Getting to Know the Rookie Quarterbacks - 2024 NFL Draft Analysis

April 20, 2024

Which quarterback prospect is the right fit for your team in the 2024 NFL Draft? Which strengths and weaknesses are the most important? Andersen dives deeper into 13 different quarterbacks eligible for April's draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft is just one week away and we still don't know which players might end up with which teams (other than you, Caleb Williams).

As the suspense builds to an all-time high, we decided to share some more information on every draft-relevant quarterback in this year's class. While this list doesn't include every eligible player, it does highlight quarterbacks who have a legitimate chance to be drafted -- from the locks in Round 1 to the fringe signal-callers in Round 7.

Let's meet the upcoming class of rookie quarterbacks.

Jayden Daniels

School: LSU
Projection: Top-Three Pick
Top Fits: Commanders, Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos

Daniels looked phenomenal during his final season at LSU, racking up 3,812 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He was also exceptional on the ground with an additional 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. Finally, he lost just one fumble in 2023. This stellar season allowed Daniels to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy.

Daniels is a player who reads the field well and can terrorize opposing defenses with both his arm and his legs. There are some doubts about his ability to throw the football with poise and limit turnovers in the NFL, but the fact that he tossed just four interceptions at LSU last year is certainly a good sign. Even if teams do have concerns about his passing skills, he's talented and athletic enough to justify drafting him second or third overall.

Jayden Daniels is in Ashburn tonight.

I caught up with @john_keim about Jayden's size/frame for the NFL game.

Keim said, "you see some of the hits he took in college, like you can't take those in the NFL...we saw that here with Robert Griffin III...and it impacts your career." pic.twitter.com/3c1nbpc70t

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) April 16, 2024

Sam Hartman

School: Notre Dame
Projection: Seventh-Round Pick
Top Fits: Chiefs, Saints, Packers

Hartman has shown some inconsistencies in his decision-making. Turnovers are a real concern with the 24-year-old, and his accuracy and arm strength are merely average. However, he has solid mobility, allowing him to extend plays and make things happen.

Hartman is nothing more than a developmental prospect at this point. However, with such a cheap price tag, there will be teams that believe he is worth the risk. Therefore, we could see Hartman selected in the seventh round as teams make their final picks of the draft. Teams like the Chiefs, Saints, or Packers could welcome depth additions in the form of Notre Dame's young quarterback.

Drake Maye

School: North Carolina
Projection: Top-Five Pick
Top Fits: Commanders, Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos

Maye possesses real arm talent, deep throw accuracy, and poise under center. He mirrors Josh Allen in the sense that he can scramble to extend plays and make big things happen with his strong arm. Nevertheless, he has shown some deficiencies when throwing under pressure and is certainly known to turn the football over from time to time.

The UNC product logged 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions during his final collegiate season. He added an additional 449 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. There's a very real chance that Maye could be the second pick, but there have also been a few (indeed, just a few) mocks placing him outside the top-10 picks. The argument there is that if Williams, Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy are taken within the top five, Maye could slip a little. That seems a bit far-fetched, though, especially given all the chatter we've seen about teams like the Vikings or Broncos looking to trade up for a top quarterback.

very cool to watch Jay Gruden talk through QBs

feels like you're in his office. this one on Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/2k02HNpTDr

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 16, 2024

J.J. McCarthy

School: Michigan
Projection: Top-10 Pick
Top Fits: Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos, Raiders

There's a growing push for McCarthy to be selected within the first 10 picks, especially after he helped lead Michigan to a national championship and subsequently drew enormous praise from head coach Jim Harbaugh. NFL teams do value winning and poise, two things with which McCarthy is quite familiar. With that said, he doesn't have elite arm talent and isn't the flashiest passer in the draft. He's not incredibly mobile, either, but he does enough to extend plays and find the open receiver.

As it stands, McCarthy is one of the most controversial names in the early portion of the draft. We truly might not know until the night of the draft whether teams value McCarthy as high as (or higher than) Daniels, Maye, and Caleb Williams. Of course, all it takes is one team to bite.

#Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh says coaches and executives around the league have privately raved to him about Michigan QB JJ McCarthy.

