2024 NFL Draft: Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels climb updated QB rankings

The quarterback position is far and away the most important in all of sports — not just football. One look at the play in the NFL this past weekend revealed a harsh reality: There are a ton of average-at-best signal-callers in the league. That makes finding a premier option one of the highest priorities.

Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts went back and forth all afternoon, trading haymaker after haymaker. Former top-two picks Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud put up a hard-fought battle of their own. But outside of these four, and of course, Patrick Mahomes, the rest of the slate was full of mediocre play behind center.

2024 NFL Draft: QB Rankings — Fall Update

A few teams, such as the New York Giants and New England Patriots, desperately need a more promising option at quarterback. Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, Mac Jones, and Bailey Zappe are all different variants of the same thing: Mid. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the updated quarterback rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft.

As always, these rankings remain fluid and will continue to fluctuate as more information comes in and more tape is watched. Without further ado, the list begins with no surprises at the top.

QB1: Drake Maye (North Carolina)

Entering the 2023 campaign, Drake Maye held the No. 2 spot in these rankings. However, thanks to some impressive tape of his own, along with some lackluster tape from the previous QB1, Maye has taken control of the top spot.

Positives: Size, Arm Strength, Running Ability, Accuracy, Ball Placement

Negatives: Mechanics Outside The Pocket, Decision-Making, Handling Pressure

With Maye, the redeeming qualities stand out like a sore thumb. He has the arm strength to hit all three levels of the defense and the zip on his passes to fit tight windows and out routes toward the sideline.

The UNC star can create well with his legs, never shy to churn out yardage for his team. From a clean pocket, no one in the country boasts the accuracy of Maye. He is precise, surgical, and regularly displays impeccable ball placement.

He must rein in some of the wilder tendencies in his game, specifically his fundamentals when throwing on the run. Far too often, Maye fails to square his shoulders up to the target, resulting in passes sailing over his receiver's head or darting into the turf at their feet.

Maye also has been bitten by the turnover bug this season, with a few boneheaded decisions that led to costly interceptions. But with a team as flawed as the Tar Heels, it’s hard to blame Maye for trying to carry his squad to victory each and every week. Heroics were always necessary for North Carolina to snatch a win.

I expect Drake Maye to be the first quarterback off the board next April. He is the No. 2 overall prospect on my Big Board and has all the requisite talent to be a long-term starter on Sundays. He is the real deal.