Stanford Cardinal quarterback Tanner McKee (18) throws during warmups before a game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Stanford Stadium. John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

The best QB prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft few are talking about

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 1/12/23

Tanner McKee is in a tier below Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Will Levis, the consensus top three QBs in the 2023 draft. Unlike Anthony Richardson, he's likely not in the running at ninth overall when the Carolina Panthers are on the clock, either.

Falling down the QB pecking order could be the best thing for McKee.

In ESPN's ranking of best available prospects, McKee is the seventh-best QB (120th overall). Along with Young, Stroud, Levis and Richardson, he also ranks behind Tennessee's Hendon Hooker (68th) and Fresno State's Jake Haener (112th).

According to Pro Football Focus, however, he ranks as the fourth-best QB in the class and 18th overall.

McKee played at Stanford from 2020-2022 and didn't have much success on the field. Stanford was 3-9 in 2021 and 2022, but McKee made the most out of an impossible situation.

When looking at his tape, his accuracy stands out. McKee does a great job of placing the football, as he did on this touchdown throw against Oregon in 2021.

TANNER MCKEE

Stanford up on #3 Oregon…

pic.twitter.com/l10oNhslOO
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 2, 2021

He showed off his accuracy even on incompletions, including on this expertly placed throw against Washington.

"Why are Tanner McKee's stats bad?"

Well here's the normal windows he's working with down the field

Get him while he's still cheap as QB44(!) on @Mojo because I'd bet good money he's going in the 1st round whenever he declares pic.twitter.com/o1opEBMfCL
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) November 10, 2022

As PFF highlighted in its list of favorite prospects, plays like this one against Oregon State should excite NFL front offices the most.

nice sequence from Tanner McKee: 3rd down sprintout working left + putting a Post on a line pic.twitter.com/HB7aZVdIsp
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 9, 2022

On the play, he gets outside of the pocket on a designed rollout to his left, then quickly flips his body to get in position to deliver an on-target pass 33 yards down the field.

McKee didn't demonstrate much of an ability to create offense on his own at Stanford, which will likely keep him from moving too far up draft boards.

NFL scout Matt Waldman highlighted McKee's troubling penchant for tucking the ball instead of making something happen when the pocket collapses.

#NFLDraft

QB Tanner McKee and one of the potential cumulative effects of steady pressure pic.twitter.com/0EXlzW0eb1
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) December 11, 2022

McKee needs a strong offensive line and playmakers at the skill positions to thrive in the NFL. He's more likely to find that on a team making its selection at the end of the first round, or as a pick in a later round.

McKee wasn't in a great spot at Stanford. If he's given the right situation in the NFL, he could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.

More must-reads: