this class. Pair that with his physical traits, and you have a newer, healthier version of Cam Newton.
6). Will Levis, Kentucky
Best Trait: Ball Velocity
Player Comparison: Daniel Jones
Not the greatest player comp to have, but it fits when you watch Will Levis as a passer and runner at this point. Levis still has some accuracy and decision-making bugs to tweak, but his ball velocity allows him to make throws all over the field. If he can clean up his mechanics below the waist and his processing, we may have something. That “we may have something” can get teams and scouts in trouble. For now, I am cautiously optimistic about Levis.
7). Tanner McKee, Stanford
Best Trait: Decision Making
Player Comparison: Mike Glennon
Tanner McKee may not be the flashiest quarterback to watch, but his mechanics and decision-making are NFL-caliber. The biggest issue rookies face when transitioning to the NFL is turnovers. McKee doesn’t appear to have any of those issues. His big frame allows him to see the field with ease, and when he scans the defense, he finds holes in coverage time and again. McKee is 100% an NFL quarterback; on what level is yet to be determined. His age, though, might be a factor in it as he entered college football late to complete a mission trip, love the commitment though by the young man.
8). Phil Jurkovec, Boston College
Best Trait: Deep Ball Ability
Player Comparison: Jared Goff
When you watch Phil Jurkovec, you don’t see a lot of flash from him apart from his arm. The arm, though, is a beautiful thing to watch. Sadly we don’t see many quarterbacks like him in the NFL starting right now. Coming off the ACL injury from last year, 2022 will be an important year for him. If he can show that he can be more, then he may be a riser, but coming off the knee, I doubt it.
9). Malik Cunningham, Louisville
Best Trait: Keeps Eyes Downfield
Player Comparison: N/A
No quarterback has received more trash talk from me this offseason than Malik Cunningham. That being said, I was impressed at times by the Louisville Cardinal. Last year everyone in the fantasy community was crowning Emory Jones. This year it is Cunningham in the 2023 quarterback class rankings. While I don’t see him becoming anything crazy in this class, he certainly has shown he can grow. If he can continue his upward tick, we can revisit this take come January.
10). Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Best Trait: Arm Talent
Player Comparison: Gardner Minshew II
Rounding out the quarterback rankings is the player who would’ve topped them last summer. Spencer Rattler has all the arm talent in the world. What is between the ears is what is failing him. We saw him get beaten down mentally before Caleb Williams took his job from him. He transferred midseason and headed to the SEC with South Carolina and his former coach Shane Beamer. His best year came with Beamer as his quarterback coach. Maybe they can rekindle what once had everyone drooling over his potential. For now, though, he remains at the bottom of my top ten list for my 2023 quarterback class rankings.