2024 Quarterbacks

#01 - Caleb Williams QB USC

Positives

+He has fantastic arm talent. Williams has the power and velocity to hit every level and the tight windows of the NFL. He also displays the understanding and capabilities to throttle down the throws and play with touch

+He is a fantastic athlete. Williams has shown that he can be dynamic both from the field of play and inside the pocket. His escapability already puts him in the top tier of NFL playmakers 

+Williams mechanics are good when he plays purposefully. When he plays with consistency and the goal of sound quarterback play Williams aligns himself to every throw and displays sound footwork leading to great accuracy

+His size would suggest otherwise but his play shows truly just how tough he is which has led to most never discussing his true size compared to similarly sized players at his position

+Williams was the reason his team was so successful, without his play, they would be lost

Areas of Improvement

-Consistency is key. Williams has displayed issues with ability to read defenses pre and post snap. There are times he can lock himself in which can throw off play timing and his ability to throw with anticipation. His play also drops while operating out of play action possibly displaying an issue where he struggles to pick up the defense. 

-Pressure can overwhelm him. Against pressure Williams struggles mightily resulting in significant increases in his sack and turnover worthy play percentages. Significant decreases in his accuracy, and his time to throw skyrockets. 

Quick Hit

Williams has attained a projected skill level few have ever reached in the NFL because of the talent he possesses. He is someone you will root for because that game-changing ability is just too fun to watch. While the talent and style of play he possesses are becoming more sought after, the unpolished parts of his game and inconsistent decision-making are the types of compounding issues that cause quarterbacks in this league to sink rather than swim. My hope is that the right situation finds him because that is more important than most give it credit for.

Grade: (94.9) - 1st Round Grade

#02 - Drake Maye QB North Carolina

Positives

+Undeniable arm talent; Maye's has the ability to hit those that most could never and should never attempt
+His confidence is on full display at every moment. With an arm this lively there is no surprise that he plays with a level of fearlessness that he does. This also translates to the run game where he displayed good athletic ability and some hard-nosed football play
+From what I saw from Maye, he has shown good ability to layer throws, and his accuracy is towards the top of the class
+He maintained an elite balance of big play potential and taking care of the football. While some may consider his interceptions to be high, when diving into those statistics his actually turnover worthy play rate is quite low

Areas of Improvement

-His inexperience shows consistently. Reading defenses is not something he does all to well, this will be key for his development
-Situation led to bad habits. His offensive line play was certainly something that will be talked about throughout his evaluations. Pocket paranoia is a habit of his that has grown because of this groups poor play and the hope will be that he will grow past this.
-Pressures equalled sacks. While he may have been paranoid, that still didn't make him immune form avoiding sacks at a high clip, especially when facing pressure. He lacked feel for his blind spots
-Play action was not his friend. Scheme and the consistent fear from his offensive line could have led to the poorer play out of play action, but so too could have been his ability to pick up the play and read the changes to the defense post snap. His abilities out of play action must improve to be a productive quarterback at the next level
-The reckless abandonment as a runner must come to an end. I love toughness, but the star quarterback cannot play this way at the next level. With his thinner lower half I am even more scared

Quick Hit

Maye fits the new prototype of today's NFL with his arm talent, size, and athleticism. His undeniable arm talent enables him to hit throws that most could never and should never attempt. His confidence is on full display at every moment, evident in his fearlessness on the field. The inexperience apparent throughout his tape is what makes me pause and allows me to favor him more as the second option in this class of quarterbacks. However, his situation was not conducive to productive development. It is well within reason that Maye can become the clear number one quarterback in this class.

Grade: (93.075) - 1st Round Grade

#03 - Jayden Daniels QB LSU

Positives

+Dual-threat quarterback whose straight line speed while need to be schemed against to stop any potential bleeding from the designed run and scramble game

+Has no fear in pushing ball downfield, played for positive yardage

+Placement of the football was at an elite level last season

+Quick throwing motion, looks mostly effortless out on the field 

+Throwing mistakes virtually non-existent

Areas of Improvement

-Protecting himself at the next level is paramount; he must learn when to slide. The NFL will humble his confidence in his athletic ability. He has taken some eye popping hits at the college level, his thinner frame is obviously a topic of discussion among teams and how this will hold up at the next level with play style are valid questions to ask 

-Against the stronger defensive teams the rush could get to his head and lead to sequences of inconsistent footwork

-I am not enamored with his decision making as some others. I certainly see the flashes of where he can be, but I thought there where times, especially against the stronger teams, he would hold the ball and miss some open looks. He struggled to avoid sacks because of this as well

-He also scrambles at an extremely high rate. This is not necessarily an issue; he was such a better athlete than some of the guys he faced and I expect that to stabilize some at the next level, but there is some growth opportunities needed here

Quick Hit

There was something that always brought me back to Daniels during his time at Arizona State, and I was surprised he never left for the NFL. I am sure he and his team are glad they did not, as all signs indicate he will be going in the top ten of this year's draft. No one helped themselves more this season, and his growth was so awesome to see. He may not have the arm like the others projected at this level do, but there is less worry about his question marks as a thrower in my opinion.