Harbaugh: “He plays quarterback the best of all the quarterbacks.” pic.twitter.com/dB3eNOqHhq

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 25, 2024

Joe Milton III

School: Tennessee
Projection: Sixth-Round Pick
Top Fits: Giants, Patriots, Vikings

Milton put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine with top-tier arm strength, making him an intriguing high-upside pick for several NFL teams. We wouldn't be shocked if a team pulled the trigger on Milton as early as the fourth round, hoping it can take advantage of his elite arm strength while trying to strengthen some of his areas of weakness, such as accuracy and decision-making. He also possesses the size and physicality needed to withstand hits, stand strong in the pocket, escape sacks, scramble outside, or make plays happen.

This late in the draft, we wouldn't be surprised if any of the 32 teams select Milton. However, a few reasonable options include the Patriots (if they take Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 3), Giants (if they're willing to wait for a quarterback), and Vikings (if they can simultaneously keep Justin Jefferson happy).

Former @Vol_Football QB and draft prospect Joe Milton III on the confidence he has in his arm strength 💪@Qbjayy7 @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/MfXtScseOf

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 9, 2024

Bo Nix

School: Oregon
Projection: Top-40 Pick
Top Fits: Raiders, Seahawks, Rams, Giants

Nix is a talented athlete with good physical traits. His rushing impact took a step back in 2023, but his passing contributions reached new heights. The Oregon product finished his final collegiate year with 4,508 passing yards, 45 passing touchdowns, three interceptions, 234 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns.

Ultimately, Nix is a creative quarterback when allowed to move around. He has a solid football IQ and often reads or understands plays before they fully unfold. On a more negative note, he's not a reliable passer deep downfield, therefore limiting his capabilities and big-play upside. Nix may or may not be a first-round pick, and there's a good chance he goes somewhere that allows him to develop under an aging starter.

Michael Penix Jr.

School: Washington
Projection: First-Round Pick
Top Fits: Broncos, Vikings, Raiders, Seahawks, Rams

Penix, who led Washington to a national championship berth against McCarthy's Michigan Wolverines, plays with impressive physicality and athleticism. He's capable of avoiding sacks and maneuvering around the offensive backfield to extend plays.

With that said, there are some concerns about his ability to throw to receivers outside the pocket. Furthermore, there's a history of physical quarterbacks thriving in college but falling victim to injuries at the NFL level. One recent example is Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. The tendency to suffer injuries remains a very real concern with Penix.

Penix's stock may ultimately depend on where McCarthy is drafted. If McCarthy is a top-five pick, there's a very real chance that Penix could be the top quarterback on the board by pick No. 8 or so. In such a scenario, he'd likely be drafted in the mid-teens, or perhaps earlier if a team like the Vikings or Broncos bites. If the run on quarterbacks is a bit tamer, Penix might drop to the back end of the first round.

Michael Penix Jr. is a ball placement extraordinaire
pic.twitter.com/UwyulB509s

— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) April 10, 2024

Michael Pratt

School: Tulane
Projection: Late Fourth-Round Pick
Top Fits: Cowboys, Jets, Falcons, Rams

For NFL teams looking to wait on a quarterback but still get someone with leadership experience, Pratt is a perfect fit. He was a four-year starter and three-year captain at Tulane, totaling 5,415 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions over his final two collegiate campaigns. He also rushed for an additional 15 touchdowns during that span.

Pratt is a tough, physical player who uses his athleticism to break sacks and withstand pressure. He can stand strong in collapsing pockets to get the football out and pick up yards. He doesn't throw deep very well, but he has strong accuracy on short- or medium-range passes. He could certainly enter the NFL as a reliable backup who has the chance to start by midseason. There are flaws in Pratt's game, but he also has some very solidified skills that are more advanced than some of the top prospects.

Tulane QB Michael Pratt, who visited the #Browns and #Jets this week, has had eight total visits and private workouts since the combine, among other interest. A potential Day 2-early Day 3 target who threw for 9,603 yards and 90 TDs with the Green Wave.pic.twitter.com/u0rcFhpYV4

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 11, 2024

Spencer Rattler

School: Cincinnati
Projection: Third-Round Pick
Top Fits: Falcons, Giants, Steelers, Rams

There's a significant tier drop-off from Nix (an early second-round pick) to Rattler (a mid- or late-third-round pick). The South Carolina product is capable of throwing downfield with good velocity and accuracy. He's capable of standing tall in the pocket or scrambling to avoid sacks, all while keeping enough poise to make accurate throws on the run. On the flip side, he has below-average size, which could have a significant impact on his performance at the NFL level.

