Power ranking the NFL’s 2023 rookie quarterback class
The 2023 NFL season set a new league record with 10 first-year signal callers, including two undrafted free agents, starting a game. It was the year of the rookie quarterback.
Several top overall picks displayed glimpses of why they were so much sought after in April, despite the uneven results. From best to worst, here’s how each rookie quarterback performed this season:
CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
There’s little left to be said about Stroud that hasn’t already been said. Among rookie quarterbacks he ranks second in passing yards per game (273.9), third in passing yards (4,108) and passer rating (100.8) and sixth in touchdown passes (23).
Stroud is just the fifth player in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards in his rookie season and Dak Prescott is the only other rookie to throw for 20 or more touchdowns with fewer interceptions than Stroud’s five picks. The 22-year-old Ohio State alum looks like he’s going to be a Pro Bowler for the next decade.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
Despite his 3-6 record as a starter, the Titans looked like a completely different offense with Levis at QB than Ryan Tannehill. His 1,808 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions look all the more impressive considering he played behind the worst offensive line in the league and was running for his life a considerable amount of time.
Levis’ star-making moment came in Week 14 when he led the Titans on a four-play, 64-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter to upset the then-9-3 Miami Dolphins on “Monday Night Football.” Levis appears to be a piece the Titans will build around.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Although Young’s stats (2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 62 sacks taken, 73.7 passer rating) don’t look great at first glance, it’s reasonable to argue he did the best he could with what little he had.
Young’s 2-12 record as the starter makes Carolina’s six one-score losses appear worse than they were. He could develop into a pretty fine thrower if the Panthers can find him a legitimate No. 1 receiver to throw to and a couple of linemen who can keep him upright.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Though his was only a four-game sample size, Richardson showed glimpses of why the Colts valued him so high at the top of the draft. He started in wins over the Titans and Texans and nearly led Indy to an overtime win against the Rams.
. Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders
Thrown into the fire in Week 4 and then again as the full-time starter in Week 9, O’Connell held his own against some tough competition and had the Raiders right in the thick of the playoff race up until the end of the season.
He went 5-5 with wins over the Chiefs and Jets, who boasted the No. 2- and 3-ranked defenses, respectively, in the NFL. O’Connell threw for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions a.l while working under an interim head coach, too.
Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears
Even though Bagent was an undrafted free agent out of Division II Shephard University, his 859 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions in four starts may not seem all that remarkable.
In Week 6, Bagent almost led the Bears back against the Vikings after winning two of his three starts. In Week 9, he was likewise defeated by the Saints by a single touchdown. Because Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert, Chicago’s two best running backs, were both sidelined for a significant portion of the season, Bagent saw a lot of playing time without their assistance.
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