First-round NFL rookie QBs starting from Day 1 is now commonplace in the league — but it’s not always a given.
Last year, Kenny Pickett sat behind Mitch Trubisky for two games and change before the Pittsburgh Steelers inserted him into the starting lineup. In 2021, Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones all started in Week 1, but Trey Lance only started two games for the San Francisco 49ers in relief of an injured Jimmy Garoppolo.
Which first-round rookie quarterbacks will be under center in 2023? Let’s run through the list, starting with the No. 1 overall pick.
NFL Rookie QB Landscape in 2023
Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers
The Panthers sent a massive haul to the Chicago Bears in order to land Bryce Young at the top of the draft, and Frank Reich didn’t make the Carolina faithful wait before announcing Young as the club’s Week 1 starter.
Reich declared Young the Panthers’ starting QB over veteran Andy Dalton at the end of July.
“We want to keep our expectations on the process and not try to make too much of any one play or any one game,” Reich said. “I think that is wisdom, that is good coaching, and that is good playing. When we have a bad play, nobody is going to panic. And Bryce knows he is going to feel that from our staff. That has already been said: ‘Hey, you’re the guy, let’s go.'”
every single Bryce Young dropback pic.twitter.com/qR1veMYjny
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 14, 2023
Young dropped back just seven times against the Jets in Carolina’s first preseason game, completing four of six attempts for 21 yards while taking one sack. He was consistently pressured and hit on three of his seven dropbacks, so it wasn’t easy to get an accurate assessment of his play.
The Panthers rebuilt their offensive skill-position corps this offseason, adding Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen, DJ Chark, and Hayden Hurst in an attempt to give Young at least a league-average set of weapons. If Young impresses from Day 1, his supporting cast and a talented Carolina defense could be enough to make the Panthers contenders in a weak NFC South.
C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans
While the Texans haven’t officially named C.J. Stroud their Week 1 starter, he did start Houston’s first preseason game, and it appears incredibly unlikely that the team would roll with veteran Case Keenum over the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.
Like Young, Stroud will have some veteran pieces at his disposal. Houston added Devin Singletary, Robert Woods, and Dalton Schultz over the offseason, but they’re counting on young players like Dameon Pierce, Nico Collins, John Metchie III, and Tank Dell to take a leap in 2022.
"The struggle bus is real for all 3 of them."@wingoz's takeaways from Week 1 of the #NFL preseason, including his assessment of rookie QBs Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.
📰: https://t.co/B8L2yEy7yn#PFN365 pic.twitter.com/s6fKDG1Cy7
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 15, 2023
Stroud will be supported by a strong offensive line that includes one of the league’s best tackles in Laremy Tunsil and solid contributors in guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Tytus Howard. However, Howard is sidelined by a broken hand and might not be ready for the start of the regular season.
Stroud took just 12 offensive snaps against New England on Friday night and threw only four total passes. His second attempt was intercepted by Patriots defensive back Jalen Mills, who Stroud clearly didn’t see was roaming in quarters coverage.
Jalen Mills intercepts CJ Stroud on the opening drive!
📺: #HOUvsNE on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/bBFpXewtKp pic.twitter.com/n0mO9fFwYJ— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2023
Stroud held onto the ball too long at times, but he wasn’t playing with the Texans’ starting OL in the first week of the preseason. He also demonstrated an ability to navigate pressure in the pocket — something he didn’t have to do regularly at Ohio State and occasionally showed off his mobility.
Anthony Richardson | Indianapolis Colts
Colts head coach Shane Steichen made it official on Tuesday when he declared Anthony Richardson as the team’s Week 1 starter. Richardson was technically competing with Gardner Minshew for the No. 1 gig, but it always seemed likely that the Florida product would be under center.
Richardson played the first three series against the Bills in Indy’s first preseason game, completing seven of 12 attempts for 67 yards and an interception while adding seven yards on the ground.
Anthony Richardson is fun pic.twitter.com/IG79zOSTYQ
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 14, 2023
Richardson was forced to begin two of his three drives inside the Colts’ 8-yard line, while his interception looked to be the result of a miscommunication with wideout Isaiah McKenzie. Indianapolis didn’t score on any of Richardson’s series, although one of those drives ended with a missed 28-yard field goal.
Richardson was always expected to be raw coming out of Florida, and he may experience some growing pains in 2023. The Colts still have a glaring weakness at right guard, while Jonathan Taylor’s injury/holdout threatens to upend the club’s RB room. Can Richardson’s dynamism make up for those potential deficiencies?