A record 14 quarterbacks were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Most of them made their debuts in Week 1 of the preseason
The early spotlight is shinning brightest on Panthers No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and fellow high first-rounders C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson. But other notable college names such as Will Levis, Stetson Bennett and Max Duggan also got their initial taste of action as pro passers.
With the exception of the Browns' Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who impressed in his second preseason game for Browns, and Hendon Hooker, still recovering from his college knee injury with the Lions. all the other drafted QBs played for the first time over the weekend.
From a fine start in Carolina to a rough time for Houston, here's grading how every drafted and undrafted rookie QB fared in their initial games over the weekend, taking into how they did in relation to their expectations:
POWER RANKINGS: Jets, Lions, Ravens hype is real; Chargers, Saints face questions
NFL rookie quarterback grades
1. Bryce Young, Panthers (Round 1, No. 1 overall, Alabama)
Grade: A
Stats: 4-of-6 passing, 21 yards, 3.5 yards per attempt, 72.2 passer rating,
Young's numbers didn't come with any big plays. He was under pressure for the most of Saturday afternoon against the Jets' talented and deep pass rush. He didn't take off a make a highlight run, either. But he quickly silenced any remaining critics about his size, maturity and readiness for the NFL.
The Panthers ran a vanilla passing scheme under Frank Reich and Thomas Brown. Young did as best he could to get the ball out quickly vs. the rush. He got up fast after taking a big hit early from Solomon Thomas. He just missed downfield to D.J. Chark with a overthrow created by needing to get rid of the ball with Jermaine Johnson flying off the edge. Young also wasn't helped by Laviska Shenault shortening a third-down route. Young's best throw was a bullet to who will be his reliable go-to guy, Adam Thielen.
Young's leadership and intangibles as the unquestioned Panthers starter were on full display. He can do what's needed playing off an effective run-heavy offense and improving defense, staying efficient, making right decisions and minimizing mistakes before he unleashes his passing ceiling at some point.
2. Stetson Bennett, Rams (Round 4, No. 128 overall, Georgia)
Grade: A
Stats: 17-of-29 passing, 191 yards, TD, 6.6 yards per attempt, 89.9 passer rating, 3 sacks, 2 rushes, 2 yards
Bennett's last college start was in SoFi Stadium on January 9, when he helped led Georgia to a 65-7 rout of TCU and its second consecutive national championship. He continued to love playing Los Angeles with Max Duggan playing for the other side, this time the Chargers. Bennett was sharp in being the second man up for Sean McVay's offense after a shaky Brett Rypien.
Bennett marched the Rams downfield on a touchdown drive while marking sharp throws on his first series. He looked good working to wide receiver Puka Nacua, a fellow rookie, with the pair connecting for 17 yards and then an 11-yard TD strike over the middle, both on third downs.
The 25-year-old grinder looked controlled and comfortable, what would one expect from an experienced leader and winner. The zip and accuracy on a variety of throws continued with a lot more playing time in the second half while working with a variety of inexperienced targets. Bennett just cooled off a lot in the fourth quarter under more heat.
3. Aidan O'Connell, Raiders (Round 4, No. 138 overall, Purdue)
Grade: A
Stats: 15-of-18 passing, 141 yards, TD, 7.8 yards per attempt, 117.8 passer rating, sack, 2 rushes, 7 yards
The Raiders needed to feel a little better behind Jimmy Garoppolo beyond ancient fellow former Patriot Brian Hoyer. For not investing in a QB early in the draft, they had to be pleased about O'Connell's quick development track and delivery under Josh McDaniels.
It's a complicated system but O'Connell was in command and in control, unafraid to hang in there and throw downfield. He's one to watch as "this year's Brock Purdy" as a new rookie teammate of Garoppolo
4. Malik Cunningham, Patriots (undrafted, Louisville)
Grade: A
Stats: 3-of-4 passing, 19 yards, 3.9 yards per attempt, 84.4 passer rating, 5 rushers, 34 yards, TD
Cunningham has worked to prove he should have been drafted ou based on his athleticism. Bill Belichick and his offensive staff have been fans of fellow Louisville product Lamar Jackson and are well aware of Cunningham's mobility and versatility. He should make the roster at the expense of former Jackson Ravens backup Trace McSorley behind Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. Cunningham didn't do much as a passer, but vs. Houston, he reminded New England why he was a priority free-agent signing.
MORE: Malik Cunningham impresses with dual-threat ability in preseason debut vs. Texans
5. Tanner McKee, Eagles (Round 6, No. 188 overall, Stanford)
Grade: B
Stats: 10-of-20 passing, 148 yards, 7.4 yards per attempt, 74.6 passer rating, rush, 7 yards
McKee, by all accounts, is having the typical developmental camp given how late he was drafted. But the Eagles gave him the green light to unleash his downfield arm. He was inconsistent, too, vs. the Ravens, but consider he also threw a 33-yard laser to wide receiver Johnny King as the highlight of his night.
McKee also hit on two pretty balls to wide receiver Tyree Cleveland for gains of 27 and 18 yards. His case is now strong to displace former Saint Ian Book, who struggled in the game, as the No. 3 behind Jalen Hurts and Marcus Mariota. Based on his arm strength, pedigree and experience alone, McKee shouldn't have lasted that long in the draft.
6. Sean Clifford, Packers (Round 5, No. 149 overall, Penn State)
Grade: B-
Stats: 20-of-26 passing, 208 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, 8 0 yards per attempt, 80.3 passer rating, 2 rushes, 27 yards
All eyes were on Jordan Love making his first start of the post-Aaron Rodgers era for Green Bay in Cincinnati and building on the highs of training camp, and he didn't disappoint. Clifford, despite delivering a pick six among the two passes intercepted by Bengals rookie safety Tycen Anderson, showed a strong arm with pretty downfield passes. He also showed some key mobility. He's looking great to be a valuable young No. 2 for Love.
