Seahawks Draft: Ranking QB Prospects
With less than two weeks remaining until the 2023 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks will soon be on the clock with the fifth overall pick and hold 10 total selections, presenting a prime opportunity to bolster their roster with young talent.
Though Seattle re-signed Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith to a three-year deal in March, that hasn't stopped general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll from taking a close look at a strong crop of signal callers for consideration with a top-five selection.
As part of my annual prospect rankings, here's where each of the top quarterback prospects from the 2023 class falls on my top 300 with quick scouting reports and reported visits with the Seahawks if applicable.
*Players are listed in order by position with overall ranking in parenthesis.
Tier 1 - First-Round Talent
1 (2). C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Reported Visit: Pro Day
A technician throwing the ball, Stroud delivers passes with precision to receivers in stride at all levels of the defense and has flashed throwing receivers open with anticipation, as evidenced by his 69 percent completion rate. Coming from a quarterback-friendly offense, he will have to adjust to a pro style system with more reads and progressions and he needs to learn to take advantage of his athleticism more as a runner. Oozing with tools and a refined passer, he could be the first selection later this month.
2 (3). Bryce Young, Alabama
Reported Visit: Pro Day
Though he won a Heisman Trophy in 2021, Young continues to battle the stigma that comes with being an undersized 5-10 quarterback. But while he doesn't have the strongest arm in this class and durability will be questioned at his size, he throws with great anticipation to all parts of the field, navigates the pocket with precision to avoid rushers, and consistently makes smart choices with the ball. A refined prospect with a great head on his shoulders, he should go in the first two picks.
3. (5). Anthony Richardson, Florida
Reported Visit: Combine Formal
Loaded with physical tools and rare athleticism for a quarterback, the 6-4, 244-pound Richardson oozes with potential, but his lack of playing time shows up on film. Sloppy throwing mechanics and footwork leave much to be desired, resulting in unacceptable accuracy on short and intermediate throws. Still, his off the charts combination of speed and arm talent could vault him into the top three picks due to his tantalizing upside and sky-high ceiling.
4 (17). Will Levis, Kentucky
Reported Visit: Pro Day
In terms of raw skill set, the 6-4, 229-pound Levis checks off every box NFL teams look for at the position. He has a cannon for an arm, can complete ridiculous throws off platform, and can inflict punishment on opposing tacklers as a runner. But poor decision making and random accuracy slumps doomed him at times in college, leading to 23 interceptions the past two years. As a lump of clay, he intrigues as much as any signal-caller in this draft, but he's going to be a project.
Tier 2 - Second/Third-Round Talent
© Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
5 (46). Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
If not for a torn ACL suffered late last season, Hooker likely would be jockeying for top-15 consideration with other top quarterback prospects. A strong-armed signal caller who exhibits great poise in the pocket, Hooker rarely turned the football over in college, consistently making smart decisions as a passer and excelling throwing outside of the hashes. He may face a steep learning curve with an NFL offense, but when healthy, he has starter upside and could present outstanding day two value.
Tier 3 - Day Three/Undrafted Talent
6 (109). Jaren Hall, BYU
A smaller pocket passer with above-average athletic traits and pocket mobility, Hall won't impress with his arm strength or ability to fit the ball into tight windows. But at the same time, he plays with great command of the offense and understands how to throw receivers open with plus accuracy. In a system that moves his pocket with bootlegs and leans on the intermediate game, he has potential starter appeal in time.
7 (132). Tanner McKee, Stanford
For teams seeking a big-armed developmental quarterback, McKee would fit the bill. He has the arm talent to make throws to all areas of the field and when his mechanics are on point, he delivers a beautiful spiral with great zip. Unfortunately, he offers minimal mobility and hasn't shown much improvement handling pressure, often leading to ugly interceptions. In the right system, he may have enough arm ability to vie for a starting job someday.
8 (151). Jake Haener, Fresno State
A cerebral signal-caller, Haener consistently threw receivers open with plus-anticipation and accuracy from the pocket, completing nearly 69 percent of his attempts in four collegiate seasons. His lack of size at under 200 pounds and average arm talent will likely lead to him being a mid day three pick and career backup, but his accuracy makes him one to watch at the next level if he lands in the right spot.
© James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
9 (194). Clayton Tune, Houston
If there's a mid-day three sleeper worth watching, Tune might be the one to keep dancing for. Though he struggles off schedule when plays break down and battled inconsistency at Houston, he also exhibited quality arm strength and threw 70 touchdowns his final two seasons. After putting on a surprising athletic display at the combine, he's an intriguing prospect to watch over the next couple years.
10 (210). Max Duggan, TCU
An outstanding leader who helped guide the Horned Frogs to a stunning National Championship berth, Duggan checks off the intangible boxes teams look for from their quarterback. He also has underrated athleticism and can do some damage with his legs, but that doesn't deter from the fact he lacks ideal arm strength and can't throw receivers open. He's a late day three pick who could stick around for a while.
11 (233). Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
Though Thompson-Robinson weighs under 205 pounds, he compensates for his lack of size with outstanding athletic ability. He excels at extending plays with his legs as a passer and rusher, often avoiding sacks to create explosive gains once he escapes the pocket. He battled issues with turnovers in college and questions about his ability to read coverages persist, but he may have enough traits to win a backup job.
12 (247). Aidan O'Connell, Purdue
At his best working the short-to-intermediate game from a secure pocket, O'Connell had spurts at Purdue where he looked like a potential NFL quarterback, including throwing 28 touchdowns in 2021. But his deep ball accuracy often eludes him and he took a step back accuracy-wise as a senior. Adding that to the fact he's not a dual-threat that offers much as a runner, he's a developmental backup signal caller at best.
13 (271). Stetson Bennett, Georgia
Another undersized quarterback at 5-11, 192 pounds, Bennett will also turn 26-years-old during his rookie season, and those two issues will knock him down a few pegs in the draft. He lacks consistency as a deep passer and doesn't have the arm strength to thread needles in NFL windows, but he brings great leadership and poise from the pocket, which could lead to a lengthy career as a backup.
14 (275). Tyson Bagent, Shepherd
While he isn't near Richardson's level, Bagent flexed his muscles a bit athletically at the combine with a sub-4.8 40-yard dash and 36-inch vertical jump. Those traits and his confidence after throwing 159 touchdowns at the Division II level will give him a fighting chance to stick around in the league, but unless he cleans up his footwork and finds a way to add a bit more juice as a passer, he's likely a practice squad player.
15 (279). Malik Cunningham, Louisville
Arguably the most dynamic running quarterback in all of college football, Cunningham's explosiveness will be his calling card for NFL teams. He doesn't have the deep ball proficiency teams will be looking for and his accuracy from the pocket can betray him at times, putting a ceiling on what he will likely be in the league. But with teams eager to have athletic quarterbacks these days, he's worth a late flier.
Previous Positional Rankings
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