The Quarterback Class: 2024

It is officially Draft Week. This is a great time of year for sports. The NBA and NHL playoffs are underway. Baseball is getting its footing. And the next wave of NFL superstars are about to find out where they will start their anxious NFL careers. One position, as you all know, is in a class of its own. So it’s only right that the Quarterback position gets its own article. While this QB class may not be as talented as a whole as some other classes in the past, this may be the most intriguing class in a very, very long time. We have one guy at the top who people have literally compared to Patrick Mahomes. We have two guys who can be all-pros or pure backups in five years time. We have a couple of players that are older and need to be in certain situations to thrive. And then the back end QBs, who won’t be expected to start, but are guys that need to be watched closely. I am confident that all the Quarterbacks on this list will get drafted. Hell, they all may actually get playing time during their careers as well.

1. Caleb Williams - USC 

What is there to say about Caleb Williams that isn’t already said? I can say with confidence that he’s the best Quarterback prospect that I’ve seen in all the years that I’ve been watching film on prospects, He’s got a quick twitch and mobility that is seen in maybe 1% of the league right now, He comes with years of experience between two programs, and he just has a knack for always getting his guys open. He’s coming into an already made position in Chicago (one that Justin Fields never got) that most QBs who are drafted don’t usually have, The one red flag is the Josh Allen hero-ball concept. Caleb will always look to make a play, and sometimes that backfires. More times than most thought, athleticism and skill will win out. This kid is an athlete. He’s smart and has all the intangibles to be successful. There will a lot riding on his shoulders as the franchise QB the Bears have never had. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a rookie. Will he be able to handle it?

NFL Comp - Aaron Rodgers 

2. Drake Maye - UNC 

My love for Drake Maye actually started one day when I was watching Tez Walker tape. Tez was making play after play, but the more I watched the less and less I was actually watching Walker. Maye not only prototypical size at 6"4 230, but his arm talent alone puts him up there right behind Williams. Maye is not perfect though, and that is why there is some discrepancy on where he might get drafted. Bonehead decision making and the amount of sacks he takes needs to be adjusted at the next level. Going through progressions properly and making the right throw will be a crucial adjustment, assuming he lands with a team that can help those mistakes be corrected. He’s definitely still a very moldable prospect in the right system. 

NFL Comp - Josh Allen 

3. Jayden Daniels - LSU 

This debate will wage on probably for the next 5 years. Maye, Daniels or McCarthy. Part of the debate that makes it so intriguing is that all three signal callers are so unique to one another. The Arizona State transfer made a name for himself in his first year at Baton Rouge, winning the Heisman and being the best dual threat Quarterback in college football. It was inevitable before Daniels got the comparisons to Lamar Jackson. Except those comparisons are a little bit off. Daniels comes into the league as a way more polished passer; he throws a more than serviceable deep ball with great accuracy and touch. His read of defense (pre and post snap) is leagues better then it was at ASU. He goes through his progressions well without having that quick hesitiation to want to run, but instead uses it when its most needed to his advantage; not as a crutch. The knock I have on Daniels is simple -his short to intermediate passing needs work. Sometimes he doesn’t throw with as much velocity as he should and has more of a touch throw. He also needs to put on some more bulk as his thin, lean frame opens him up to injury with the way he plays.

NFL Comp - Lamar Jackson  

4. Michael Penix Jr. - Washington 

Washington had some run last year all the way to the national title game. That was lead by Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Penix may be one of the more polished products of his class - A pure pocket passer at Washington, he had all the tools on display. Very good field vision, excellent footwork and a powerful arm. He can make every single throw at the next level. He has a knack for avoiding sacks as he has was sacked just 31 times over 1,759 career dropbacks per PFF. The obvious issue is the injury history. Penix had multiple season ending injuries in college, and he’s one of the oldest quarterbacks in the class, making him a situational selection for a team that is looking for a guy willing to start immediately.

