Power ranking the NFL's 2023 rookie quarterback class

The 2023 NFL season was the year of the rookie quarterback as 10 first-year signal callers, including two undrafted free agents, started a game – a new league record.

While the results were mixed, several top draft picks showed flashes of why they were so highly coveted last April. Here’s a look at how each rookie QB fared this season from best to worst:

1. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans

There’s little left to be said about Stroud that hasn’t already been said. Among rookie quarterbacks he ranks second in passing yards per game (273.9), third in passing yards (4,108) and passer rating (100.8) and sixth in touchdown passes (23). 

Stroud is just the fifth player in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards in his rookie season and Dak Prescott is the only other rookie to throw for 20 or more touchdowns with fewer interceptions than Stroud’s five picks. The 22-year-old Ohio State alum looks like he’s going to be a Pro Bowler for the next decade.

2. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans

Despite his 3-6 record as a starter, the Titans looked like a completely different offense with Levis at QB than Ryan Tannehill. His 1,808 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions look all the more impressive considering he played behind the worst offensive line in the league and was running for his life a considerable amount of time. 

Levis’ star-making moment came in Week 14 when he led the Titans on a four-play, 64-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter to upset the then-9-3 Miami Dolphins on “Monday Night Football.” Levis appears to be a piece the Titans will build around. 

3. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

On the surface, Young’s numbers don’t look pretty (2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 62 sacks taken, 73.7 passer rating), but considering how little he had to work with, it’s fair to say he made the best of it. 

Carolina lost six one-score games and Young’s 2-12 record as the starter looks a little worse than it actually was. If the Panthers get him a true No. 1 receiver to throw to and a few linemen who can keep him upright, he could turn into a really good passer.

4. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Though his was only a four-game sample size, Richardson showed glimpses of why the Colts valued him so high at the top of the draft. He started in wins over the Titans and Texans and nearly led Indy to an overtime win against the Rams. 

Richardson rushed for at least one touchdown in three of his four games and threw for 577 yards, three touchdowns and only one interception before injuring his shoulder. If he returns fully healthy, he should have a strong bounce-back Year 2.

5. Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders

Thrown into the fire in Week 4 and then again as the full-time starter in Week 9, O’Connell held his own against some tough competition and had the Raiders right in the thick of the playoff race up until the end of the season. 

He went 5-5 with wins over the Chiefs and Jets, who boasted the No. 2- and 3-ranked defenses, respectively, in the NFL. O’Connell threw for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions a.l while working under an interim head coach, too.

6. Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears 

Throwing for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in four starts may not seem overly impressive, but when you consider Bagent was an undrafted free agent out of Division II Shephard University, it suddenly becomes notable.

Bagent won two of his starts and nearly led the Bears back against the Vikings in Week 6. He also lost to the Saints by just one score in Week 9. Much of Bagent's playing time came without the help to Chicago’s top two running backs, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson, who were both banged up for much of the year.

7. Tommy DeVito, New York Giants

DeVito was the NFL’s darling for about a six-week period before being replaced in the Giants lineup by Tyrod Taylor. The 25-year-old New Jersey native had a 3-3 record as the starter, leading the Giants on a three-game winning streak and pulling them to within shouting distance of a playoff spot by Week 14 before he cooled down. DeVito likely did enough to earn a spot on the roster next year, but he probably won’t see starting time again unless there’s another injury.

8. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland Browns

After tearing it up in the preseason, Thompson-Robinson disappointed during his Week 4 start against the Baltimore Ravens in which he completed 52% of his passes for 121 yards while throwing three interceptions. He wasn’t much better in next two appearances, either (299 yards, one touchdown, one interception, 64 passer rating), though he did lead Cleveland to a 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11.

9. Jaren Hall, Minnesota Vikings

Hall’s first start actually got off to a pretty promising beginning, completing 5-of 6-passes for 78 yards and leading Minnesota on a nine-play, 78-yard scoring drive before he was knocked out of the game with a concussion. But he was yanked early in next start nearly two months later. Hall ended the year going 13-of-20 for 168 yards and an interception. He likely will be Minnesota’s No. 2 or No. 3 QB next year.

10. Sean Clifford, Green Bay Packers

Clifford only appeared in two games, running the ball three times for -2 yards and attempting just one pass (a 37-yard completion). He played the least amount of any of the rookie quarterbacks, but Clifford is ranked ahead of Tune because of the poorness of the latter's lone start.

 11. Clayton Tune, Arizona Cardinals

So how bad was Tune in his Week 9 start against the Cleveland Browns? Well, the Cardinals got shutout 27-0 and mustered just 58 yards of total offense on 48 plays. For those bad at math, that’s a 1.2 yard-per-play average. 

Arizona totaled just seven first downs in the loss, went 1-for-13 on third downs, turned the ball over three times and had possession of the ball for a little over 23 minutes. Tune, himself, completed 11-of-20 passes for 58 yards with two interceptions, a fumble and seven sacks taken.

Did not attempt a pass in 2023:

Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions

Jake Haener, New Orleans Saints

Stetson Bennett, Los Angeles Rams

Tanner McKee, Philadelphia Eagles

Max Duggan, Los Angeles Chargers