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Phil Jurkovec: 2023 NFL First Round Draft Pick?

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Although the 2022 NFL Draft has just ended, it is never too early for the prognosticators to put out their "way too early" mock drafts for 2023 and Boston College QB Phil Jurkovec is on many of those boards as a low to mid first round pick.

Dependent on what projections you are looking at, Jurkovec is currently the fifth or sixth ranked QB in the 2023 behind Ohio State's CJ Stroud, Alabama's Bryce Young, Miami's Tyler Van Dyke and Kentucky's Will Levis per the Athletic. Stanford's Tanner McGee and Oklahoma now South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler, are in that mix as first round choices.

This class then far exceeds the expectations of this year's group where just one QB (Pitt's Kenny Pickett) was a first round pick.

Do recall though how much things change through the course of a given season. Prior to the 2021 season, many had Liberty's Malik Willis as potentially the number one overall draft pick for 2022 and players like Rattler in the top 10 for this past draft not next years. Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell and Carson Strong were all considered worthy of top 15 picks. Ultimately, Pickett, who wasn't mentioned at all, elevated to that spot.

What does this mean for BC in 2022?

Time will tell.

Jurkovec clearly has to be the straw that stirs the drink for the Eagles to reach their full potential in 2022. In his two seasons in Chestnut Hill, he's had moments of brilliance, but also has been unable to consistently stay on the field.

Should he be drafted, he would be the first BC QB since Matt Ryan in 2008 to be selected at all and the first since Ryan to potentially go in the first round.

You need talent to win at this level and per NFL scouts, at least in the moment, see Jurkovec at that level.