TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after their 49-27 win over the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. NFL Draft (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
By playing in the Sugar Bowl, Bryce Young bet on himself, and likely improved his already-high NFL Draft stock with an incredible performance.
Bryce Young completed 15-of-21 passes for 321 yards, and had five total touchdowns on Saturday against Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. Young is in a battle with Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud to be the top player at his position taken. Considering the value of QBs in the NFL, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Young or Stroud — whoever emerges victorious in that battle through Pro Days and the NFL Combine — as the No. 1 overall selection. As of right now, that pick belongs to the Houston Texans.
With his performance against Kansas State, Young took the top spot in our power rankings for now. Had he not played, that slot would belong to C.J. Stroud, thanks to his favorable measurables in comparison to Young.
Young is under 6-feet and needs to add some weight to his frame. Because of this, some teams would rightly be worried about his durability. Stroud, meanwhile, is a little thicker and 6-3.
NFL Draft QB prospect power rankings: Bryce Young is No. 1
Barring anything unforeseen, Young will exit his college football career as the No. 1 quarterback prospect available in 2023’s NFL Draft. That could change throughout the draft process, as he and C.J. Stroud were neck-and-neck prior to the Sugar Bowl.
Stroud will have his opportunity in the College Football Playoff, but he looked rather pedestrian in his last outing against the Michigan Wolverines.
For now, Young can be penciled in as a Houston Texan. But that could easily change in the months to come.
NFL Draft QB prospect power rankings: C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
C.J. Stroud arguably has the best throwing accuracy of this entire quarterback class. Stroud is a classic pocket passer, so he’s not much of a threat on the ground like Young. After beating out Quinn Ewers in his sophomore season, Stroud will end his career at Ohio State as a two-time Heisman Finalist. He’s a Buckeyes legend, and deserves to be treated as such.
ESPN’s Matt Miller praised Stroud’s accuracy as his selling point: “Accuracy to all levels of the field is Stroud’s signature trait. His ability to drop the ball into space and give receivers room to operate is the best in the draft class.”
Stroud will have to impress at his Pro Day and the NFL Combine in order to leap Bryce Young, as he’s not eligible for the Senior Bowl or Shrine Bowl.