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.
A USC Signal-Caller Drops To No. 2 In 2024 NFL Draft QB Rankings
QB2: Caleb Williams (USC)
At one point in the 2024 NFL Draft process, Caleb Williams had a respectable gap between himself and the rest of the quarterbacks. While it’s not as drastic as some of the pundits on social media would have you believe, Williams struggled mightily in his final year on campus.
Positives: Arm Talent, Creativity, Running Ability, Pocket Control
Negatives: Size, Throwing Mechanics, Lower-Body Mechanics
For Williams, he was set up for failure with all of the lofty Patrick Mahomes comparisons. The Trojan signal-caller was never Mahomes, but in all actuality, who is? Still, the arm talent he puts on tape is rare; only a handful of quarterbacks in the NFL can match his sheer level of talent.
The ball is always lively coming out of his hands, flexing an impressive fastball that slices through defenses in the intermediate game while showing the ability to launch the ball 60 yards downfield with relative ease. Simply put, Williams can make any throw in the book.
What makes him truly special is the way he creates something out of nothing so consistently. It’s a lot of responsibility on the quarterback in a Lincoln Riley scheme; Williams is asked to either hit his first read if it’s open or quickly move the pocket and create passing lanes on his own.
That is something that clouds his projection to the NFL just as much as it elicits excitement amongst scouts. While the highlight reel plays are undoubtedly fun to watch, it draws into question his ability (and willingness) to take what the defense gives him at the next level. These video-game-style reps will be harder to replicate against an NFL defense.
Going further, his mechanics are far from textbook. Williams rarely gets his feet set, constantly having weight pushed onto his back or front foot. That bleeds over into his mechanics up top too, as the gifted passer boasts a wonky delivery. Size is another red flag, with Williams unlikely to check in much higher than 6 feet.
The risk is evident, but so is the immense upside. That is why Caleb Williams is still a top-five player in the 2024 NFL Draft and is firmly entrenched as the QB2 behind Drake Maye. Any quarterback-needy team would be lucky to acquire the talents of Williams.
Jayden Daniels Continues Rising Up The Ranks
QB3: Jayden Daniels (LSU)
A one-time Arizona State Sun Devil, Jayden Daniels has cemented his status as a legitimate Day 1 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. His time with LSU has brought improved mechanics and instilled the confidence necessary for a starting quarterback on Sundays.
Positives: Anticipation, Speed, Ability Out-Of-Structure, Trust In His Pass Catchers
Negatives: Frame, Velocity, Vision From The Pocket
Consider me all in on the Jayden Daniels hype train. After watching a few All-22 tapes from his 2023 stint, it’s clear to see why NFL front offices are clamoring at the thought of adding him to their locker room. He is a proven leader who excels when lights are at their brightest. Seeing the way Jalen Hurts has used a similar trait to become a star in the league paints a path toward the same for Daniels.
The anticipation he throws with is nothing short of remarkable. He consistently throws his receivers open and has the ball out before they even finish their route. Possessing the touch Daniels has in spades is an incredibly difficult thing to teach — oftentimes, you either have it or you don’t. And he has it.
When Daniels escapes the pocket, he is a genuine threat to score on any given snap. Whether it be as a passer out of structure or as a runner, the LSU standout is impossible to stop when he’s in the zone. These dual-threat capabilities align with the trend of the top quarterbacks in the league, making Daniels an intriguing prospect on Day 1.
But he’s not without his faults. The biggest of which is his frame. While Daniels has added considerable weight since moving to Baton Rouge — shout-out Gumbo — he still looks like a flag pole. Will he be able to hold up for a full 17-game slate if he subjects himself to big hits week in and week out?
Daniels also has work to do with his fundamentals in the pocket. Out in space, he boasts impeccable vision, but too often in the pocket he outright misses his receivers break open, primarily over the middle. Height isn’t an issue, so that isn’t the reason why; it’s more about trusting what he sees rather than what he doesn’t see. That is an area where an NFL coaching staff can make all the difference.
A Polarizing Michigan Quarterback Checks In At No. 4
QB4: J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
Arguably the most polarizing quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft is J.J. McCarthy. Some analysts see McCarthy as nothing more than a “Midwest Zach Wilson” while others are intrigued by the potential in his right arm and the elite athletic profile he has.
