The 2023 NFL Draft is just days away and the focus from fans and executives around the league remains on quarterbacks. With draft day approaching and fan bases becoming more intrigued, there are some interesting NFL comparisons being made for the top quarterbacks.
There is no Trevor Lawrence in the 2023 draft class. Each of the best signal-callers has a few concerns on their scouting report that is giving teams pause. Unsurprisingly, NFL evaluators and draft analysts are split on who is the best quarterback right now and who will be the best when their careers draw to a close.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN wrote an in-depth piece with NFL executives evaluating the top 13 quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft. In addition to scouting notes on each player, the executives offered NFL comparisons for the top quarterbacks.
The Bryce Young NFL comparison to Drew Brees isn’t surprising. Young – 5-foot-10 – comes with similar concerns regarding his frame. However, both quarterbacks were viewed as extremely intelligent with the ability to manipulate defenses, read the field and understand the most minute details of the game like very few of their peers.
It’s one of the biggest reasons why Young is now expected to be the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite the long-term durability worries, he checks off every box the Carolina Panthers have. If Young is drafted by Carolina, he’ll be surrounded by one of the best NFL coaching staffs.
Related: Bryce Young earning rave reviews for his football mind
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud earned another prominent NFL comparison. Executives view his skills and upside as similar to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. It’s a fairly apt comparison, especially if the athleticism Stroud showed in the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Georgia Bulldogs is a sign of things to come.
After Stroud and Young, the evaluations on the 2023 NFL Draft quarterback class become a far stronger debate. Some teams, like the Indianapolis Colts, prefer Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. He played through injuries last season and offers the strongest arm in the 2023 draft class. Given his qualities and his inconsistent play, the NFL comparison to Matthew Stafford is fitting. Considering his former offensive coordinator Liam Cohen most recently coached Stafford, his comments about Levis to The Athletic are even more intriguing.
Related: Anthony Richardson scouting report
Anthony Richardson, the most polarizing quarterback prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, is receiving NFL comparisons to Cam Newton. From an arm strength and size perspective, they are similar. However, Richardson might be less of a physical runner but he is a better athlete and his on-field vision is better.
Rounding out some of the NFL comparisons for the quarterback class, executives see a lot of Geno Smith in Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. Meanwhile, Georgia’s Stetson Bennett drew NFL comparisons to Case Keenum but with off-field concerns and UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson was compared to Tyrod Taylor.
