Grading the popular 1st and 2nd year NFL QBs

Over the last two seasons, the NFL has seen a number of young quarterbacks make their starting debuts; some of them seem like franchise quarterbacks, but others have already shown they don’t measure up. From worst to finest, these are the grades for the NFL’s most prominent rookie and sophomore quarterbacks:

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers | GRADE: D

Young hasn’t lived up to the anticipation as the first overall choice, even though the Panthers have put him in a horrible situation. Young was the last Heisman Trophy winner. Young has the lowest QBR among qualified quarterbacks, averaging just 187 passing yards per game while throwing for nine touchdowns and eight interceptions (three pick-sixes).

Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons | GRADE: D

This season, Ridder started as the team’s starting quarterback with a playoff-caliber roster. However, in Atlanta’s first eight games, he only passed for 1,701 yards, six touchdowns (and six interceptions), and was benched in favor of journeyman Taylor Heinicke. But Ridder is back in the starting lineup and will stay there for the rest of the season. With the NFC South still up for grabs, Ridder still has time to make amends. Nevertheless, he is really a band-aid solution until Atlanta locates a long-term replacement for the job.

Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers | GRADE: D

Under Pickett, the Steelers have a winning record (13-9), but their success is mostly down to their excellent defense rather than the play of the former first-round choice. Pickett has only had one multi-touchdown performance as a starter in 23 games, throwing for 13 touchdowns and the same number of interceptions. For now, he’s the best option available to the Steelers, but his time in Pittsburgh is limited.

Aidan O’Connell, Las Vegas Raiders | GRADE: D+

Although the rookie fourth-round pick has shown signs of being a solid backup for the Raiders’ next starting quarterback, his miserable three-interception performance against Miami on Sunday says otherwise. O’Connell has been picked off in four of his five games as a starter. He has passed for 946 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Will Levis, Tennessee Titans | GRADE: C

Following an outstanding start against the Atlanta Falcons in which he threw four touchdowns, the powerful-armed Levis has become less aggressive in recent weeks. The Titans have lost their last three games despite Levis’ 619 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions at the thrower position. However, Tennessee is going through a transitional moment while GM Ran Carthon reassembles, and Levis has left enough of an impact to be the starting quarterback going forward, at least initially.

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts | GRADE: B

The divisive draft prospect was playing well enough to justify his selection as the No. 4 pick, even after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury four games into his rookie season. The 21-year-old rushed for 136 yards and four touchdowns and threw for 577 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Richardson is well-positioned to build on his early success once he returns, especially with HC Shane Steichen leading the offensive line.

Sam Howell, Washington Commanders | GRADE: B

After throwing three interceptions in Sunday’s 31-19 loss to the New York Giants, Howell’s reputation suffered. The 2022 fifth-round pick, who leads the league in passing yards (3,038), has nevertheless shown a lot of promise in his first full season as a starter based on his overall performance. Under its new ownership, Washington is expected to see significant changes, but Howell deserves to be the starting quarterback going forward.

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans | GRADE: A

Looking back, Houston’s Week 18 victory—which cost them the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft—turned out to be the best thing that could have occurred to the team. With the Texans (6-4) having already quadrupled their win total from the previous season and in the running for a postseason berth, Stroud’s decision appears to be a game-changer for the organization. With 296.2 passing yards per game, the rising star leads all quarterbacks and has the potential to become the first rookie to win MVP since Dak Prescott in 2016.

Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers | GRADE: A

The final choice in the 2022 NFL Draft, “Mr. Irrelevant,” is having one of the best quarterback starts in league history thus far in his career. Purdy is 14-4 as a starter (including playoffs), leads the NFL in QBR (77.1), and has completed 22 games with 4,605 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Although Purdy failed to take the 49ers to the Super Bowl in his debut season, it wouldn’t be shocking if he had more success in his second postseason campaign.