With the 2022 regular season concluded, who are the top 10 quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft? As quarterbacks make their declaration decisions known, we get closer and closer to a settled pecking order. From where we stand now, with upper and underclassmen both in the mix, let’s see who comes out on top.
Top 10 Quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft
10) Clayton Tune, Houston
If you’re forced to choose a QB from the 2023 NFL Draft who goes from Day 3 pick to eventual NFL starter, make Clayton Tune your choice. He’s quietly one of the most intriguing passers in a class that’s starting to become starved for depth with players returning.
Tune has been lights out for Houston over the past two seasons — not only statistically but in specific situational moments as well. He’s a clutch, exceedingly confident QB who has a gunslinger’s mentality when faced with risks — and he has enough athleticism and arm talent to make things happen.
9) Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
The importance of athleticism is becoming more and more distinct for modern QBs in the NFL. Having high-end athleticism can give you so much more flexibility, freedom, and room for error as a passer. That’s the kind of athleticism that Dorian Thompson-Robinson brings to the fold.
Thompson-Robinson, a Shrine Bowl commit, is one of the most prolific creators in the 2023 NFL Draft. He also has a great deal of experience and underrated natural arm talent. Consistency remains an area of interest, but his tools can buoy him up in high-pressure situations.
8) Cameron Ward, Washington State
Odds are, Cameron Ward returns to school to further build momentum for the 2024 NFL Draft cycle. But until the redshirt sophomore does, we’re going to list him where he deserves to be mentioned: within the top 10 of the 2023 NFL Draft QB class.
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Ward is still incredibly young. In fact, he’d be the youngest QB in the 2023 NFL Draft if he declared. And out of this group, he might have the most elastic arm. He’s supremely flexible off-platform and able to manipulate arm angles with ease that invokes envy. And his lateral twitch allows him to consistently create as well.
7) Jaren Hall, BYU
For a prospect as productive as Jaren Hall was over the past two seasons, you barely hear any buzz about him. Since taking over for Zach Wilson at BYU, Hall has put up almost 6,000 yards, 51 touchdowns, and just 11 picks.
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This past year, Hall was a bright spot for a 7-5 Cougars team, providing sturdy leadership off the field and enticing film on it. His accuracy and ball placement noticeably improved in 2022, and he’s long had the athleticism to sustain a career as a solid backup or spot-starter.
6) Bo Nix, Oregon
We still don’t know for sure whether or not Bo Nix is going to declare or return. But if he declares, he played well enough in 2022 to become a true wild card in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s a prospect with legitimate early-round ability, and he fits the new-age-QB mold.
Nix has quantifiably elite creation capacity with his combination of instincts and short-area athleticism. On top of that, he has high-level arm talent. His ability to work off-platform effortlessly gives offenses so much flexibility, and his accuracy drastically improved in 2022.
5) Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
“Efficiency” is the word that frequently comes up with Hendon Hooker after his time with the Tennessee Volunteers. Over the past two seasons, Hooker completed nearly 70% of his passes while averaging almost 10 yards per attempt, registering an unfair 58-5 TD:INT ratio.
Hooker has starting talent — both with his athleticism and arm strength. The real question is how teams will value him. He’ll be a 25-year-old rookie, and an ACL tear suffered in November could cloud his medicals. But if things check out on that front, it’s hard to imagine him falling out of Day 2.
4) Will Levis, Kentucky
Will Levis, much like Anthony Richardson, will be a polarizing figure through the entirety of the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. Richardson gets the nod over Levis here for one simple reason. They’re both high-upside prospects with room for growth, and Richardson is younger. But Levis has appeal, too.
2022 was a bit of a diluted season for Levis, who battled a turf toe injury for much of the year and experienced inconsistent offensive line play. He still needs to improve his processing and decision-making, but he has the athleticism, toughness, and rocket arm to hit new heights with professional coaching.
3) Anthony Richardson, Florida
There will be skepticism around Anthony Richardson. That part is certain. But at a certain point, for prospects like Richardson, the conversation becomes simple. With how young he is and how early he is into his development, just how high is the ceiling?
For Richardson, the answer is very, very high. And that’s why he could be an early-first-round pick, despite his polarizing outlook. Over the past five draft classes, his physical ceiling is on par with quarterbacks like Justin Fields and Justin Herbert. You bank on those kinds of tools.
2) C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
C.J. Stroud completed 235 of 355 attempts for 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2022. He was a Heisman finalist. It almost feels wrong for Stroud to lose his QB1 spot after putting up the numbers he did — but a few questions remain in spite of his success.
Most notably, Stroud remains in need of more comfort off-script. He still gets happy feet a bit too easily, and he doesn’t have the creative instincts of his challenger at the top. But regardless, his arm talent and ability to work in structure at a high level makes him a worthy top pick.
1) Bryce Young, Alabama
There’s been a changing of the guard within PFN’s walls, as a new QB1 emerges on our postseason list. It’s still very close between the two passers at the top, but Bryce Young is now officially PFN’s QB1 in the 2023 NFL Draft (for the time being).
What Young has, that Stroud visibly lacks, is elite creation capacity and instincts off-script. He’s always in control amidst the chaos, but he doesn’t rely on that chaos, either. He has the poise and processing ability to work in structure, and the arm to layer tight-window throws at multiple levels.
Honorable Mentions
- Jake Haener, Fresno State
- Cameron Rising, Utah
- Aidan O’Connell, Purdue
- Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
- Stetson Bennett, Georgia
- Tanner McKee, Stanford
- Malik Cunningham, Louisville