2023 NFL Draft Odds: First Quarterback Off the Board

The 2023 NFL Draft will be underway in a matter of hours and one of the biggest topics of conversation is the quarterback position and who will be first off the board when the Carolina Panthers are on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick.

There's little doubt that selection will come down to a signal-caller, though there's still some debate as to just who that will be.

Here's a look into the odds for each potential first overall pick:

1. Bryce Young, Alabama. (-5000)

There are plenty of rumors going around that Young is the consensus No. 1 pick and it wouldn't be surprising for that to be true given what he accomplished for one of the shakiest Alabama teams in recent history. Barring something out of the ordinary (which has indeed happened before) sports bettors should feel comfortable putting their money on Young getting picked first.

Analysis: Young remained steady and impressive throughout his college career with the Crimson Tide when the team itself was shakier than we've ever seen it in recent years -- wide receiving corps very much included in that. He hardly failed to come in the clutch in situations where Alabama desperately needed it with an uncanny playmaking ability and arguably the most polished mechanics among all college football quarterbacks in 2022.

The 5-foot-10, 204-pounder is far from the biggest standout where physical traits are concerned, but surpasses many from the mental perspective of playing the game with his processing time and ability, rarely putting the ball in harm's way, unaffected by pressure.

Young finished out the 2022 season with a 64.5% completion percentage, 3,328 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns on 49 attempts.

2. Will Levis, Kentucky. (+1000)

Just about everyone has seen what's floating around about Levis recently becoming the Panthers' new No. 1 pick, but there hasn't been anything concrete to substantiate that. With the hype that has surrounded Levis, though, if the first pick ends up being someone not named Bryce Young, it's hard to see a scenario in which it is not Will Levis or CJ Stroud, though it's a toss-up as to which one.

Analysis: Originally projected several times over to be one of the top three picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, Levis has fallen down the draft boards of many. The former Penn State quarterback who played the Taysom Hill-type of role as "The Lion" while with the team slid into a more traditional role at Kentucky and was mostly up-and-down with inconsistent lower-body mechanics and questionable decision-making at times among his most major flaws.

When I spoke with Levis ahead of the 2022 season, he noted what he wanted to clean up as a true quarterback.

“I think I have the capability to be a really good quarterback with my ability to make all the throws, to be decisive and be able to make plays with my legs as well,” Levis said. “I think for me, the biggest thing is just decision-making and making sure when I’m on the field that there is the utmost confidence in me. That I’m going to be taking the shots when they need to be taken but not necessarily forcing the ball... One thing on the stat sheet that is glaring that I want to address this year is the interceptions. I want to lower the interceptions by not taking the shots every time, taking my medicine and checking it down when need be.”

Despite this, Levis brings all of the physical tools to be desired at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds with plenty of arm strength, a solid release and the ability to make off-platform throws and get things done with his legs.

Much like Malik Willis was in last year's draft, he's still developmental in several ways and it's going to take correcting some mistakes that may or may not prove possible to correct, but the ceiling is sky-high. At the same token, if he doesn't move along the way many are hoping for, he'll hardly be a viable backup.

In Levis' final season as a Wildcat, he completed 65.4% of his passing attempts for 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

3. CJ Stroud, Ohio State. (+2500)

It was a bit of a back-and-forth affair between Stroud and Young in the conversation of who the No. 1 overall pick would be ahead of the 2022 season, during it and up to this very moment. With what he's accomplished with consistency against formidable competition in his career with the Buckeyes, it's easy to make a case for Stroud as the best quarterback in this class.

Analysis: Described as potentially the most naturally accurate passer in the 2023 crop, Stroud looks to make a smooth transition to the NFL as a player who has proven himself several times over as a prospect who plays at a high level consistently against the toughest of competition.

The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder led the FBS in pass efficiency (177.7) and plays with a healthy aggression, unafraid to attack the field and take some risks, but does it in a responsible way taking care of the football, as his touchdown-to-interception ratio reflects.

The Buckeyes product is consistent through the air and hits his receivers in stride and on time with the ability to reset his feet when forced off of his spot to deliver an accurate ball, also effective when he has to use his legs to evade pressure.

Stroud ended out the final season of his college career with a 66.3% completion rate, passing for 3,688 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions.

4. Anthony Richardson, Florida. (+4000)

This one is the long shot and highly unlikely in all reality. Richardson's ceiling could hardly be higher and there is a pathway in which he could be deemed the best quarterback of this crop in years down the line, but it's more likely that he goes at a point in the first round that is not No. 1.

Outside of those listed above him, though, Richardson is the only quarterback who would have a shot at being first overall who is not a part of what could be called the "Power Three".

Analysis: Richardson is one of the more polarizing quarterback prospects in this class, and that comes down to the fact he has an incredibly high ceiling but it also raw in several areas without a plethora of in-game experience at the college level.

The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder turned heads at the Manning Passing Academy with the physical traits and arm talent he brings as a prospect, and in his solid performances on the field, impressed with his toughness and ability to stand tall in the face of pressure, pocket awareness and overall explosiveness both on the pass and the run.

At the same time, his lack of accuracy, touch, ball placement problems and accuracy issues are big minuses that must improve for him to have any amount of success in the pros.

Richardson ended out his final season at Florida with a 53.8% completion rate, passing for 2,549 yards with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 17:9. He also ran for 654 yards and nine scores on 103 carries.

If he reaches his full potential, Richardson could quickly become one of the NFL's most dynamic quarterbacks when he slides into a starting position, but he has an equally low floor.

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