The ’23 Draft: Quarterbacks

JACKSONVILLE – They will go early. And some will go really early.

That’s the consensus on quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft, with many analysts believing the position could make up the top three – or possibly four – selections. But just how good is this group of quarterbacks? The consensus is that’s a very difficult question.

“It’s an intriguing quarterback class, but it lacks a generational talent,” NFL Media Draft and Jaguars Media analyst Bucky Brooks told jaguars.com recently. “There’s not a surefire No. 1 quarterback in the draft that everyone knows without question is a franchise quarterback.”

That makes this a tricky quarterback class to evaluate, with the top players at the position generally considered:

*C.J. Stroud, Ohio State.

*Anthony Richardson, Florida.

*Hendon Hooker, Tennessee.

The consensus throughout the pre-draft process has been that Young and Stroud will be top five selections, with most analysts projecting the Carolina Panthers selecting one of the two No. 1 overall. And while none is considered a “can’t-miss” prospect on the level of players such as Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars, No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft) or Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals, No. 1 overall in 2020), the position’s importance has all five commonly projected in Round 1 – perhaps all in the Top 15.

And some analysts believe the ’23 draft could be the first in history with quarterbacks as the top four selections.

“We’ll have three – possibly four – going very, very high, and all four should have a chance to be great if things fall right,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. “There are concerns for everyone but they all four will go very high.”