The draft countdown drops ever lower.
As we attempt to defuse this ticking time bomb known as the annual NFL Draft season, I want to offer an easy way out. Like the paragon of the draft community that I am, I’ve done all the work for you already; all you have to do is read.
Right now, there are exactly enough weeks left until the 2023 NFL Draft for me to wind-sprint my way through the scouting and content production process. I’ve always been a procrastinator and I’m not stopping now.
Let’s talk quarterbacks, first and foremost.
The cheat sheet format is going to be a little different this year. Instead of medium-length blurbs about my top five at each position, I’ll be giving a short recap on what I saw when I watched each prospect for every player I watched this year, and rank them. Additionally, I’ll make an “archetype” comparison so you know what to expect. Player comparisons are really, really hard to nail down, and even harder for these guys to live up to. It’s not fair to set those expectations for them, or for you.
Let’s get started.
QB1: Bryce Young, Alabama
Bryce Young is awesome.
So clearly the best player at the position in 2022, I was seriously impressed with how smooth and poised he was, basically at all times. Young’s abilities to create plays out of basically thin air is, in my opinion, the most impressive thing about him. That being said, what I really loved was how fundamentally sound he was.
Yes, I’m worried about the frame; everyone should be. Young is probably going to come to the NFL Combine at maybe 5’10 if he’s lucky, and probably 190. That’s after spending the off-season bulking up. He did show a little bit of a shakiness in the Crimson Tide’s big game against Texas this year, but he pulled it back, so that worry is very much at the back of my mind. Other than that, no notes.
Archetype: Football Wizard
QB2: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
I know I’m going with chalk here, but it really is true. It’s been Young or Stroud since September and it’s probably going to be that in May. Stroud displayed unreal pocket presence in his final season with the Buckeyes, as well as a unique level of understanding ball placement for a college quarterback. For 6’3, 220, he’s not a bad athlete either.
Where I struggle in this evaluation is very simple: what is Stroud really good at? If your superpower is going to be deadly accuracy, you have to be otherworldly great at it. I’m not sure if Stroud is there. He’s very good at a lot of things but there’s nothing that stands out to me. Due to his just-decent athleticism, I’m worried about his escapability at the next level as well.
Archetype: Human JUGS machine
Narcissistic Penguin 
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