After a 2022 NFL Draft light on quarterbacks, the pendulum has a chance to swing in the opposite direction in 2023. As many as five QBs have a chance to come off the board in the first round Thursday, and more than half of them could be taken in the top 10.
The Panthers, Texans and Raiders have all been open about their interest in some of this year's top quarterback prospects, while the Seahawks haven't shied away from the possibility of drafting a developmental prospect to sit behind Geno Smith.
Could they all land a quarterback on Thursday night? If so, the 2023 draft could tie a record.
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Here's a look at which draft had the most quarterbacks taken in the first round.
Which NFL Draft had the most QBs selected in the first round?
There have been two drafts with four quarterbacks selected in the top 10, and they occurred nearly 70 years apart: 1949 and 2018.
1949 NFL Draft
The 1949 NFL Draft saw four quarterbacks come off the board within the first nine picks, though center/linebacker Chuck Bednarik was drafted first overall. As is still the case for most quarterback classes, the results were mixed. Only Thomason and Tripucka lasted longer than three seasons.
Below are the quarterbacks drafted in the top 10 in 1949:
- No. 2: John Rauch, Lions
- No. 5: Stan Heath, Packers
- No. 7: Bobby Thomason, Rams
- No. 9: Frank Tripucka, Eagles
2018 NFL Draft
The 2018 edition saw four quarterbacks taken within the first seven picks. That draft is also one of four years in which at least five quarterbacks were selected in the first round. Below is a list of the quarterbacks selected within the top 10 in 2018:
- No. 1: Baker Mayfield, Browns
- No. 3: Sam Darnold, Jets
- No. 7: Josh Allen, Bills
- No. 10: Josh Rosen, Cardinals
Allen has become the star out of this group despite being considered a high-risk prospect at the time. While Mayfield helped take the Browns back to the playoffs after years of futility, he's had an inconsistent career and is no longer with the team. Darnold has largely struggled as a starter, while Rosen is considered a colossal draft bust.
The 1999 and 2021 drafts were close to joining this group. In both drafts, quarterbacks were taken with each of the first three picks and the 11th pick.
How many QBs will go top 10 in 2023?
The 2023 NFL Draft has a chance to become the third with four quarterbacks drafted in the top 10. While it's far from a guarantee, the number of highly rated quarterbacks is much higher than it was in 2022 when only one signal-caller was drafted in the first two rounds (Kenny Pickett at No. 20 overall).
Alabama's Bryce Young and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud are expected to be top-10 picks, with the Panthers set on drafting a quarterback first overall and the Texans reportedly waffling at No. 2.
MORE: How top QBs in 2023 NFL Draft played vs. Georgia, and why that matters for Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud
Beyond Stroud and Young, both Florida's Anthony Richardson and Kentucky's Will Levis have generated buzz in the early portion of the first round. The Seahawks and Raiders are two teams in the top 10 that have been open about their interest in quarterbacks.
While Richardson's high ceiling could vault him into the top 10, that may be a tougher challenge for Levis. All it takes is one team to fall in love with his potential, though.
The selection of Tennessee's Hendon Hooker on Thursday could also make the 2023 draft the fifth with at least five quarterbacks taken in the first round.
