by 2023 NFL Draft coverage is sponsored by Gotcha Covered Medina (http://www.gotchacovered.com/medina), TNT Construction https://tntcleveland.com/), PULP North Olmsted (https://pulpjuiceandsmoothie.com/), Hinckley Roofing (https://hinckleyroofing.com/) and JBL Roofing & Construction (https://www.jblrc.com/).
Scroll to the end for the top 3 video link
- Tanner McKee – Stanford
McKee slightly edges out Aiden O’Connell for this spot in my quarterback prospect rankings. He is a 6’6” pocket passer with a strong arm and above average velocity. McKee’s short and intermediate passing is usually fairly accurate. He has the ability to drive the ball into tight windows as well. He is a bit inaccurate on his deep throws which might take certain teams out of the equation as possible fits. McKee also has heavy/slow feet which greatly limit his mobility. He does not have the ability to maneuver out of the pocket regularly. He has the potential to be a backup or third string quarterback in the NFL for a while and his traditional size will entice a few teams out there. His last name also helps improve his ranking with me.
Player Comparison: Brock Osweiler / Jacoby Brissett
Projection: 3rd – 5th Round
Best Fits: Tennessee, Jacksonville, Minnesota (Wild Card – Los Angeles Rams)
- Stetson Bennett – Georgia
Bennett is the definition of a winner. Many doubted his ability but he came through for the Georgia Bulldogs not once but twice. Winning two national titles is a massive accomplishment. Bennett has a strong arm and is quick with his decision making. He might not look like the most athletic player on the field but he can run the ball when needed due to his shiftiness. Bennett is a fairly accurate quarterback with a quick release who has demonstrated great command of an offense. His smaller stature initially put him in the backup/depth conversation but in a pro style offense he could surprise everyone and become much more than that. Regardless, if an injury occurs to your primary starter and Bennett has to step in, then you may still have a chance to win.
Player Comparison: Brock Purdy
Projection: 4th – 6th Round
Best Fits: Miami, Atlanta, Kansas City (Wild Card – Cleveland)
- Anthony Richardson – Florida
Richardson lit up the combine and proved that he is a genetic freak. He may be one of the best athletes at quarterback we have ever seen. He has the athleticism of Bryce Young combined with the size of Will Levis. He is truly blessed with all of the physical tools. Richardson is an incredible runner with strong vision, balance and open field speed. He is best when pushing the tempo in an RPO scheme. Richardson also possesses a very strong arm and doesn’t have many issues hitting wide open receivers. The team that selects him will see their fans love the pick and go crazy about it for months. There are many glaring concerns for me. He is extremely raw as a passer and his ball placement is alarmingly inconsistent. He also needs to read defenses much better pre and post snap if he wants to have any success in the NFL. Richardson should be viewed as a project and not be rushed on the field right away. The problem is that no one expects that to happen. After he is selected early on night one the fans will be calling for ownership, the front office and coaching staff to play him immediately. Without the necessary time to develop and work out deficiencies, Richardson could easily become another wasted talent. This would be especially disappointing when he fits what the quarterback position is becoming in the modern age of the NFL.
Player Comparison: Terelle Pryor Sr.
Projection: Top 10
Best Fits: Houston, Carolina, Baltimore (Wild Card – New York Jets)
- Will Levis – Kentucky
The media and NFL fans have fallen for the physical tools and size of Levis much like Richardson. At 6’3” and a sturdy 235 pounds he has fantastic quarterback size. Levis also has elite arm strength with extraordinary zip and velocity on his throws. Levis is a good athlete which results in him being a pretty decent runner. He is all power and has the strength to make it extremely tough to bring him down. Not long ago there was a video of Levis making a flat-footed 50 yard throw and it “wowed” the internet much like Zach Wilson did not too long ago. Levis, like Richardson, has many flaws in his game that leave me scratching my head. When watching his film his pocket awareness appears to be lacking. A good half of the sacks on Levis are a result of him stepping into pressure himself. Levis also needs to significantly improve on his ability to read the field post snap and learn to look defenders off. In the NFL players are covered even more tightly than in college. Quarterbacks have to be able to throw players open. I have not seen the “throw people open” aspect of Levis’s game develop quite yet. He will also go night one but might not be quite ready to start yet.
Player Comparison: Zach Wilson / Baker Mayfield
Projection: Top 20
Best Fits: Indianapolis, Carolina, Washington (Wild Card – Tampa Bay)
- Hendon Hooker – Tennessee
Hooker is another quarterback with a nice sturdy frame. He played the position at Tennessee always looking for a big play vertically down the field. Hooker certainly has the arm strength to let it rip and fire accurately downfield. He is one of the more accurate quarterbacks in this class partially thanks to his clean mechanics and also thanks to his calm presence in the pocket. Hooker is not a running quarterback but has good enough mobility to escape from pass rushers. He will have a lot to learn because Tennessee’s system was much more simplified than most NFL systems. In an NFL system Hooker will need to make more decisions and still make them quickly. He is one of the older prospects at 25 years old already and is also coming off an end of season injury. Hooker will absolutely be selected as a backup but I see the potential to become a future starter.
Player Comparison: Geno Smith
Projection: 3rd – 5th Round
Best Fits: New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Miami (Wild Card – Dallas)
- Jaren Hall – BYU
Hall is a talented quarterback with great scrambling ability and can throw on the run with high efficiency. His ball placement is usually on point and he can drop the ball in most anywhere. Not only is Hall’s precision excellent but also his touch on the football is nearly perfect. Hall is a tough player with creativeness and a lively arm. Hall is an older prospect with an untraditional build. He also needs some polishing but there are no major issues or concerns. If Hall can play in a pistol/shotgun heavy scheme then he will fit quite well. I truly believe he could play this season if necessary but would be 100 percent ready to go by next season.
Player Comparison: Kyler Murray
Projection: 2nd – 4th Round
Best Fits: Seattle, Detroit, Las Vegas (Wild Card – Green Bay)
Watch as Cole unveils the top 3 – highlights included!
