Will This Year’s Quarterback Class Have a Big Impact in the NFL?

A total of 14 quarterbacks were chosen in the 2023 NFL Draft and each of those will be hoping to replicate what the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, and Joe Burrow have achieved in the league over the last few years.

As documented in the BBC report, Three of the first four overall places were filled by quarterbacks this year, as the demand for one of the leading QBs was high. Here is a look at if these players can have immediate success in the league.

Panthers Confident They Have Their Franchise QB In Young

The Carolina Panthers did their research prior to the 2023 NFL Draft and they opted to choose Bryce Young as the first overall selection. After trading with the Chicago Bears earlier this year, they gave up a lot to be in that position.

 

 

Young is set to start for Carolina from week one of the 2023/24 season. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner finished his college career with a record of 23-4. Although he did not start a game that year, he was part of the Alabama Crimson Tide team which won the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2020.

Not since Cam Newton have the Panthers had a QB that has performed at a level that is needed to reach the latter stages of the playoffs. As ESPN reported following the awards, Newton won the regular season MVP in the NFL in 2015. They will be hoping Young can do something similar in a Carolina jersey.

Arguably Young’s biggest strength is his arm. In November 2021, he broke the Alabama college record for the most passing yards in a game when he threw for 559 yards against Arkansas. He finished that year with 4,872 passing yards and 47 passing touchdowns.

The Panthers finished last season with a 7-10 record. That was the fifth consecutive year they have had a losing record. As of May 1st, at the odds Betway is offering, Carolina is second best at +275 in the NFC South online betting. In what could be an open division, they are behind just the New Orleans Saints in the betting for the title.

C.J. Stroud Chosen as Part of Rebuilding Process in Houston

The Houston Texans were fortunate to have two of the first three overall picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. With the second overall selection, they opted for C.J. Stroud, a player many thought would be the first pick this year.

Stroud joins a franchise that is in rebuilding mode, but it may not be a bad destination for him to join, as we have seen with other organizations with some top-end draft picks, it does not take long for them to start winning games again. The Cincinnati Bengals have drafted well over the last few years which has helped them have success in the league.

The new Texans QB threw 81 passing touchdowns in two full seasons with Ohio State. He became their first player to throw six touchdowns in three different games. In his final year with the college team, he led them to an 11-2 record.

Stroud will be competing with Case Keenum for the starting role in 2023. Having an experienced QB to work alongside this year could prove to be a big positive for the rookie and the franchise.

Colts Have Faith In Anthony Richardson

The Indianapolis Colts were the third franchise to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. With the fourth overall pick, they went for Florida’s Anthony Richardson. He started just 13 games in college football, but the Colts saw enough from him to convince them to snap him up.

Richardson may not be an immediate start in Indianapolis. Former Super Bowl winners Nick Foles, Gardner Minshew, and Sam Ehlinger are all currently signed up by the franchise. At least one of those players is likely to leave before the season begins.

Colts’ owner Jim Irsay claims their franchise would have taken Richardson as the first overall pick, such is their confidence behind him. Richardson came out of the 2023 NFL Combine with some impressive numbers, including a time of 4.43 seconds for his 40-yard dash.

It has been nine years now since Indianapolis last won their division. They believe Richardson can play a big role in bringing success to the franchise again. The NFL Kickoff Game takes place on September 7 and is the first of 272 regular season games in the 2023/24 campaign. The Super Bowl is scheduled for February 11 in Paradise, Nevada.