Week 2 of the college football season is in the books! Quarterbacks from around the country have been posting absurd numbers, leading many to wonder just how many of these guys will come off the board at the 2024 NFL Draft. As part of a weekly segment here at NFLMocks, let’s take a deeper dive and assess some of the top players at the position, including Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward.
It happens every year.
“This class is good, but the next class will be even better.”
It is an endless loop among football fans. Although hyperbole runs rampant in these types of discussions, there is some merit to that old adage this football season.
The quarterback class, in particular, is perhaps the deepest group in the history of the sport. I know, I know. That is quite the claim, and really, it’s only true on paper to this point, but the potential for greatness is abundant.
Caleb Williams and Drake Maye dominate the conversation — and rightfully so. They both possess franchise quarterback traits and some of the most exciting film I remember seeing. But as is the case with any worthwhile book, we must look further than the cover to see the depth of it all.
NFLMocks will have an updated quarterback power ranking every Thursday, using the previous week’s performance and weighing it against the player’s entire body of work. Of course, NFL Draft projections are a factor, as well. That will result in a list of signal-callers separated into tiers. Without further ado, it’s quarterback time!
*The names in each tier are not in order*
2024 NFL Draft QB Power Rankings: Tier 1-
Caleb Williams (USC)
It would be a surprise if anyone unseats Caleb Williams atop our NFLMocks power ranking at any point this season. The USC signal-caller makes video game throws and has the creativity that most elite quarterbacks in the NFL also possess. His arm strength is adequate, and his leadership quality will win teams over at the 2024 NFL Draft.
Size is the biggest red flag for Williams, as he may be even shorter than his listed height of 6-foot-1. Similar to Bryce Young before him, the gifted passer’s height is more of a personal preference — Williams does not play small. He is the favorite to be QB1 off the board next April.
Drake Maye (North Carolina)
Drake Maye is a stud in his own right. He boasts prototypical size for a franchise cornerstone, and the deep ball he puts on tape is better than any in the class. From a clean pocket, Maye is surgical and abuses opposing secondaries. When forced to create out of structure, the Tar Heel star regularly answers the bell.
But Maye is by no means a perfect prospect. His accuracy nosedives under pressure, as his technique gets sloppy while rolling out. In college, these subpar mechanics aren’t exposed as frequently. But Maye must clean this up to succeed on Sundays. He has top-10 pick written all over him.
2024 NFL Draft QB Power Rankings: Tier 2-
Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. While I admittedly was hesitant to put Shedeur Sanders high on my preseason Big Board, I won’t make that same mistake in these power rankings. Sanders has completed 77.5 percent of passes on the year, including 903 yards and six touchdowns through the air.
His superb ball placement and otherworldly improvisation ability outside the pocket make the Colorado quarterback an intriguing evaluation. Sanders has the size to hold up for a full NFL campaign; all he has to do now is continue dominating any competition put at his feet, just as he did at Jackson State.
Quinn Ewers (Texas)
There are two different Quinn Ewers’: One who plays Alabama and then one who plays the rest of the games. Against Alabama, Ewers has looked like a No. 1 overall pick each of the past two seasons. He terrorized the Crimson Tide secondary with deep bombs downfield and carved the linebackers up over the middle of the field.
Unfortunately, Ewers has yet to consistently put it all together for a full season. A few more performances like he posted against Alabama would go a long way toward his first-round projection. He still has plenty to prove, but the Longhorns might have something special brewing.
Cam Ward (Washington State)
It is no secret: Cam Ward is “my guy” at quarterback for the 2024 NFL Draft. After beginning his career as a zero-star recruit, Ward has blossomed every season in college. This past Saturday evening vs. Wisconsin allowed the star signal-caller to exercise his demons from a lackluster performance vs. the Badgers in 2022.
Ward showed improved mechanics, better decision-making, and even more explosiveness as a scrambler. He still has strides to make in the processing department, and his eye work downfield could stand to improve, but I project that Cam Ward will be in the Day 1 conversation by next Spring.
J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
The way someone speaks about J.J. McCarthy tells you how much game film a person watches. Some out there are box score watchers, while others are “that boy nice” watchers — there’s room for both in the football sphere. As for me? I try to blend these two extremes as much as possible.
In doing so, I’ve found that McCarthy is a better prospect than I gave him credit for in the summer. In 2023, the Michigan coaching staff has allowed its young signal-caller more freedom to create. The added responsibilities are exactly what NFL Draft scouts have been begging to see.
McCarthy has responded well with two of the best games of his career to this point. At 6-foot-3, 202 pounds, and only 20 years of age, don’t be surprised if McCarthy continues ascending NFL Draft boards everywhere — especially if his level of play stays this high.
Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
If Michael Penix Jr. was a few years younger, he would be in the running for a top-three spot in the 2024 quarterback class. Alas, he will be a 24-year-old rookie, and even if that doesn’t matter much to you personally, I assure you NFL GMs take this into account.
Still, Penix’s play deserves consideration anyway — if you ask me. The lefty has an absolute cannon attached to his shoulder and is never shy to let it fly. He should be the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy as of Week 2, and maybe a successful and healthy stint will be enough to win a front office over. It only takes one team.
2024 NFL Draft QB Power Rankings: Tier 3-
Jordan Travis (Florida State)
Jordan Travis is lacking in the size and accuracy department, this cannot be denied. But he is remarkably creative, which makes up for his diminutive size in college. As the QB1 in Tallahassee, Travis spearheads one of the most stacked weaponry groups in recent years. But make no mistake, the team’s quarterback is what makes the engine go.
Travis has enough arm strength to stick on an NFL team, but to truly challenge for a selection inside of the top 32, he must be able to hit the layups more frequently. Too often, Travis relies on his star-studded pass catchers to create something out of nothing.
Bo Nix (Oregon)
I believe in the talent of all the players in this tier, but age weighs a few of them down. Bo Nix is no exception, as the 23-year-old is over two years older than Colts’ starter Anthony Richardson. Even so, Nix has shown growth under Dan Lanning and has his fair share of fans around the league. The physical traits are NFL-caliber, but the long-time starter is still slow to react while working through his progressions.
Riley Leonard (Duke)
Riley Leonard is an exception in the “old man quarterback tier”. Leonard, though considerably younger than Nix and Penix, is also substantially less proven than the names ahead of him. Leonard’s efforts vs. Clemson were awe-inspiring, but it left several question marks regarding his viability as a full-time NFL starter. Is he merely a scrambler with a big arm, or can the Duke signal-caller develop his touch and mechanics to be an all-around threat? That is the question.
Sam Hartman (Notre Dame)
A transfer to Notre Dame is exactly what Sam Hartman needed to showcase his talent. At Wake Forest, it’s a lot of one-read plays, rarely challenging the quarterback to get through his progressions. With the Fighting Irish, Hartman has flexed NFL traits, including quick processing, fielding snaps under center, and calling audibles when necessary.
He is an older prospect, but he is intriguing in the middle rounds.
2024 NFL Draft QB Power Rankings: Just Missed
Michael Pratt (Tulane)
Joe Milton (Tennessee)
Jayden Daniels (LSU)
K.J. Jefferson (Arkansas)
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Cardinals tank for Caleb Williams, Drake Maye heads to Tampa
Mock Draft Monday has returned! In this week’s edition, the Cardinals snag Caleb Williams while Drake Maye heads to Tampa Bay.