Analysis

4/10/23

5 min read

2023 NFL Draft: Biggest Strengths, Weaknesses of Top 5 Quarterbacks

By Greg Cosell

NFL Analyst
Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, Hendon Hooker

The 2023 NFL Draft kicks off on April 27 in Kansas City, and like every year, the quarterbacks will dictate much of what happens during the three-day event. This year's class has a number of talented passers, but we're going to focus on the five receiving the most buzz.

What are their strengths and weaknesses? And how do they fit into the NFL? Make sure you click on the links for my full scouting reports on each quarterback, who are listed below in alphabetical order.

Evaluating Draft's Top 5 QBs

[bc_video video_id="6324034376112" account_id="6312875271001" player_id="default" embed="in-page" padding_top="56%" autoplay="" min_width="0px" playsinline="playsinline" picture_in_picture="" language_detection="" application_id="" max_width="680px" mute="muted" width="100%" height="100%" aspect_ratio="16:9" sizing="responsive" ]

Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

Strengths: Size, Throws from Pocket, Second-Reaction Playmaking

Weaknesses: Ball Placement, Touch, Processing Past First Read

Bottom Line: Hooker’s 2021 and 2022 tape showed a tall, athletic and strong-armed quarterback. He has the arm strength and throwing traits to effectively work the intermediate and deeper levels of the field with excellent mobility to make second-reaction plays. Hooker ran a relatively pure version of the Air Raid passing game this past season.

That offense emphasized no huddles and fast tempo, plus wide-spread formations, as well as pure-progression reads, where a quarterback is not taught to understand the subtleties and nuances of specific defenses and coverages. Tennessee's offense also has a high percentage of pre-determined throws.

>> Hooker's Full Scouting Report

[bc_video video_id="6322981362112" account_id="6312875271001" player_id="default" embed="in-page" padding_top="56%" autoplay="" min_width="0px" playsinline="playsinline" picture_in_picture="" language_detection="" application_id="" max_width="680px" mute="muted" width="100%" height="100%" aspect_ratio="16:9" sizing="responsive" ]

Will Levis, Kentucky

Strengths: Arm Strength, Mobility, Reading Progressions

Weaknesses: Ball Placement, Lower-Body Mechanics, Creates Own Pressure

Bottom Line: Levis is well-schooled in NFL route concepts, with extensive experience in the conventional under-center play-action pass and RPO game. You could see watching his 2021 film (when Liam Coen was the offensive coordinator) Kentucky's pass game was built on NFL formations and route concepts. In 2022, with Rich Scangarello as the offensive coordinator, the passing game did not seem as well-designed, and Levis was not as rhythmic and efficient.

Levis is much more of a power thrower than a touch and pace thrower. Any offensive system he is in at the next level must understand that and play to his strengths as he develops.

>> Levis' Full Scouting Report

[bc_video video_id="6321741979112" account_id="6312875271001" player_id="default" embed="in-page" padding_top="56%" autoplay="" min_width="0px" playsinline="playsinline" picture_in_picture="" language_detection="" application_id="" max_width="680px" mute="muted" width="100%" height="100%" aspect_ratio="16:9" sizing="responsive" ]

Anthony Richardson, Florida

Strengths: Athleticism, Arm Strength, Ball Placement Down Field

Weaknesses: Footwork, Progressions, Ball Placement on Routine Throws

Bottom Line: Richardson will get people excited because of his athletic and physical profile. There is no question his profile can be described as freakish, but he has a long way to go. Richardson needs to develop in some of the more subtle nuances and details of the quarterback position. The question is how much he will be asked to play from the pocket, given his outstanding running traits, and develop the skills needed to become a quality, high-level quarterback prospect.

Overall, Richardson likely will be drafted early in the first round because of his physical profile and his ability to make explosive individual plays with his arm and legs, but there is much work to be done.

>> Richardson's Full Scouting Report

[bc_video video_id="6322722168112" account_id="6312875271001" player_id="default" embed="in-page" padding_top="56%" autoplay="" min_width="0px" playsinline="playsinline" picture_in_picture="" language_detection="" application_id="" max_width="680px" mute="muted" width="100%" height="100%" aspect_ratio="16:9" sizing="responsive" ]

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Strengths: Touch, Progressions, Decisive vs. Blitz

Weaknesses: Lower-Body Mechanics, Average Arm Strength

Bottom Line: Stroud’s 2022 tape consistently showed a high-level touch thrower with an innate feel for feathering and layering the ball with precise placement. Stroud showed the kind of subtle pocket movement necessary and demanded at the next level for pocket quarterbacks to be consistently successful.

There were a lot of clearly defined reads and throws in the Ohio State passing game with Stroud working out of a clean pocket, raising the question of how well Stroud will react when the coverage picture is not as clear and the pocket is muddied.

>> Stroud's Full Scouting Report

[bc_video video_id="6323272687112" account_id="6312875271001" player_id="default" embed="in-page" padding_top="56%" autoplay="" min_width="0px" playsinline="playsinline" picture_in_picture="" language_detection="" application_id="" max_width="680px" mute="muted" width="100%" height="100%" aspect_ratio="16:9" sizing="responsive" ]

Bryce Young, Alabama

Strengths: Ball Placement, Field Vision, Pocket Management

Weaknesses: Size, Creates Own Pressure, Average Arm Strength

Bottom Line: Young is one of the most intriguing prospects to come out of college football in recent years for one reason only: his height (5-foot-10) and frame. Young is a high-level prospect with a Ph.D. in the nuances, details and subtleties of the position. His pre-snap process, feel for the game and intuitive understanding of where everyone is on the field are all great. He often moves to find space to deliver the ball and make spectacular second-reaction plays.

The decision regarding his draft status and your belief as to his success or failure at the next level will be a function of his size.

>> Young's Full Scouting Report

Greg Cosell has been a senior producer at NFL Films for more than four decades. He is the creator of ESPN’s NFL Matchup and has been a longtime analyst on the show. Follow him on Twitter at @gregcosell.

Tags: 2023 NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young See More

Greg Cosell

NFL Analyst

Greg Cosell has been a senior producer at NFL Films for more than four decades. He is the creator of ESPN’s NFL Matchup and has been a longtime analyst on the show. Cosell, who co-authored the book The Games That Changed the Game: The Evolution of the NFL in Seven Sundays, is the nephew of Howard Cosell, the legendary voice of Monday Night Football.

RELATED