Professional comparisons for NFL Draft prospects are beneficial as a result of they supply an already established image of a participant we head into the draft course of realizing little about.
In fact, these comparisons are stylistic. Assume strengths and weaknesses. They are not a prediction of how an NFL profession will unfold.
Listed below are my professional comparisons for the highest eight quarterbacks on my Large Board for the 2023 NFL Draft.
QB1. Anthony Richardson, Florida
Comparability: Extra explosive Cam Newton
Genuinely, there is no superior comparability for Richardson. He’s actually one in all a sort. Within the historical past of soccer, we’ve by no means seen a quarterback, at his measurement, along with his explosiveness, lengthy velocity, working expertise and bazooka arm. We simply have not. I practically went with a Josh Allen comparability, however Allen was — consider it or not — extra polished and aggressive as a pocket passer coming into the NFL in 2018 and is a bit larger than Richardson with longer strides as a runner.
Richardson possesses the sheer energy and comparable slicing ability of Newton early in his profession and in addition boasts a technically sound supply, identical to Newton had. However the place Newton would take a second to kick it into high gear, Richardson erupts when he sees a gap and can run away from some defensive backs within the NFL. He completely must sharpen his accuracy total, but his pocket presence offered flashes of brilliance at Florida.
QB2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Comparability: Barely extra dynamic Sam Bradford
Bradford was rightfully lauded for his precision as a passer when he entered the league out of Oklahoma. Throughout his lengthy NFL profession, when he was saved contained in the pocket, he might cube most secondaries. He anticipated nicely, he had loads of arm energy however not a howitzer. That is exactly how I really feel about Stroud proper now.
Bradford was largely motionless and Stroud is a greater athlete, which ought to give the previous Ohio State passer extra upside as an expert. For as a lot as Bradford by no means met the lofty expectations of being the No. 1 total choose who was universally adored by scouts and draft analysts, he did win Offensive Rookie of the 12 months, and led the league in completion share (71.6%) in 2016 with the Vikings. Purely by way of passing the soccer, Bradford was particular. That is the ebook on Stroud, too.
QB3. Bryce Younger, Alabama
Comparability: Smaller Tony Romo
Romo was a smaller quarterback who seemingly all the time acquired out of bother regardless of not being an intimidatingly explosive athlete by NFL requirements. He did not have a rocket arm, however was one of many extra environment friendly passers within the league throughout his time because the Cowboys starter as a result of he knew the place to go along with the soccer and threw an correct ball, particularly beneath and on the intermediate ranges. Romo might stretch defenses vertically, too. Regardless of a number of late interceptions, he largely rose to the event in important factors of the sport.
Exchange “Romo” with the “Younger” and also you’d get a good description of the previous Alabama quarterback’s strengths, weaknesses and play type. In fact, Younger is a bit smaller than Romo, but it is a large deal. Younger’s lack of measurement did not harm him within the SEC. It will not within the NFL.
QB4. Will Levis, Kentucky
Comparability: Extra athletic Carson Wentz
Levis supplies glimpses of what his measurement, athleticism, and arm energy mixture can do. They usually’re particular. However they’re glimpses. They are not routine. Levis’ decision-making is common, and his ball placement has to enhance on the subsequent degree. Regardless of main bodily items, he would not function calmly below strain, and it seems like his legs ought to give him extra benefits as a scrambler and throw-on-the-run menace.
Would not that sound precisely like Wentz? I do really feel like Levis is extra sudden shifting round within the pocket than Wentz although.
QB5. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
Comparability: Extra polished Sam Ehlinger
After an extended illustrious profession at Texas, Ehlinger was picked within the sixth spherical and has began within the NFL. Whereas most of his highs have are available coaching camp and the preseason, I get the same vibe with Thompson-Robinson, who had a comparable tenure at UCLA and can enter the league a extra calculated, refined passer than Ehlinger.
Thompson-Robinson is a gamer. He’ll throw a block on an end-around, dive for a primary down in a vital level of the sport regardless of realizing he’ll get smacked by a linebacker, or piece collectively an extended, methodical drive that is capped by a high-velocity throw via visitors within the crimson zone.
QB6. Clayton Tune, Houston
Comparability: Josh Dobbs/Skylar Thompson hybrid
Tune has the expertise, athleticism and passing profile to be a profitable spot starter within the NFL. He would not completely wow you on movie from drive to drive, then uncorks a stunning lengthy throw whereas as a result of chased from the bottom that makes you sit up in your seat. There have been loads of designed runs in faculty, which can most likely be extra few and much between within the NFL, but his mix exercise proved he passes the brink most groups have for the athleticism wanted on the quarterback place at present.
Each Dobbs and Thompson had been clearly not high-level passers with supreme athletic items. They each loved lengthy, productive careers at Energy 5 colleges and had been extra polished quarterbacks than many gave them credit score for. That is precisely how I really feel about Tune.
QB7. Hendon Hooker, Virginia Tech
Comparability: Teddy Bridgewater
This one is fairly uncanny. Stylistically, from the look of the supply to the arm energy to the mobility, Hooker jogs my memory of Bridgewater. The veteran quarterback was most likely extra superior as a thrower than Hooker whereas Hooker is larger and has a contact extra juice when he takes off.
Apart from these two variations, Hooker has Bridgewaterian bodily and passing capabilities.
QB8. Jake Haener, Fresno State
Comparability: Brock Purdy
Early within the pre-draft course of, I picked Haener as my “Brock Purdy of the 2023 class.” Like Purdy, Haener was a productive, multi-year starter. Removed from large, Haener acquired the job performed as a passer with a fearless angle, misleading arm energy and simply sufficient wiggle to scoot away from an occasional oncoming defender.
These are descriptors I used for Purdy a season in the past whereas watching his Iowa State movie. Now, after all, his state of affairs in San Francisco considerably aided his great rookie 12 months, however Purdy did do loads of good issues working the 49ers offense a season in the past. Haener has that Purdy really feel to him.