Positives: Elite Athlete, Velocity, Pro-Style Experience, Footwork
Negatives: Decision-Making, Hero Ball, Accuracy Wanes On The Run
J.J. McCarthy is on the Day 1 radar thanks to an impressive athletic profile. He runs a 4.4, and that speed pops up on tape any time he can operate in space. That makes for a difficult assignment for any opposing defense, as the unit must pick its poison by letting McCarthy dice them up through the air or torment them as a scrambler.
He doesn’t have the strongest arm in the world, at least not in terms of distance. But McCarthy has had little issue fitting tight windows in college, showing enough mustard on his throws to keep defenders from jumping passing lanes. I also found steady, reliable footwork on tape, which is something an NFL offensive coordinator would love to see.
As far as negatives, there are plenty. McCarthy, during his time with the Wolverines, hasn’t been asked to carry the load as much as the previous three names on this list. Sure, it’s unfair to blame him for being on a more well-rounded roster, but if he goes early on Round 1, there’s a great chance he will be tasked with more responsibilities than he’s used to.
Decision-making isn’t always his strong suit. Whether it’s from trusting his arm too much or feeling the need to force a big play, McCarthy has some truly puzzling throws on tape. He frequents throwing back across his body, which is nice for a highlight reel but is far from practical in the NFL.
I would be willing to target J.J. McCarthy toward the end of the first round, with the hope that a redshirt year could allow the young signal-caller to develop behind an established veteran. The Lions and Rams come to mind, as McCarthy could sit behind Jared Goff or Matthew Stafford for a season before taking the reins.
Don’t Laugh, Bo Nix Is A Legit NFL Prospect
QB5: Bo Nix (Oregon)
Full disclosure: Bo Nix has the talent to make this ranking look silly this time next year. However, the red flags in his profile are too much to look past — at least when it comes to his viability as a Day 1 quarterback.
Positives: Experience, Size, Lightning-Quick Release, Dual-Threat Ability
Negatives: Age, Footwork, Arm Strength, Eye Usage Within The Pocket
Bo Nix has started the most games at quarterback in the history of college football. With that comes loads of invaluable experience that should help his transition to the next level. He is a smart signal-caller that displays a lightning-quick release, and a variety of arm angles used to get the ball out as soon as possible.
Nix has the size to hold up for a full season, standing at a stocky 6-foot-2 and weighing nearly 220 pounds. He uses this size and an impressive burst to terrorize opponents as a runner. The Oregon star is never shy to lower his shoulder and keep the chains moving for his team; it’s something his teammates gush over.
As far as Nix’s arm goes, it’s best described as “good-not-great”. His deep ball can lack air at times, while the fastball is a few MPH slow when it comes to fitting tight windows. That being said, he is completing passes at nearly an 80 percent clip in 2023, so it hasn’t hampered him.
Still, in the NFL, the gap between a decent arm and an elite arm is Grand Canyon-sized. Furthermore, for such an older prospect, Nix still shows raw tendencies with his footwork and upper-body mechanics. Ideally, he will learn how to keep his feet set and sense pressure coming more effectively.
Speaking of his age, that is the most glaring issue on his NFL Draft profile. While 24 years old doesn’t sound old to the average person, I assure you that NFL front offices will take his advanced age into consideration. It’s not often someone in their mid-20s becomes a starter in the league and continues improving their craft. Nix would need to be an outlier in this regard.
I have Bo Nix graded as an early second-round player. But given how many teams will be searching for a new quarterback this offseason, a push into the first day of the 2024 NFL Draft is well within reach. Nix needs a stable roster with an offensive-minded head coach to truly pan out in the NFL.
2024 NFL Draft: The Best Of The Rest
QB6: Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
QB7: Michael Pratt (Tulane)
QB8: Spencer Rattler (South Carolina)
QB9: Joe Milton (Tennessee)
QB10: Sam Hartman (Notre Dame)
*Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, Carson Beck, and Quinn Ewers were all excluded from the list, as they are expected to return to college for the 2024 season