Rattler will likely be a third-round pick and many teams could use his services. He won't be a Week 1 starter but could absolutely join a quarterback room that gives him the opportunity to play by midseason. He's a perfect fit for teams with aging veterans or replacement-level quarterbacks.

Austin Reed

School: Western Kentucky
Projection: Undrafted Free Agent
Top Fits: All 32 teams

Reed has plenty of experience, plays with impressive vision, and demonstrates solid accuracy. He's comfortable waiting until plays develop and he can reliably throw to an open wide receiver. He maintains poise even when facing pressure and can forge these connections while extending plays. On a constructive note, Reed needs to work on his ability to throw deep.

With some concerns about his accuracy and touch on deep passes, Reed is not a guarantee to be drafted. Some teams could explore him with a late-round flier, but it's also possible that he will land on the undrafted market. He's nothing more than a developmental prospect who figures to be a second- or third-string quarterback.

Kedon Slovis

School: BYU
Projection: Seventh-Round Pick
Top Fits: All 32 teams

Slovis is a former USC standout but embarked on a downward trajectory over time with Pitt and BYU. He's a sound passer who can maintain poise in the pocket and demonstrate advanced accuracy. He gets good placement on deep passes and is capable of adjusting mid-play. Additionally, he possesses the speed needed to keep opposing defenses off guard and make them play conservatively in case he decides to scramble. From a constructive standpoint, he could benefit from being a little more decisive on throws. There are also concerns about his history of arm injuries.

Ultimately, Slovis does still possess enough of the upside that he once boasted at USC when he threw for 3,502 yards, 30 touchdowns, and nine interceptions as a freshman. He faces an uphill battle to deliver meaningful contributions at the NFL level, but there should be a few teams willing to take a chance on him in the seventh round of this year's draft.

Fastest QB 40 times so far (QB)

Kedon Slovis (BYU)- 4.56

Sam Hartman (Notre Dame) -4.80

Austin Reed (WKU)- 4.83

Spencer Rattler (South Carolina)- 4.96

— CFB Home (@CFBHome) March 2, 2024

Jordan Travis

School: Florida State
Projection: Seventh-Round Pick
Top Fits: Giants, Raiders, Cowboys

A season-ending leg injury hurt Travis's stock coming out of college, but he's still an appealing prospect with decently high upside. Travis delivers accurate throws under pressure and typically makes good adjustments mid-play, though he does have a slight track record of underthrowing receivers, leading to interceptions. He was also quite mobile and athletic mid-play, but it's unclear whether he might lose a beat as he recovers from injury. Finally, there are flaws in his pre-snap decision-making.

We're not privy to prospects' medical information, so we can't possibly know just how healthy Travis is or how well his recovery is going. Teams do have access to this information and any sort of medical setback could be the difference between Travis being drafted or going undrafted.

Jordan Travis walking in to FSU’s practice pic.twitter.com/tkFzUFcT4I

— Brendan Sonnone (@BSonnone) April 16, 2024

Caleb Williams

School: USC
Projection: No. 1 Pick
Top Fits: Bears, Commanders, Patriots

There's little doubt that Williams will be the name announced by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell once the Bears turn in their first pick. He was terrific at USC and has the makings of a potential NFL star. The Bears' recent trade of Justin Fields to the Steelers all but confirms that they'll draft a quarterback with the first pick, and it would be a stunner if they don't select Williams.

Williams shows a rare ability to sense pressure and stay comfortable in the pocket, making him ready to succeed in the NFL right away. He gets good velocity and strength on his passes, hitting receivers with pinpoint accuracy. He doesn't have perfect football IQ, making ill-advised throws from time to time, but the strengths vastly outweigh the weaknesses with this top prospect.

I am starting to get REALLY excited about Caleb Williams and the Bears. Whispers from Halas are that he is a "DUDE". Passed his interviews with the team with flying colors. One guys said that the media should be ashamed of how they portray Caleb Williams. Football guy. Team guy pic.twitter.com/kHNnhq4ffn

— Chief (@BarstoolChief) April 9, 2024

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