The 2023 NFL Draft was one of the vital prolific quarterback drafts in NFL historical past. Fourteen rookie passers have been chosen, with a file 12 flying off the boards within the first 5 rounds in Kansas Metropolis. Nearly all of them have dipped their toes in NFL waters because of their preseason motion. Whereas preseason manufacturing is not the end-all, be-all in figuring out who could have an enduring skilled soccer profession, this is a take a look at how far a number of the beginner signal-callers fared of their first NFL offseason by rating their preseason finales.
- Notes: Lions third-round choose Hendon Hooker will not be included. He stays on the Non-Soccer Damage Checklist whereas recovering from a school ACL tear and is not anticipated to play this preseason.
- Titans second-round choose Will Levis will not be included. He missed the Titans’ Week 3 recreation in opposition to the Patriots with a thigh harm.
2023 NFL Draft: 128th general (fourth spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 4-9, 14 passing yards, two interceptions (pick-six), 12.0 passer ranking in 41-0 loss at Broncos
Stetson Bennett did his greatest Billy Mays impression when it got here to delivering lackluster preseason performances these final two weeks, hitting the soccer world with a “However wait, there’s extra!” Final week in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders, Bennett threw for 142 yards and a pick-six as a starter in opposition to the Silver Black on 15-of-24 passing. His begin on Saturday in Denver in opposition to the Broncos makes his efficiency in opposition to the Raiders seem fascinating.
This interception beneath through which Bennett throws a cross on third-and-14 into TRIPLE protection is atrocious.
Bennett’s preseason debut with 191 yards and a landing on 17-of-29 passing off the bench in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers appears like like a lifetime in the past.
2023 NFL Draft: 127th general (fourth spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 17-38, 93 passing yards, two interceptions, 36.3 passer ranking in 17-13 loss versus Texans
Jake Haener had a shot to win the sport for the Saints on every of their final two drives. That is when catastrophe struck. First, he tried an finish zone heave on first-and-10 simply exterior of the purple zone proper after the two-minute warning. Haener’s cross ended up in a crowd of three Texans with security Grayland Arnold intercepting the cross.
Haener’s closing drive ended with one other interception, albeit on a play that might have labored. He had tight finish Lucas Kroll open effectively previous the road to realize on fourth-and-4, however he waited too lengthy to make the throw. That allowed cornerback Cameron Dantzler to undercut the cross for a game-sealing choose.
His closing two drives mar what was a strong preseason for the rookie fourth-round choose. He is squarely the Saints third quarterback behind Derek Carr and Jameis Winston coming into 2023.
2023 NFL Draft: 139th general (fifth spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 9-12, 85 passing yards, 94.1 passer ranking in 18-17 win at Vikings
Clayton Tune’s preseason finale stat line is misleading. It seems environment friendly, however what it would not present is Tune chopping Arizona’s opening drive brief by taking a 3rd down sack at his personal 11 and fumbling the soccer, which brought on a turnover. Vikings rookie quarterback Jaren Corridor threw a five-yard landing cross on the very subsequent play.
His subsequent drives concluded with a 38-yard area purpose, a punt and a 46-yard missed area purpose. Tune’s preseason, like his Saturday efficiency, has been uneven. It will be stunning to see him start the season as Kyler Murray’s harm substitute over Colt McCoy or Joshua Dobbs, who the Cardinals just lately traded for, at this stage.
2023 NFL Draft: 188th general (sixth spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 8-12, 46 passing yards, 73.6 passer ranking in 19-15 win versus the Seahawks
Sean Clifford left his preseason finale early with a proper arm harm suffered on a quarterback sneak, based on The Athletic. Clifford advised media postgame that it is not an enormous deal. He performed a lot cleaner soccer in his closing two preseason video games in opposition to the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks (183 passing yards on 21-of-31 passing) after tossing two interceptions in his NFL debut on the Cincinnati Bengals.
2023 NFL Draft: fourth general (first spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 6-17, 78 passing yards, 50.6 passer ranking; 5 carries for 38 dashing yards in 27-13 win at Eagles
Though Anthony Richardson’s field rating this week would not look glowing, he contributed properly on the Colts’ two first-half landing drives. He accomplished each of his passes on the primary scoring drive for 36 yards, a possession that ended with a three-yard landing run by Deon Jackson. On the next march, he threw for 19 yards on 2-of-3 passing whereas launching the drive with a 16-yard dash. Rookie rusher Evan Hull’s one-yard landing plunge ended the 75-yard, 10-play drive.
