Every year, the evaluation of top NFL draft prospects inevitably leads to comparisons to their pro counterparts already playing at the next level.
While these comparisons can present some challenges in terms of evaluating each prospect on their own merits, they can still have value in trying to project what kind of impact certain skill sets could have in the NFL.
Let’s dive into such an exercise with the top four quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class:
Bryce Young, Alabama
Right away, it’s tough to compare anyone to Young because of his body type. Listed at 6-0 and 194 pounds, there aren’t a ton of guys in the league who have had success at that size, or even been given the chance to at the NFL level.
His football intelligence, arm talent, accuracy, and athleticism, combined with his height and weight, make Young a hard prospect to pin down. His production and understanding of the game is similar to a lot of franchise, pocket-passer-type players, but he’s much different athletically.
Pro Comparison: Drew Brees
While Brees never had a high level of athleticism and mobility like Young, he was deadly accurate, and took teams apart with both his understanding of what was in front of him, and his ability to put balls in just the right spot thanks to elite instincts. Young can replicate this skill set and then some with his mobility and ability to make a ton of throws outside the pocket.
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
While the trend in recent years has been more toward dual-threat quarterback prospects, Stroud prefers to do his damage from the pocket. He’s quite good at doing just that, with pinpoint accuracy, great arm strength, and a high level of understanding of what is happening in front of him.
Stroud has shown he can use his athleticism when necessary to make plays outside the pocket, but he hasn’t done it consistently, and it’s not his preferred mode of operation.
Pro Comparison: Matt Ryan
Like Stroud, Ryan did the vast majority of his damage from the pocket. He was a cool, calm, and collected signal-caller with excellent accuracy and great arm strength for the position. While Ryan does not have the athletic potential Stroud does, it is easy to see the similarities as passers.
Anthony Richardson, Florida
There aren’t a lot of players in NFL history who can boast Richardson’s skill set and size. At 6-4, 230 pounds, Richardson is one of the best athletes in the class, as well as perhaps the strongest arm in the entire quarterback group. Put simply, he’s a rare talent at the game’s most important position.
His ability to make throws outside the pocket, as well as being a truly dangerous running threat, make this comparison fairly easy, because few players in league history have ever checked all of these boxes to this degree.
Pro Comparison: Cam Newton
It must be said that Cam was a more developed player and a better pure passer coming out of college, but beyond that, both players are stunningly similar. Both Richardson and Newton led their respective teams in rushing as the primary threat on the ground, and become much more than a quarterback. Similarly, they both had the same sky-high ceiling, and Richardson has the same MVP potential in the righ situation.
Will Levis, Kentucky
Another player with a ton of upside, but not a lot of consistent production or polish, Levis has a ton to prove once in the league. That said, he has the skill set to pull himself over the hump with the right coaching. His rocket arm, quick release, competitiveness and leadership show up on tape with each play. His arm allows him to make any throw in the book, and no route is off limits.
He’s an impressive athlete with a prototypical frame, as well as a legitimate running threat who can take it to the house. He’s prone to poor decision-making and some hero ball, and at times can just be straight-up inaccurate, but is usually able to bounce back from mistakes.
Pro Comparison: Jameis Winston
Like Levis, Winston has a ton of upside and arm talent, but he’s got the same penchant for hero ball and make throws he shouldn’t. That seems to hold true with Levis, as well, who had 23 interceptions over the last two seasons. This is not to doom Levis by any means, but he’ll need to be developed in the right spot to take full advantage of his unique skill set.
