It is always draft season.
For example, yesterday I published a piece diving into what analysts believe the New York Giants are going to do in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. That prompted a longtime friend — and Giants fan — to reach out to me with this question:
“Didn’t they just have a draft like 15 minutes ago?”
True, but as we all know, once one draft ends, the other begins.
Combine that with the fact that quarterbacks move the needle, and you might see even more interest in the 2023 draft cycle. After just one quarterback came off the board in the first round a year ago, Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, prognosticators at the moment envision a much different scenario next spring. According to NFL Mock Draft Database, which is a tremendous resource, six quarterbacks are coming off the board in the “way too early” first round mock drafts. Those passers? C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis, Tyler Van Dyke, Spencer Rattler and Phil Jurkovec. Florida’s Anthony Richardson sits just outside the first round as well.
Of course, the presence of Rattler should provide a reminder that a lot can change in a year. After all, this time last year, Rattler was a consensus top-five pick in those same “way too early” mock drafts.
Still, with the summer scouting season upon is, it is a great time to get a feel for some of these prospects. We can start with the defending Heisman Trophy winner, Young. After leading the Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship and a berth in the National Championship Game, what are his strengths as a passer?
Let’s dive in.