Grade: (91.65) - 1st Round Grade

#04 - JJ McCarthy QB Michigan

Positives

+On the move McCarthy is fun to watch. He has the athletic ability to beat you as a scrambler and the arm is able to hit with velocity and accuracy

+He has adequate velocity to attack the middle of the field

+Wonderful lower half that plays connected and is repeated 

+He plays with confidence

+Most pro-style experience out of the highly talked about quarterbacks

+Fairly consistent play through all situations (blitz, clean, and pressured), but took more risk against pressure due to the potential openings resulting in higher big time throws

+Accurate thrower of the football 

Areas of Improvement

-McCarthy was rarely called upon to be the reason Michigan won games 

-May struggle with consistency outside the numbers and deeper throws at next level. This could be an arm mechanics issue, fixing that could bring about improvements but not something to bet on

-McCarthy still has some physical, his slender frame, and mental growth, playing with more anticipation, to come. Looking at his weapons and diving into his game scouts have to question what really held this attack back because it should have been even better than it was

Quick Hit

One of the younger prospects in this draft; he has been a bit polarizing and puzzling. Harbaugh has been doing an excellent job of pushing one of his guys as they both enter, or re-enter in Harbaugh's case, the NFL. The question marks on McCarthy are also on Harbaugh in my opinion. As everyone has delved into this team, people have to question the usage of McCarthy and why this team wasn't even better. McCarthy has not shown enough for anyone to really become definitive on his talent, but we also can't deny what has shown up. If a team has eyes set for McCarthy, the plan should be the Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love route, to let him sit and develop to gain an understanding of the game, physically develop, and take over when the time is right.

Grade: (89.775) - 2nd Round Grade

#05 - Bo Nix QB Oregon

Positives

+Nix has a well above solid arm as he is able to hit all areas of the field with consistency and has the ability to drive the ball with velocity
+He has finally shown to the world he can do the simple things, something he could not do consistently during his time at Auburn
+Athletic ability is still one of the strong points to his game. Undersized, but has a thicker build then one would expect and plays with toughness
+Arm remains effective tool while on the move
+Has a quick release that allows him to quickly pull the trigger on quick throws; he also has the feet to match
+Fluid dropbacks and tape full of playing in rhythm
+Displayed improved accuracy this past season

Areas of Improvement

-I remain skeptical. I've really enjoyed Bo Nix throughout his career and thought his talent was always worthy a shot. One can certainly see his play at Oregon as a sign of maturity and growth in the player, but the data shows such a 180 degree change in tendencies and the tape has moments where you flashback to Auburn. I think there are more question marks then most want to let on.
-Offense certainly can be analyzed as guarding him. He played with a strong offensive line and a quick passing game that limited his need for true decision making. Pressure which used to be his achilles heel, went away as he played in a clean pocket in the 99th percentile for this past season
-60% of throws were less than ten yards and nearly 30% was behind the line of scrimmage

Quick Hit

An older prospect, Nix's talent was undeniable at a very young age and he has been counting down the days until his chance at the NFL. It has taken longer than anticipated and comes with a fair bit of question marks. Was the player we saw this past season the newly matured Bo Nix, or was he a guy whose scheme protected him from the player he was? The answer is not clear-cut and may not even be as black and white as I make it sound. I am certain, though, that no one's interviews at the combine will be more important than his. I hope this is the new him, and that success keeps coming his way.

Grade: (86.825) - 2nd Round Grade

#06 - Michael Penix Jr. QB Washington

Positives

+Velocity to drive any throw when mechanically correct
+Pre-snap awareness put him as a man amongst boys on the field. Felt like he would more often then not be playing ahead of the defense, and pocket awareness allowed him to suffer minimal sacks compared to peers
+Lefty quarterbacks look strange to everyone, technique is more sound then people give him credit for
+Washington scheme gave him the confidence to push the ball deep and take calculated "college" risk
+Made a habit of limiting negative plays

Areas of Improvement

-Older player with extensive injury history before this past season
-Lacks the ability to play with touch which has caused his accuracy to suffer, must be able to throttle and manipulate trajectories at the next level to find success
-Blitzes and pressure when they found there way through had significant effect on Penix's game. Question his abilities at next level as he will find these situations are more the standard in the NFL
-Questionable results from standard dropbacks, play action heavily influenced his numbers
-Solidified as a pocket quarterback in an evolving landscape

Quick Hit

I just cannot get on board with Penix the player where some are projecting him. It is unfortunate as he is a great story. I am so glad he found himself healthy all season, found his way to the biggest stage in college football, and was able to go from a guy who was on his way out of football to a guy who will likely be drafted and ultimately experience life-altering wealth. I'm no doctor, nor will I ever see his medical records, but all those injuries have an impact. Outside of the durability concerns, the accuracy issues and pressure effects leave major question marks in his game. While these question marks are a similar theme among the top quarterbacks as well, he lacks the top-end abilities and projections of the others.

