Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis. Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Surprise QB leads 2023 class in key stat category this season

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Nov 25, 2024 12:22 PM ET

The 2023 NFL Draft produced some great quarterback prospects and some that still need a little more work.

The Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud and the Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson have drawn mostly positive attention since debuting last year. No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, however, has had more negative scrutiny as the Carolina Panthers continue to struggle.

At the end of last season, Stroud led all rookies with a 100.8 passer rating and began the 2024 campaign right where he left off.

However, a surprise quarterback from the 2023 class has emerged at the top of a stat category that's usually indicative of a passer's development.

According to CBS Sports, the Tennessee Titans' Will Levis has led all quarterbacks from the 2023 class in passer rating since the start of October.

Best Pass Rating since start of October among 2023 Draft Class

Will Levis 97.4
Bryce Young 83.5
C.J. Stroud 81.2
Anthony Richardson 68.9 pic.twitter.com/4WgNmgH7Gi
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) November 25, 2024

In that span, Tennessee has gone just 2-5, but it's important to note Levis missed three consecutive games from Oct. 20 through Nov. 3, which were started by backup Mason Rudolph.

Young sits just behind Levis with an 83.5 rating, but he also did not start in three games for Carolina from Oct. 6-20, only taking some snaps in relief for backup Andy Dalton.

Stroud and Richardson round out the surprising list, which would suggest a potential sophomore slump, but the eye test says otherwise. Levis and Young's numbers may be improving, but it's just an incremental step in their development as NFL starters.

More data is needed to fully evaluate who will emerge as the true star of the 2023 class.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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