Richardson seems to be extra snug passing from the pocket, a pleasant piece of progress to take into Week 1.
6. Tanner McKee, Philadelphia Eagles
2023 NFL Draft: 188th general (sixth spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 19-34, 158 passing yards, 68.0 passer ranking in 27-13 loss versus Colts
Sixth-round rookie Tanner McKee might have taken a step again in his efforts to usurp veteran Marcus Mariota as Jalen Hurts’ backup. Mariota led the Eagles on a six-play scoring drive that ended with a one-yard dashing landing by operating again Trey Sermon whereas McKee might muster a pair area purpose possession the remainder of the primary half. Third-stringer Ian Ebook took over within the second half. Total, he is had a good preseason exhibiting, totaling 453 passing yards and a passing landing on 39-of-72 passing.
2023 NFL Draft: 164th general, (fifth spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 16-27, 178 passing yards, one passing landing, on interception, 75.8 passer ranking in 18-17 loss versus Cardinals
Jaren Corridor obtained his first begin of the preseason, and he confirmed a capability to warmth up from the get-go. Corridor completed the primary half with 127 yards on 10-of-16 passing, together with his first profession landing cross, a five-yarder instantly after Clayton Tune’s fumble. The Vikings scored two touchdowns and a area purpose within the first half. Corridor did throw a pair incompletions and take a sack on the ultimate second quarter drive, which brought on Minnesota to accept a 20-yard area purpose. Nevertheless, it was a step in the suitable route for Corridor.
2023 NFL Draft: 239th general (seventh spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 4-9, 15 passing yards, one passing landing, 88.7 passer ranking; six carries for 51 dashing yards in 23-12 win at 49ers
The 2022 Heisman Trophy runner-up out of TCU obtained restricted run this preseason behind incumbent backup quarterback Easton Stick, not even getting a snap of their Week 2 contest versus the Saints. This week, Duggan had the chance to play all the second half, and he supplied a spotlight paying homage to his school whereas going through fourth-and-2 from the 49ers’ 3.
Duggan ran a play-action cross play towards the suitable sideline, stopped scrambling on a dime, after which threw a dart of landing cross proper into the numbers of tight finish Hunter Kampmoyer.
Duggan flashed when he had alternative, however he did not have a lot of it in his inaugural preseason.
2023 NFL Draft: second general (first spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 2-4, 16 passing yards, one passing landing, 100.0 passer ranking in 17-13 win at New Orleans Saints
C.J. Stroud began every of the Texans’ three preseason video games, however his efficiency in New Orleans was the primary one the place he really regarded settled. After the sport, he was named the staff’s QB1. He made an awesome throw deep down the left sideline to receiver Nico Collins, placing the ball proper in Collins’ chest. Nevertheless, Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor did simply sufficient to interrupt up the completion on the final second.
Stroud finally related with Collins, tossing his first profession NFL landing to the third-year wideout on his second and closing drive of the evening for a three-yard rating. The rookie does an awesome job of attending to the highest of his dropback off of the play-action faux after which spiraling an ideal, floating soccer safely into Collins arms.
Stroud completed the preseason with 89 passing yards, a landing, and interception on 11-of-20 passing. He has displayed continuous enchancment every week, which has to have the Texans wanting ahead to Week 1.
2023 NFL Draft: one hundred and thirty fifth general (fourth spherical)
Week 2 efficiency: 17-26, 178 passing yards, 85.1 passer ranking in 31-16 loss at Dallas Cowboys
Aidan O’Connell closed out his stellar preseason with one other strong outing. He racked up 304 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-36 passing in his first two video games earlier than a good exhibiting on the street in opposition to the Cowboys. O’Connell showcased sturdy accuracy all evening lengthy, together with this dart to Cam Sims down the the suitable sideline.
Sure, it is solely the preseason, however the Raiders are in all probability the staff that has skilled probably the most optimistic momentum with their rookie quarterback this month.
2023 NFL Draft: first general (first spherical)
Week 3 efficiency: 7-12, 73 passing yards, one passing landing, 103.8 passer ranking in 26-17 loss versus Lions
Bryce Younger checked an necessary field in his preseason finale by throwing his first profession landing, a 16-yard toss to veteran wideout Adam Thielen.
Younger additionally had preseason bests in passing yards (73), yards per cross try (6.1), and passer ranking (103.8). That is precisely the suitable route Panthers nation needs to see their first general choose trending main into Week 1.
