Joel Klatt ranks top 5 QBs in NFL Draft, explains where the gap is to separate the tiers

Joel Klatt has evaluated the top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL Draft, and ranked them by where he would draft them and their talent level.

Klatt has Alabama’s Bryce Young at No. 1, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud at No. 2, and then Florida’s Anthony Richardson, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker. Klatt admitted that 3-5 is interesting because most people have Young and Stroud at 1-2.

Klatt shared that he believes there’s a “sizable gap” after Stroud, and explained the tiers at hand.

Because the second tier is about “upside,” Klatt said, he has Richardson in that position. But Richardson could be described as a “Rubix cube,” and wondered if he is 2 or 3 turns away from being complete.

“Probably not, but if you could complete that Rubix cube, if you could complete Anthony Richardson, he’s got the traits that would make him one of the best players in the entire league,” Klatt said.

As for Levis, he has some traits that are special, though they’re not Richardson-level, Klatt said.

Young caught Klatt’s eye at the Texas game and the FOX Sports analyst noted that Young’s accurate, is a distributor and called him a “ninja.”

“His feet are amazing, he’s got so much poise, he’s got great leadership,” Klatt said. “He’s really good in clutch moments.”

Klatt also called Stroud a “no-brainer” at No. 2. He also is accurate, has great leadership and has worked hard to get to this level, Klatt said.

“We saw a side of him, albeit in a loss to Georgia, but we saw a side of him and a competitiveness out of him that maybe we hadn’t seen before,” Klatt said.

1️⃣ ??
2️⃣ ??
3️⃣ ??
4️⃣ Will Levis
5️⃣ Hendon Hooker@JoelKlatt gives his top 5 QBs in the 2023 NFL Draft ? pic.twitter.com/MghT2O87lh

— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) February 28, 2023

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.