NFL Analysis
12/2/24
8 min read
Re-Ranking The 2023 NFL Draft QB Class As Sophomores Close Second Seasons
With their second season coming to an end, the 2023 NFL Draft class of quarterbacks is starting to find its identity.
That doesn't mean that everything has gone perfectly for these second-year quarterbacks. Two of the top QBs, including No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, were benched in the middle of this season. Anthony Richardson was also benched for multiple games for an aging veteran in Joe Flacco.
However, both Young and Richardson look like far more competent quarterbacks after their respective benchings. Their comebacks, along with C.J. Stroud's sophomore slump, make now the perfect time to re-rank the top five quarterbacks who have played meaningful snaps from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Re-Ranking the 2023 QB Class
5. Will levis, Tennessee Titans 
The highlights can be really exciting with Will Levis. However, the second-year quarterback for Tennessee is simply far too erratic to be a reliable starting QB at this point.
Levis threw another pair of touchdowns in Sunday's loss to the Washington Commanders. However, according to RBSDM, he generated just 1.5 total EPA on 45 plays, completing fewer than half of his passes.
The deep ball is one of Levis' biggest strengths, but his decision-making is brutal. He has the second-highest interception rate in the NFL behind Mac Jones and was 41st out of 48 QBs in success rate heading into this week, according to NFELO.
That decision-making has also kept him off the field. He refuses to go down or slide, resulting in injuries like the shoulder issue that caused him to miss three games this year.
With his arm talent, Levis can still become a thrilling playmaker. However, if his decision-making doesn't improve, he'll quickly flame out as an NFL quarterback.
Tre Tucker hauls in a 58-yard touchdown pass from Aidan O’Connell.
— Carter Owen (@carternowen) November 29, 2024
It’s the longest reception of Tucker’s career. pic.twitter.com/n5nQP9lLEC
4. Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas Raiders
Recency bias will have fans pointing to the muffed snap at the end of the game, but Aidan O'Connell has established himself as a reliable backup at the bare minimum over two seasons.
O'Connell went in the fourth round in 2023 behind quarterbacks like Stetson Bennett, Jake Haener, and Hendon Hooker, who haven't come close to becoming preferred starters in the NFL. Meanwhile, the former Purdue QB has already attempted 460 passes in 16 games in two seasons, posting a respectable 85.0 passer rating with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was easily O'Connell's best game of his career. He averaged 9.7 yards per pass attempt with 340 yards, two scores, and zero interceptions. Neither of his TD passes were cheap, either, with the Raiders QB chucking it deep with success.
O'Connell's future in the league may not be as a preferred starter, and that's ok. He doesn't have the physical tools that a lot of the other quarterbacks in his draft class have.
However, with spot starts and performances like this one, O'Connell should have a very long NFL career as a journeyman backup who can fill in for an occasional start.
3. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
The former No. 1 pick looked like he was going to be an all-time bust earlier this season, but Bryce Young has managed to look much more competent in recent weeks.
Young returned to the starting lineup a little over a month ago and has looked like a completely different player from his first-season struggles. While the Panthers have only gone 2-3 since then, four of those five games have been decided by three points or less.
The 23-year-old has also delivered some incredibly clutch moments during this stretch. He led what could have been a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs two weeks ago, then nearly beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime on Sunday with some late-game heroics.
Young has generated 16.8 EPA over those last two games. It's a small sample size, but Young has looked like one of the more efficient QBs in the league in this two-game span.
Maybe it's a blip on the radar, or maybe it's Young finally regaining his confidence as an NFL quarterback. If it's the latter, then the Panthers should focus on finding a way to continue building a competent offense around their potential franchise QB.
there was plenty of good from Anthony Richardson in Week 12 pic.twitter.com/WIBxzlhJ5z
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) November 25, 2024
2. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Traditional box score stats will tell you that Anthony Richardson is a bust. But the film is showing an inexperienced quarterback who is starting to figure it out as a passer.
Richardson has helped lead the Colts to a 2-1 record in his three games after returning to the starting lineup. While the narrative has been that the former first-round pick was extremely erratic with his accuracy, his footwork and mechanics have looked much cleaner in recent weeks, allowing him to sail fewer throws underneath.
In fact, Richardson has been much better hitting targets in the quick passing game. According to Pro Football Focus, he's completed 29-of-37 passes 10 or fewer yards downfield with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Meanwhile, Richardson has looked healthier and more willing to lower his shoulder as a runner. He's rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns over the last three games while also trucking into the end zone for the game-winning 2-point conversion in Sunday's win against New England.
While he isn't at the top for QBs with 5.5 yards per carry, he's the No. 1 quarterback in EPA per snap when running the ball this season.
Richardson's size, arm strength, and athletic ability make him such an exciting playmaker that the Colts would have been foolish to give up on him. His upside could be on the same level as a player like Josh Allen, but he'll need to continue focusing on improving his ball placement and cutting down on turnovers.
1. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Even with the second-year struggles, it's hard not to still have C.J. Stroud as the top quarterback from the 2023 draft class.
Stroud took the league by storm in 2023, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors with 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions with a 100.8 passer rating. The Texans were hoping for a second-year leap from Stroud, but things have gone backward instead.
In 13 games, Stroud has thrown just 15 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions. His numbers are worse in almost every conceivable metric, and injuries at wide receiver have seemed to hurt his confidence when throwing. However, even with Nico Collins back in the lineup, Stroud hasn't been able to recreate the magic from last season.
One of the bigger issues for Stroud this season has been handling pressure and throwing under duress. His pressure-to-sack ratio has climbed significantly from 17.4 percent in 2023 up to 21.9 this season. He's also not carving up defenses that are sending extra rushers like he did as a rookie when he posted a 107.8 passer rating against the blitz, per PFF.
Despite all of that, Stroud should still be considered the No. 1 QB from 2023. He's just 23 years old and has already shown that he can produce at a top-tier level for an NFL quarterback. Even in games like Sunday, where he doesn't put up video game numbers, Stroud continues to look reliable as a passer.
There's too much talent on Houston's offense for Stroud to keep struggling when everyone is healthy. Regardless of how this season shakes out, 2025 should give fans a much clearer picture of the kind of long-term quarterback Stroud will be.