7. Anthony Richardson, Colts (Round 1, No. 4 overall, Florida)
Grade: C
Stats: 7-of-12 passing, 67 yards, INT, 5.6 yards per attempt, 39.2 passer rating, 2 rushes 7 yards
Richardson's expected uneven debut as a young passer with limited college starts showed in both his passing and running. His numbers would have looked so much better had second-year wideout caught his perfectly thrown deep ball for a TD. Instead, it will be known for a bad decision against the Bills defense, throwing sidearm and off-balance when under pressure for an easy interception. The Colts has a big final decision ahead on whether to bridge with steadier but less spectacular Gardner Minshew. Richardson should still be the lean for Week 1.
8. Clayton Tune, Cardinals (Round 5, No. 139 overall, Houston)
Grade: C
Stats: 13-of-23 passing, 135 yards, TD, INT, 5.9 yards per attempt, 70.0 passer rating, 3 sacks, 4 rushes, 9 yards
Tune has been talked up by the Cardinals' offensive coaches after moving past David Blough on the depth chart. There was even talk he could start over Colt McCoy for a knee-ailing Kyler Murray. Tune still has time to build on some first-team work in camp to convince his arm allows the new-look passing game under Drew Petzing to do more without Murray.
9. Will Levis, Titans (Round 2, No. 33 overall, Kentucky)
Grade: C
Stats: 9-of-14 passing, 85 yards, 6.1 yards per attempt, 51.2 passer rating, 4 sacks, rush, 6 yards
First, the Titans' transitional offensive line, backups or not, can be a big issue for the pass protection. Levis learned that the hard way early coming in after second-year backup Malik Willis with Ryan Tannehill on the sidelines. Consider Willis also was sacked four times.
Once Levis let the Bears' rush get to him too, he settled in through the second half, showing nice strong throws within and outside the pocket. The arm and athleticism that made him a near first-rounder showed. But unfortunately, Levis' long Saturday stint ended with lofting a desperation last-gasp throw that was intercepted. Levis is working his way to rookie redshirting unless Tannehill gets hurt again. Consider it a shaky draw with Willis as the No. 2.
MORE: Breaking down C.J. Stroud's shaky preseason debut
10. C.J. Stroud, Texans (Round 1, No. 2 overall, Ohio State)
Grade: C-
Stats: 2-of-4 passing, 13 yards, INT, 3.3 yards per attempt, 17.7 passer rating, sack, 2 rushes, 6 yards.
Stroud, on the flip side of Cunningham on Friday night, struggled with the Patriots' inside pressure combined with a zone defense. He either was forced to scramble from the holding the ball too long, or rush short throws. On his interception, he stared down safety Jalen Mills too long despite making the right read. Stroud needs a lot of live work in the 49ers-like system, but the Texans know he can't get it sitting behind Davis Mills.
11. Jake Haener, Saints (Round 4, No. 127 overall, Fresno State)
Grade: C-
Stats: 10-of-17 passing, 105 yards, TD, INT, 6.5 yards per attempt, 71.1 passer rating, rush, 8 yards
Haener came in and was all over the place in relief of Derek Carr, his much more accomplish teammate who also went to Fresno State.. He had some high expectations from his early camp work and fell a little flat with his meh inconsistency.
12. Max Duggan, Chargers (Round 7, No. 239 overall, TCU)
Grade: C-
Stats: 2-of-3 passing, 19 yards, 6.3 yards per attempt, 84.0 passer rating, 3 sacks, 4 rushes, 20 yards
Duggan struggled passing opposite Bennett again and the Chargers reined in his attempts with a run-heavy approach in the second half. Duggan had a nice zone read dash of 19 yards as his most impressive moment.
13. Adrian Martinez, Lions (undrafted, Nebraska)
Grade: C-
Stats: 4-of-7 passing, 37 yards, 5.3 yards per attempt, 71.7 passer rating, sack, 5 rushes, 14 yards, TD
With Hooker on the shelf, Martinez has gotten a longer rookie look behind Jared Goff's backup Nate Sudfeld. Martinez used his legs well as a plus but there wasn't much there yet in his development.
14. Jaren Hall, Vikings (Round 5, No. 164 overall. BYU)
Grade: D
Stats: 6-of-14 passing, 37 yards, 2.6 yards per attempt, 50.3 passer rating, 2 sacks
Hall, looked exactly like a deep all-around developmental type against the Seahawks. Kevin O'Connell can be a little patient with him as Nick Mullens is in his second season as a solid veteran backup for Kirk Cousins.
15. Tommy DeVito, Giants (undrafted, Illinois)
Grade: D
Stats: 15-of-24 passing, 155 yards, TD, INT, 6.5 yards per attempt, 77.6 passer rating, 5 sacks
DeVito didn't help himself as a potential No. 3 behind Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor, looking shaky with no flash over extended playing time vs. the Lions..
16. Tanner Morgan, Steelers (undrafted, Minnesota)
Grade: D
Stats: 5-of-8 passing, 36 yards, INT, 4.5 yards per attempt, 33.3 passer rating, 2 rushes, minus-1 yard
The Steelers for now have plenty of experience behind second-year first-rounder Kenny Pickett with Mason Rudolph still on the depth chart after Mitch Trubisky. Morgan is headed to go the way of 2022 seventh-rounder Chris Oladokun as a final cut from camp.
