Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft has come to a close, and quarterback landing spots — as always — dominated the discussion on Thursday night. Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson all came off the board within the top four selections, while Kentucky’s Will Levis and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker will have to wait until Day 2 to hear their names called.
Let’s run through the three teams that found their franchise quarterbacks in the first round and what their rookie campaigns might look like in 2023.
2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Landing Spots
Carolina Panthers, No. 1: Bryce Young, Alabama
The Carolina Panthers guaranteed themselves their choice of quarterback prospects when they acquired the No. 1 overall selection from the Chicago Bears in early March, and while Young wasn’t always viewed as the obvious pick at the top of the draft, he had solidified his standing by the time Round 1 got underway.
If Young were several inches taller, there likely would have never been a debate about which quarterback the Panthers would draft. Questions about his size threatened to affect his draft stock, but Carolina ultimately relied on Young’s tape, which shows an athletic QB who already plays like an NFL veteran.
Frank Reich and the rest of the Panthers’ staff can scheme around Young’s height deficiencies and allow the Alabama product to show off his playmaking abilities. And Carolina has built an offense that’s readymade for improved quarterback play.
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After trading DJ Moore as part of the package to land the top overall pick, the Panthers spent heavily in free agency to ensure their rookie passer is surrounded by weapons. Running back Miles Sanders, receivers Adam Thielen and DJ Chark, and tight end Hayden Hurst will give Young a foundation to work with, and the Panthers still have an early second-round pick that could potentially be used on another pass catcher.
Young should assimilate into the NFL quickly. He’s incredibly intelligent and a natural leader who earns rave reviews from his coaches and teammates. Working with an impressive Carolina staff that includes new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown, and assistant head coach Duce Staley, Young should be ready to roll from Day 1.
Given the state of the NFC South, the Panthers should be considered legitimate playoff contenders in 2023. Although the Atlanta Falcons made several improvements this offseason and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ roster still has veteran talent, neither club added a quarterback in Round 1.
Unless Desmond Ridder or Baker Mayfield/Kyle Trask surprise next season, the NFC South looks like a two-horse race between Carolina and the New Orleans Saints.
Houston Texans, No. 2: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Although pre-draft rumors suggested that the Houston Texans could pass on a quarterback at No. 2 overall in favor of a pass rusher, they eventually made the smart call by selecting Stroud with their first of two first-round picks.
Stroud took his fair share of criticism over the last few weeks, with reports suggesting that he had performed poorly in the S2 Cognition Test or that he would be difficult to coach at the next level. But the Texans couldn’t pass on the chance to bring in the draft’s most accurate passer.
Stroud won’t be walking into a Houston offense that’s as well-assembled as Carolina’s unit is for Young. But there are reasons to think Stroud can succeed in Year 1.
For one, he won’t be asked to carry the entire load on the offensive side of the ball. The Texans have built an excellent offensive line that includes a top-five left tackle in Laremy Tunsil, another above-average tackle in Tytus Howard, veteran guard Shaq Mason, and 2022 first-round Kenyon Green, who could show growth after a disappointing rookie season.
Stroud’s biggest weakness at Ohio State was his subpar response to pressure. If Tunsil and company can keep him upright and give him time in the pocket, Stroud should be able to avoid the drifting that often led to problems in Columbus.
Dameon Pierce, who managed 939 rushing yards in 13 games as a rookie, will help Stroud move the ball. Free agent additions like Devin Singletary and Dalton Schultz will help, too, but the Texans need more juice at wide receiver. Houston still boasts three more selections before the end of Round 3, so they have the assets to bring in a dynamic pass catcher on Friday.
The Texans are clearly banking on Stroud to perform as early as his rookie campaign. Houston gave up its 2024 first-round pick as part of the package to move up to No. 3 and select Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. If Stroud and the Texans struggle, that selection — now owned by the Arizona Cardinals — could end up in the top five of next year’s draft.
Indianapolis Colts, No. 4: Anthony Richardson, Florida
In terms of scheme fit, Richardson might not have been able to find a better landing spot than the Indianapolis Colts.
New Colts head coach Shane Steichen worked wonders with Jalen Hurts as the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator over the past two seasons. Steichen built offensive concepts that incorporated both Hurts’ strengths as a runner but also his prowess as a deep-ball master. After improving even further following the addition of A.J. Brown in 2022, Hurts signed a contract extension that briefly made him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
Of course, that’s a lot to live up to for a prospect who has never played in the NFL and attempted just 393 passes in college. But Richardson’s athletic dominance gives him an extremely high floor, and his underrated work in the pocket — including an elite 9.2% pressure-to-sack rate — makes his ceiling sky-high.
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Richardson has plenty to work on, including his accuracy and touch in the short-to-intermediate game, and he’s far from a finished product. But the Colts, who have deployed a different primary quarterback in each of the last five seasons, could afford to take the risk on a prospect who has the underlying talent to become an All-Pro.
Indianapolis has questions on its offensive line, but they have assembled an intriguing set of weapons for Richardson to work with. Health provided, Jonathan Taylor remains one of the NFL’s best running backs, and Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce represent a solid baseline at wide receiver.
Richardson’s abilities as a rusher will likely be unleashed early on, and Steichen can draw up plenty of designed runs for his new quarterback. But Richardson’s final form will be decided by his production as a passer, and only time will tell how he develops.