Former Scout’s Shocking Early 2023 NFL Draft QB Big Board

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The names are out there for the 2023 NFL Draft.

We’ve seen the opinions of the major media platforms, and who they believe will be the top quarterback (QB) prospects.

We’ve seen the names C.J. Stroud (Ohio), Bryce Young (Alabama), Tanner McKee (Stanford), Anthony Richardson (Florida), Will Levis (Kentucky) and D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson) mentioned as potential first-round prospects.

However, how do I see this deep 2023 NFL Draft Class based mostly off of 2021 game film?

Without further ado…

QB1 C.J. Stroud (Ohio State)

Grade: First-Round

Generational talent who reminds me of Warren Moon. Leads with the consistent tempo of a basketball point guard and already shows the maturity of being able to hold the safety with his eyes, when throwing.

QB2 Spencer Rattler (South Carolina)

Grade: First-Round

I love Spencer Rattler. He is a fiery competitor with ice in his eyes. He’s athletic and he has a strong arm. Reminds me of a cross between Patrick Mahomes and Brett Favre.

QB3 Tanner McKee (Stanford)

Grade: First-Round

A mature leader for his age who overcame cancer at age 16. He will stare down the barrel of the pass rush and watching him throw is like watching someone throwing darts with precision.

QB4 Brennan Armstrong (Virginia)

Grade: First-Round

He is flying under the radar and he is poised to smash even more of former Virginia QB Matt Schaub’s school records this season. A southpaw who fights back with a strong arm aggressively attacking the intermediate to deep route levels.

QB5 Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina)

Grade: Second-Round

In 2021, he achieved the highest QB efficiency rating in college football since 1956. A tough and mobile passer with a strong enough arm to fit it into small throwing windows and he doesn’t take crazy chances with the ball.

QB6 Hendon Hooker (Tennessee)

Grade: Second-Round

Another efficient signal caller with good ball placement at all three route-levels. Plus, he’s athletic and has an impressive deep game as an added bonus. Has some mechanical issues that need fixing, but Hooker looks like an ideal No. 2.

QB7 Jaren Hall (BYU)

Grade: Second-Round

Stop the presses, Hall looks better on game film than Zach Wilson did at BYU. I love how instinctual he looks throwing the ball and he’s mobile.

QB8 Jayden Daniels (LSU)

Grade: Second-Round

A true-dual threat who can beat a defense with his arm or his legs. Whips it effortlessly intermediate and deep, and seems to have figured out how to throw fewer interceptions this season.

QB9 D.J. Uiagalelei (Clemson)

Grade: Third-Round

An athletic playmaker with strong intangibles who is an ideal developmental QB. He threw some beauties intermediate and deep, but needs to clean up his inconsistencies at those route levels.

QB10 Jake Haener (Fresno State)

Grade: Third-Round

He’s competitive, mobile, and he gives off a vibe of being smart. Can come into a game and provide a lift. Best in the short-range and can move around and make defenses adjust to him.

QB11 Tyler Van Dyke (Miami)

Grade: Third-Round

A real spark plug who aggressively and fearlessly drives the ball into the intermediate to deep route levels with inconsistency.

QB12 Malik Cunningham (Louisville)

Grade: Fourth-Round

He looks like the second coming of former NFL legendary QB Randall Cunningham, only not quite as polished. He’s an electric runner, playmaker and he too has a nice looking deep ball. He’s just really raw in the finer points of playing the position.

QB13 Devin Leary (N.C. State)

Grade: Fourth-Round

A playmaker with an average arm who excels most when things get unscripted. The big thing holding him back is the position doesn’t come second-nature.

QB14 Will Levis (Kentucky)

Grade: Fifth-Round

Levis played in a run-heavy offense last season and that covered up a lot of his deficiencies. He has a strong arm, but he looked raw as a downfield passer.

QB15 Anthony Richardson (Florida)

Grade: Seventh-Round

An interception machine in the NFL waiting to happen. Richardson makes a nice highlight reel, but he mostly creates his own drama by holding the ball way too long in the pocket.

QB16 Bryce Young (Alabama)

Grade: Seventh-Round

Young has a noodle arm and he looks too timid in the pocket. He is a total byproduct of Alabama’s system and surrounding talent level.

QB17 K.J. Jefferson (Arkansas)

Grade: Undraftable free agent (UFA)

Athletic, raw and unorthodox. It will be tough to make it in the NFL holding the ball too long in the pocket.

QB18 Michael Penix, Jr. (Washington)

Grade: Undraftable free agent (UFA)

Has all the tools, but it did not translate at Indiana in 2021.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.