Besides Bryce Young, the highest quarterback prospects like C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis took to the sector Saturday on the 2023 NFL Combine to showcase not simply their athletic presents however their passing proficiency in entrance of scouts, TV cameras, and hundreds of followers inside Lucas Oil Stadium. They didn’t disappoint.
Richardson did issues we have by no means seen earlier than on the place, Stroud was tremendous correct, and Levis was probably the most spectacular thrower within the first group of passers. Georgia’s Stetson Bennett needed to remind everybody, as soon as once more, to not neglect about him.
Let’s grade their performances whereas assigning winners and losers from a blast of a day observing a captivating quarterback group exercise in Indianapolis.
Winners
Well, obviiiiously. Setting mix data on the quarterback place will get you an “A” each time, and Richardson did so within the vertical and broad leap at a ridiculously thick 244 kilos. The 4.43 within the 40 was phenomenal, too. Throwing the ball, the rate was obvious and the three 60-yard bombs within the closing drill of the afternoon for the quarterbacks had been all attractive. Only a number of misses within the intermediate route drills saved this from being an A+. The backflip to finish the day was a becoming exclamation mark. Richardson is probably the most athletic — and one of many largest — quarterbacks we have seen on the mix.
Grading on a curve right here with Stroud, as a result of we solely noticed him on the sector throwing the soccer, which everybody agrees is the place he thrives. It’s the athleticism we needed to see, however the Ohio State stud (most likely well) determined to not do any of the athletic testing.
On the sector, throwing the ball, Stroud was surgical. I solely observed one clear-cut miss on a deep nook route, and his easy stroke was so swish. The ball jumped out of his palms, too. I really feel Stroud has misleading arm energy. Stroud’s first long-ball throw was effectively underthrown. The subsequent two had been dimes.
No one was anticipating Bennett to be ridiculously gradual, however his 4.67 official was a powerful time. Throwing the ball, Bennett was clearly comfy all afternoon, throwing with pinpoint ball placement and demonstrating stunning throwing energy, particularly on the lengthy balls that had been all attractive.
Bennett continues to beat the chances and looks like a quarterback who will hear his identify referred to as on draft weekend. Might even be earlier on Day 3 than initially anticipated.
Will Levis, Kentucky | Grade: B+
Levis threw it effectively. Not magnificently. On the long-ball “driving vary” throw, to borrow a time period from Daniel Jeremiah on the published, Levis’ first cross was underthrown, the second was slightly higher, and it wasn’t till the third deep shot that Levis actually let it rip. He was principally correct on the opposite throws, not pinpoint.
The Kentucky star declined to run the 40-yard sprint and had a 34-inch vertical, which was the fifth-highest amongst 9 quarterbacks who participated in that drill. Good, not nice, significantly for somebody billed as an freaky athletic specimen. Now, the 10-foot-4 broad was the second-best behind Richardson. Overall, a stable day for Levis.
Losers
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA | Grade: C
It wasn’t all dangerous for Thompson-Robinson. Really wasn’t. His 4.56 within the 40 is shifting for a quarterback, and his 10-foot-1 within the broad leap was the fourth-best on the quarterback spot. Throwing the ball, he struggled. Accuracy, timing, anticipation, rhythm, and it was even obvious he does not have a big-time arm when he needed to throw the deep out, submit nook, and lengthy ball.
Tanner McKee, Stanford | Grade: C-
I’m shocked McKee labored out, as a result of he did not seem like a high quality athlete on movie by as we speak’s quarterback requirements. He had tied for the bottom broad leap at 9-foot-6, and his 33-inch vertical wasn’t brutal however was the third-lowest on the place. On the sector, McKee’s distinctive supply spit out some inaccurate passes in any respect ranges, and his arm energy was missing.
