Early 2023 NFL Draft rankings (QB Edition)

Now that the NFL Draft has concluded Hank takes a look inside his crystal ball and gives his top 3 under the radar QBs for the 2023 NFL draft who could be the top QB selected. These are not the players you consistently see mocked as the no 1 pick like Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, as we learned from the 2022 Draft the top mocked guys don’t always have the predicted season and can slide or have to go back and extra season (ie Sam Howell and Spencer Rattler)

Honorable Mention – DJ UIAGALELEI, Clemson

• Freshman year this dude filled in briefly for Trevor Lawrence and everyone freaked because he was a freight train playing QB, huge arm, tough runner and had shown flashes of a pretty accurate QB by having a 66% completion percentage.
• In his lone year as a starter him and Clemson fell off from being a powerhouse, 9 passing TDs to 10 picks and a completion percentage around 55% really cooled his hype.
• At the NFL level this guy checks all the boxes if he can bounce back (which isn’t a guarantee as he is expected to win the Clemson QB job but not without competition) but with a strong 3rd season he’s got big potential to sky rocket up draft boards and coming from a program known for having great receivers this can help him get to that first Rd draft spot.

No 3. Kedon Slovis

• If you know Hank you know he was super high on Slovis after his freshman season for all the dumb reasons; cool name ✅, awesome interview on Pardon My Take✅, HS QB coach a fromer NFL player (Kurt Warner) ✅ played with sick WRs (Michael Pittman, Amon Ra St Brown & Drake London) ✅.
• Freshman Slovis was great, came in as the back up to JT Daniels and took over after a season ending injury to JT in week 1.
• Stats back up the level of QB he can be, FR year – 30 TDs 9 it’s and a 72% completion percentage. SO year – 17 TDs 7 picks 67% CP (shortened COVID season). JR year – 11 TDs 8 picks 65% CP for a very disappointing USC team.
• Slovis transferred to Pittsburgh for his SR year which draws a lot of optimism because of a strong offense that has had its last 2 QBs get drafted (Pickett rd 1 Dinucci rd 7). Slovis has great accuracy and an NFL arm but interceptions are a concern. He’ll need to put up Kenny Pickett numbers to help his draft stock as scouts knock his lack of mobility and interceptions.

No 2. Anthony Richardson, Florida

• Gave all Gator fans a scare that if they kept Dan Mullen, AR-15 was gonna transfer, so they fired his ass and hired Billy Napier who AR allegedly really likes.
• This guy looks like a Josh Allen /Cam Newton hybrid he’s big 6’4″ / 6’5″ 240-250 lbs and has every tool a coach wants, except for the times he gets into hero mode and then he gets sloppy and takes bad chances.
• He’s never been a full time starter sharing time in 7 games last season and mainly coming in to run the ball.
• His numbers suggest he is more of a 2024 prospect as he was only able to put up just over 500 passing yards and 400 rushing. Though he has the tools like a big arm, great runner (who understands to get down or OB rather then taking silly hits). and has that unteachable playmaker ability. He’s got next level talent and as the full time starter playing in the SEC he has the ability to rise up draft boards.

No 1. – Tyler Van Dyke, Miami

• TVD is not a big name and wasn’t even supposed to play last season but he’s got potential to be a stud. He only has 10 games under his belt, but it was an impressive 10 games he really excelled throwing for 25 TDs 6 picks and a 62% completion percentage after coming in for an injured D’Eriq King.
• TVD played against average level ACC opponents and had his best games vs below average teams. New Head Coach Mario Cristobal and OC Josh Gattis he could improve on an already impressive start to his college career and end up being a dark horse Heisman candidate. Caution comes in as Sophomore Jake Garcia did show some flashes in limited play and is expected to have a chance albeit a long shot at the starter job.
• At the NFL level people barely have him on their radar and figure he’s more likely to be there in 2024. He’s got a nice touch on the ball, ideal NFL QB size (6’4″ 225), very good not great arm strength/accuracy, a stereotypical pocket passer, that offers little in the run game (which is what analyst seemed to be obsessed with at this year’s draft).
• TVD has the ability to put up big numbers in what is expected to be a revitalized U, watch out he could rise up the rankings if the other QBs struggle.