The day has finally come: the unofficial start to the next NFL season — the 2023 NFL Draft. With the conclusion of the first round, it’s time to react (or overreact) to every pick and trade that took place, but for now let’s focus on the most important position in all of sports: quarterback.
Coming into Thursday’s first round, the majority of the talk consisted of four names: Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Anthony Richardson (Florida), and Will Levis (Kentucky). So much so, that the talk was less about which quarterbacks would be taken, but rather where these quarterbacks would end up. Vegas even had the over/under for quarterbacks taken in the first round firmly set at 4.5, with the prevailing thought being that Hendon Hooker of Tennessee could sneak into the late part of the first round through a team trading up, much like Lamar Jackson’s selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. This, however, was not the case. Not only was there no late round trade-up, but only three quarterbacks were taken overall.
Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young — 1st Overall
In the most un-surprising move of an incredibly eventful first round, Bryce Young was the first quarterback taken off the board at No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers. The worst kept secret of the 2023 NFL Draft was Young to the Panthers, with his Vegas odds as high as -2000, and multiple reports all but confirming it as a certainty. Things got interesting when a rumor circulated on Reddit that Will Levis was telling friends and family that Carolina would in fact take him with the first overall pick, enough that his odds dropped significantly from +4000 to +400 overnight. This, however, ended up not being the case, and the Panthers got their guy. In a seemingly good fit, with a ton of upside through both a 7-10 team, new coaching staff and weak projected NFC South division, the future looks bright for the former Heisman Trophy winner.
Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud — 2nd Overall
In somewhat of a surprise, C.J. Stroud comes off the board as the second overall pick, selected by the Texans. In what now appears to be a smoke-screen, reports began to circulate less than two weeks ago that the Texans would target a defensive player with the second overall pick, as they were “split” on Stroud. NFL.com released a mock draft backing up this theory, with the Texans then trading up from the 12th overall pick they also possessed at the start of the night to fill the QB need. All of this, however, was put to rest when the Texans cleared the air and solidified that Stroud was their future. He has been nothing but impressive in his two-year campaign as the starter at Ohio State, and it was refreshing to see the scouts and front office of the Texans trust the film study and player profile they put together without letting the controversial S2 test results cloud their judgment. Although he has a lot of work in front of him going to the Texans, Stroud is one of the most level-headed decision makers in the class, and he’ll bring his signature poise to Houston in an attempt to right the ship.
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson — 4th Overall
Following a massive jump from the Texans to move up to No. 3 overall with the second of their first-round selections to take EDGE Will Anderson Jr. out of Alabama, the Colts shocked nearly everyone by selecting Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick. For what seems like weeks, the Colts have been “linked” with Levis, through reports from scouts, high-profile analysts and mock drafts to the point of near certainty. The Colts, however, opted to keep their cards extremely close to the chest and take a shot at Richardson — easily the most boom-or-bust prospect in the draft. Richardson is the ultimate “home-run” pick, possessing intangibles just about off the charts, but whose tape is riddled with accuracy issues and poor throwing mechanics. Richardson has also only started 13 total games in college, so the talent he possesses is still very much on the raw side. The upside of Richardson, however, is seemingly unlimited. With great measurables, an incredible arm, good pocket presence under pressure, and excellent running ability, Richardson has potential to be a human highlight reel in Indianapolis and potentially bring the Colts back to the top of the AFC South.
What’s Next?
Will Levis remains the largest elephant in the room, but don’t expect him to be on the board past the first seven picks of the second round. According to Adam Schefter, Levis took meetings with eight top 30 teams this past week, one of which being the Los Angeles Raiders, who currently sit at pick 38 — seven picks into the second round. Expect Levis to land there or for another team still in the market for a QB (Rams, Seahawks, Titans, Buccaneers) to either pick him or trade up before he drops that far. The list of teams fairs the same for Hendon Hooker, who will also almost certainly be taken Friday and if not selected by one of the teams above, will likely be taken as a strong No. 2 QB option for a team looking toward the future or depth, such as the Vikings, Falcons, or Giants.
About the author
Native of New York, resident of Washington, DC. Graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Georgetown Business School. I love writing about coaching, quarterbacks, recruiting, and all aspects of gambling. My first college football memory was circling bowl game picks on a bet sheet for my grandpa and as a lifelong Longhorns fan I perpetually believe Texas is Back. My dog’s name is Bauer.