Red Flag: Two ACL injuries, Shoulder and Clavicle injuries. Completed no more than six games in each of his first four seasons 

Grade: (83.75) - 3rd Round Grade

#07 - Spencer Rattler QB South Carolina

Positives

+When everything else is right the arm talent is on full display. His arm strength and velocity is at the top of the class if he finds any ounce of consistency 

+Shows good pocket mobility 

+Nice contact balance when facing weaker tackle attempts; he's able to keep fighting and tape regularly shows him gain more yards then expected 

Areas of Improvement

-Rattler tape is chaotic and undisciplined. His lower half mechanics a woefully inconsistent; he loves to throw off platform riding his back foot resulting in dips to his accuracy, velocity, and arm strength. Someone with this arm talent should never have throws looking lazy and hitting the grass at their feet. He routinely abandons the pocket with no real reason and will throw into smothered receivers without second guessing himself 

-Struggles to efficiently get through progressions and anticipate throw windows

-Flustered by the blitz and pressure 

-Offense was schemed to protect him and his success was heavily dictated by his teammates abilities after the catch

Quick Hit

Rattler found himself in the spotlight at a very young age giving him very high expectations. Like many young people who find themselves in similar situations there were struggles and things did not go as expected. The bright future may not be over and there is still an opportunity in the league for him. It is not the projected spot but with time and great mentorship that arm may fully realizes that potential, there is just much to work on before it gets there. 

Grade: (75.525) - 4th Round Grade

#08 - Joe Milton III QB Tennessee

Positives

+Undeniably elite arm strength and velocity to hit any throw he wants without much effort

+Plays with sound mechanics, quick release, body positioned throws with cleats in the ground 

+Large, strong, and quick that allow him to be effective runner and rush avoider to extend plays 

Areas of Improvement

-The decision to power through players as a runner is fun to watch but not something you want your quarterback doing as regularly as he does 

-Visually everything looks right but the end result of his lack of accuracy is concerning 

-Undeveloped ability to see the full field. Even in a single read style offense Milton was unable to play with proper anticipation 

Quick Hit

Milton has the traits that are going to get him to a NFL team. From there he will have to put in the work to show that he can be a quarterback at the NFL level. At the age of 24, teams will have to ask how much will he advance and can you undo some of the habits he has already developed. The way he plays would be exciting on Sundays, so I hope the accuracy and decision making make there way to an NFL level. 

Grade: (72.275) - 5th Round Grade

#09 - Jordan Travis QB Florida State

Positives

+Travis is an elite athlete with high level speed, change of direction, and balance for the quarterback position

+Made a significant point to protect the ball this past season both as a runner and as a passer

+Continues the path to a plus mind at the quarterback position. Shows he can process what the defense is giving him in an efficient manner and has anticipation throws throughout the tape. 

+Snappy feet and arm allow him to throw lightning fast

Areas of Improvement

-The arm talent is not NFL ready 

-All the twitch he has can be a hinderance. His throw regularly come from tippy toe footwork and many of his throws manifest as off platform or the follow through is wild

-Has a double clutch tendency where the intended target doesn't change even though the ball is now coming out in an even worse situation  

-Age and season ending injury do not help his ability to campaign this draft season

Quick Hit

Jordan Travis and Florida State were a great story this past season that ended in tragedy only compounded by a "who cares" attitude by the selection committee. There season is even more shocking when you look at Travis's abilities a realizes how bad of an offensive system he was in, it played to almost none of his skill sets. There are some fun things about Travis, but what it all comes down to is his arm and you can't project much growth from a 24 year old. 

Grade: (69.475) - 7th Round/PFA Grade

#10 - Michael Pratt QB Tulane

Positives

+Accurate passer when can get the ball to that area of the field 

+Fine athlete who can manuever in pocket and wouldn't look lost as a scrambler 

Areas of Improvement

-Pratt does not have an NFL arm, will struggle to operate any style of offense at next level 

-Struggle to grasp the defense and play with anticipation, statistics back up tape showing high average time to throw and a complete avoidance to the middle of the field

-Mechanics are not sound with an elongated release and consistent reps without cleats firmly planted 

Quick Hit

There is just nothing stand out about his game. He was a great college story and I hope I am wrong but I don't see much from him to use as a draft pick or have him on the 53-man roster come Sundays. Maybe a stash on the practice squad and see what he's got in the future type player. 

Grade: (66.175) - 7th Round/PFA Grade

#11 - Devin Leary QB Kentucky

Positives

+Strong core to break tackles and extend plays from the pocket

+When confident can show he has the mental makeup for the quarterback position 

Areas of Improvement

-His arm is not at an NFL level

-Footwork is inconsistent both in his dropback and within the throw

-His athleticism will not translate to the NFL well 

-Blitzes and pressures got the best of him, complete inability to combat them

-Not an accurate thrower

Quick Hit

I once thought Leary could be a guy who could sneak his way up boards, but now I just don't see an NFL quarterback. 

Grade: (53.9) - 7th Round/PFA Grade