NFL Comp - Geno Smith  

5. Spencer Rattler - South Carolina

When I watched Rattler’s tape I was pleasantly surprised. I saw a guy who is poised and wasn’t afraid to stand in the pocket and complete a throw. This is important because his offensive line at SC was absolutely dreadful, so having that escapability and being avoid to navigate in traffic is quarterbacking 101 in the NFL. South Carolina was ranked outside the top 50 in any meaningful offensive statistic, yet Rattler was the bright spot. He can make every single throw at the next level and I have a clear comp for him - Baker Mayfield. At the next level, while he does go through his progressions better then most of his class, he does need to tighten them up a bit and use his athleticism more. Rattler ran a 4.95 forty at the combine/pro day, and with the sneak speed, he can be a viable pick late day 2/early day 3.

NFL Comp - Baker Mayfield  

6. JJ McCarthy - Michigan 

We’ve arrived at the prospect causing the most commotion in this draft. In the beginning, I understood it and I was on board with McCarthy’s winning ways. However, after watching the film, you kind of start to question where all the hype is coming from? Is McCarthy a winner.. Absolutely. It’s also true that Michigan will probably have the most players drafted in this year’s draft. Michigan went undefeated, and it’s fair to say the team lifted up everyone individually. He’s a below average prospect with barley enough tape last year to even form a full opinion. Can he make some splashy throws - yes. Can he move the sticks with his legs - yes. But is he going to set the world on fire and throw for 400 yards in a game? Probably not. He lacks size and arm strength to make throws at the next level. And if you say well he’s accurate, that's padded by easy throws behind the line of scrimmage. Don't believe me? Do yourself the favor and watch the tape; you'll be out on the hype too.

NFL Comp - Zack Wilson   

7. Michael Pratt - Tulane 

Here is a guy that will drafted on Day 3 that will impress in training. camp. I loved Pratt’s tape from beginning to end; and the entire time I’m wondering why he isn’t he being considered with some of the best talent in this class? Pratt is an excellent pocket passer for the most part, but doesn’t always feel backside pressure. H’es got a fantastic arm, and he comes with some of the most experience in his class as a four year starter and three year team captain. He does need to work on his anticipation against zone looks and needs to be quicker to find his checkdowns when going through his progressions, but with even that being said, Pratt will be a reliable quarterback in the league and I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if you see him starting for a bad team and sparks some interest. 

NFL Comp - Gardner Minshew 

8. Bo Nix - Oregon 

A FIVE year starter and transfer from Oregon, Bo Nix (on the surface) has all you'd need to be a successful NFL Quarterback. But when you look a lot deeper, you find a guy who had almost the most optimal situation of anyone in his class. The Washington Pac 12 title game stood out to me. I saw a  guy who struggled badly when moved off his spot and blitzed. I saw a guy who during the season, 30% of his competitions were check downs. He didn’t even have the ability to do that when the play broke down. With a clean pocket, he’s surgical, but unfortunately that doesn’t exist at the NFL level.

NFL Comp - Paxton Lynch  

9. Joe Milton - Tennessee

 ABSOLUTE CANNON ARM. That’s the first thing I saw when I started watching Milton tape. I also saw a guy who can be compared to last years 4th overall pick Anthony Richardson, And to my surprise, Milton is way farther along as a passer, but not by much. Milton has the same issues as far as accuracy. He completed just 38.6 percent of his throws beyond 10 yards (per Pro Football Focus) in 2023. He needs to work on his anticipation and timing. He’s athletic as hell and can make defenders miss in the pocket buying himself more time. So why was Richardson picked fourth overall and why will Milton likely go in Round 6? Richardson is a unicorn, and if he pans out he can become the most versatile quarterback in NFL history. However, we had Anthony Richardson as a 2nd round grade. Not our fault if Indy jumped the gun. I can see Milton getting some run in the league, he just may need to sit for a while.

Comp - Anthony Richardson