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Scout's view: Seven college QBs with first-round grades
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Scout's view: Seven college QBs with first-round grades

By Daniel Kelly  |  Last updated 7/10/23

Daniel Kelly spent four years in pro scouting with the New York Jets. He is the published author of the book "Whatever It Takes," the story of a fan making it into the NFL. 

Many great college quarterbacks aren't good enough to cut it in the NFL. That's mainly because defenders at the highest level of the game are far better than nearly all the competition a college QB faces. Excellent college QBs—David Carr, Matt Leinart and Tim Couch, all first-round NFL picks—flopped in the NFL. 

The college season won't begin until late next month, so there's a whole season of evaluating yet to be done. Any list of QBs with first-round grades in July could change significantly as the season plays out. But after my review of the game film from last season, below are the QBs who merit a first-round grade now.

Before we get to those players, let me explain the characteristics I look for in a QB for him to be deemed first-round worthy:

  • DOMINANT TRAITS: He shows physical and/or intangible traits that are rare compared to the general pool of talent. Examples of these traits are great size, arm strength, athleticism, pocket escapability, running elusiveness/speed in the open field, quick release and ability to produce explosive plays.

    Examples of intangible dominant traits are poise, leadership shown by taking command pre-snap and in-game situations, response to adversity and ability to come back from deficits.
     
  • CONFIDENCE: He shows sound body language throughout a game and demonstrates a willingness to make high-risk/high-reward plays.

  • COMPETITIVE SPIRIT: He acts like the game is important to him by getting emotionally fired up and not backing down during altercations. Also, he celebrates and encourages teammates and demonstrates a willingness to sacrifice himself on plays.

  • CONSISTENCY: He looks like the same, elite player in every game. For example, he runs the offense at a similar tempo and throws with the same solid mechanics and excellent accuracy from game to game.  

In inverse order, here are the top seven QB heading into the 2023 season: 

7. Quinn Ewers | Texas

2022 game film evaluated: 10 of 10 games | Game film reveals: An aggressive, unorthodox gunslinger who is an instinctual touch passer with a knack for making big plays. The more Ewers tries setting his feet before throwing, however, the less accurate he is. 

What to watch in 2023: Does he pick up where he left off in 2022? In the second game last season, he impressed against Alabama but suffered a first-quarter injury in that game and missed time in September.

No. 1 need for improvement: Getting the ball out of his hand faster. 

6. Cameron Ward | Washington State 

2022 fame film evaluated: Eight of 13 games | Game film reveals: He looked super-comfortable right away after jumping from the FCS (Incarnate Word) to the FBS. Ward is an efficient, dual-role rhythm passer who needs to stay in that rhythm or everything breaks down. 

What to watch in 2023: Does he put it all together?  

No. 1 need for improvement: Reducing sacks. He was sacked 46 times last season.

5. Cameron Rising | Utah

2022 game film evaluated: 10 of 13 games | Game film reveals: A competitive, quick-release passer who fires the ball all over the field. Rising is tough as nails as a runner, but he must learn how to slide. 

What to watch in 2023: Does he look the same after the torn ACL suffered in the Rose Bowl against Penn State? 

No. 1 need for improvement: Downfield ball placement.

4. Jordan Travis | Florida State 

2022 game film evaluated: 13 of 13 games | Game field reveals: A confident playmaker with elite mobility, strong throwing instincts and above-average ball placement at the short, intermediate and deep levels. Travis showed improved ball security in seven of these 13 games. 

What to watch in 2023: Can he produce back-to-back consistent seasons despite increased pressure and expectations? 

No. 1 need for improvement: Downfield ball security.

3. Joe Milton III | Tennessee 

2022 game film evaluated: Three of eight games (most significant playing time) | Game film reveals: A dynamic vibe and a cannon for a passing arm. Milton excels throwing short to intermediate passes with good ball placement and security (no interceptions in the past 144 passing attempts). Despite lacking experience—he only has 296 college pass attempts—Milton doesn't look raw. 

What to watch in 2023: How does he respond to being "the guy?" The Michigan transfer is the presumptive starter at Tennessee after serving mostly as a backup to Hendon Hooker, a third-round pick by the Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft.

No. 1 need for improvement: Deep-ball accuracy 

2. Drake Maye | North Carolina

2022 game film evaluated: 14 of 14 games | Game film reveals: He carried himself like an NFL player rather than a redshirt freshman. Maye combines strong competitiveness, uncanny consistency and the ability to thrive under pressure to produce results. He's athletic, shows decent downfield ball placement and does a good job keeping his throws out of harm's way. 

What to watch in 2023: Does he develop a faster release time? 

No. 1 need for improvement: Protecting his body when running.

1. Spencer Rattler | South Carolina

2022 game film evaluated: 12 of 13 games | Game film reveals: A strong-armed, mobile gunslinger with a burning desire to win. Rattler thinks fast on his feet and has quick reflexes. His ultra-competitiveness is a double-edged sword, leading to mistakes at times. He consistently attacks secondaries. 

What to watch in 2023: Does he continue playing at the high level he showed he was capable of down the stretch last season? In his final six games of the 2022 season, he completed 68.6 percent of his passes.

No. 1 need for improvement: Ball security.

You may have noticed a big omission from this list -- Southern Cal's Caleb Williams. In a future column, I'll explain why he didn't make my first-round cut.

More must-reads:

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