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Believe it or not, the 2024 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away. While we can never make a perfect prediction of which teams will select which players, we do have a strong sense of major areas of weakness for individual teams.
With that in mind, we can explore some of the teams that will pursue additions at the quarterback position when the draft kicks off on April 25. We'll see a strong run on quarterbacks within the first three or four picks, followed by more intriguing names selected later on.
Let's explore our 2024 mock draft for quarterbacks. Note that this mock draft does not include any trades.
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Round 1
Pick #1: Chicago Bears select USC QB Caleb Williams
There's little doubt that Williams will be the name announced by 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.
When it comes to Caleb Williams, plays like this get me much more excited than the 10+ second highlight extensions -- watch this pocket movement.
RT beat, steps up. Feels LT & LG losing, sinks back for space. Whips a 3rd down completion amidst chaos. Rare pocket feel imo. pic.twitter.com/pLPQHTegbo
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) April 15, 2024
Pick #2: Washington Commanders select LSU QB Jayden Daniels
This is where things could start to get messy. For a while, North Carolina's Drake Maye was the consensus second quarterback prospect. However, rankings change over time and Daniels has earned increased favor since winning the Heisman Trophy.
Washington has a clear need at quarterback after parting with both Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett, so this is merely a question of which quarterback they will select once they're on the clock. Daniels is a player who reads the field well and can terrorize opposing defenses with both his arm and his legs. He's not a perfect passer, but he's enough of a threat to justify this selection.
Pick #3: New England Patriots select North Carolina QB Drake Maye
We've heard just about every rumor leaked out of New England in the last month. It seems as though every day brings a new insider's perspective on whether they'll draft a quarterback, draft another position, or trade back. While someone like Marvin Harrison Jr. should certainly be in play for the Patriots (as should a trade-back), we'll err on the side of caution and give them a quarterback here.
New England is reportedly infatuated with Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, but the all-around versatility of Maye will be too tempting to pass up here. A true boom-or-bust prospect, Maye has impressive arm talent but could struggle to perform against NFL defenses.
Pick #11: Minnesota Vikings select Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
There's a growing push for McCarthy to be selected within the first four picks, but he falls to 11th here because this mock draft doesn't feature trades. There are several teams (including the Vikings) who could trade up to the fourth or fifth pick for the rights to McCarthy.
The national champion draws praise for his poise in the pocket, accuracy, and intensity. He's not incredibly mobile, but he does enough to extend plays and find the open receiver. There are questions about his arm strength, but he should be able to thrive in a Minnesota offense that will ask him to throw the ball a lot.
Pick #12: Denver Broncos select Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
Penix might end up slipping to the mid-teens or even early twenties, but if the NFL turned off trades (as we did in this mock), Denver would likely pull the trigger at 12. The Washington standout will hope to solve Denver's ongoing quarterback issues after the Broncos cut Russell Wilson loose.
Penix 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. That remains a very real concern with Penix.
As QB prospect Michael Penix Jr. makes the rounds, he visited Broncos headquarters yesterday per source. Penix has picked up momentum since his Pro Day workout last week. Injury history at Indiana but two clean years at Washington, where he combined for 9,544 yds/67 TDs. #9sports
— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) April 3, 2024
Round 2
Pick #52: Los Angeles Rams select Oregon QB Bo Nix
We wouldn't rule out an NFL team trading up to the end of the first round so that they can select Nix. By doing so, a team would gain an extra year of control over Nix since first-round contracts include a fifth-year team option. But, of course, this mock draft doesn't have trades, so Nix slides to the middle of the second round.
The Rams lack impressive depth behind Matthew Stafford, and it's no secret that the veteran quarterback has struggled to stay fully healthy as he gets older. The Rams have remained competitive over the years, so they'd be wise to start looking for their next franchise quarterback. The jury is still out on Nix, but he's flashed potential at the college ranks and is worth a second-round pick.
Round 3
Pick #77: Las Vegas Raiders select South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler
The Raiders currently have Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew II in their quarterback room, so they can justify passing on a quarterback in the first two rounds. However, they're still looking for an injection of young talent at the position, which is where Rattler comes in.
Rattler doesn't have amazing arm strength and could struggle to read defenses at NFL game speed. However, he's typically accurate and doesn't rush throws. He's also able to maneuver around the offensive backfield and extend plays.
Round 4
Pick #134: New York Jets select Tulane QB Michael Pratt
Pratt's stock has slipped over the last few weeks, but it's hard to imagine he falls past the fourth round. The Tulane product would presumably take over as the backup to Aaron Rodgers, giving the Jets even more reason to trade or cut former first-round bust Zach Wilson.
At the very least, taking Pratt gives the Jets a serviceable backup for the next couple of years. In an ideal scenario, he develops under Rodgers before taking over the starting job, just like Jordan Love did in Green Bay. Pratt was a four-year starter at Tulane and adjusts to pressure nicely. He's accurate on shorter throws but does struggle when throwing deeper or toward the sidelines.
Round 5
Pick #166: New York Giants select Tennessee QB Joe Milton III
Milton put on a show at the Scouting Combine with top-tier arm strength, and we wouldn't rule out a team (such as the Giants) taking him in the third or fourth round. However, we'll stick with consensus and make him a fifth-round pick for this mock.
In addition to his aforementioned arm strength, Milton possesses the size and physicality needed to withstand hits at the NFL level. His ability to escape sacks, scramble outside the pocket, and make deep throws look easy could make him a dangerous quarterback in the NFL. However, there are concerns about his accuracy and football IQ, making him a clear developmental project on Day 3 of the draft.
Joe Milton was easily a candidate to steal the show at the Combine with his arm..
And he’s doing just that 💣 pic.twitter.com/6Brm3BDJ29
— Redshirt Heisman (@TasteOfSport) March 2, 2024
Pick #170: New Orleans Saints select Florida State QB Jordan Travis
A season-ending leg injury hurt Travis' stock coming out of college, but he's still an appealing prospect with decently high upside. The Saints' quarterback position, headlined by Derek Carr and Taysom Hill, could benefit from an injection of youth. Even if Travis rides the bench for a couple of years in New Orleans, he could compete for a starting job down the road.
For the most part, Travis delivers accurate throws under pressure and makes good adjustments mid-play. However, there are flaws in his pre-snap decision-making, plus some concerns about his leg injury and recovery.
Round 6
Pick #219: Green Bay Packers select Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman
The Packers' current backup is Sean Clifford. At the very least, they would benefit from bringing in another quarterback to solidify the depth chart. While the ideal fit for Green Bay would be a veteran backup, someone like Hartman will suffice.
The Notre Dame signal-caller has shown some inconsistencies with his decision-making and accuracy. Turnovers are a real concern with the 24-year-old. However, he has respectable arm strength and can make plays happen.
Round 7
Pick #244: Dallas Cowboys select BYU QB Kedon Slovis
There's been some recent smoke about the Cowboys drafting a quarterback in case they can't match Dak Prescott's eventual contract demands. While this mock doesn't have them taking a top-tier prospect, they still address the position in Slovis, who was a decent passer at BYU.
Slovis struggled with turnovers in college, which was primarily a product of subpar physical skills rather than poor decision-making. He performs well when facing pressure and does a good job escaping sacks. Injuries remain a concern given that he averaged just 8.5 games over the last four seasons.
.@BYUfootball QB Kedon Slovis rips off a 4.6u
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tDpqr2t6tK— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024
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