NFL Analysis
3/18/24
10 min read
2024 NFL Draft: Ranking Top 11 Quarterback Prospects
The 2024 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and this year's quarterback class has several high-caliber passers. Several quarterbacks are expected to be selected high in the first round, with plenty more going in the middle rounds.
Here's a look at our top 11 quarterback prospects.
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RANKING 2024 Quarterback PROSPECTS
11. Michael Pratt, Tulane 
Big Board Rank: 198
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 220
Michael Pratt projects as a backup quarterback who fits best in a read-option, quick-throw offensive scheme. He has natural arm talent and throws the ball with ease. He throws like a shortstop, which allows him to look natural on the run or when off-platform.
This impacts his deep ball, as there is not enough air under it. Pratt’s vision is below average, and he misses open receivers too often. He has surprising velocity and can make a few NFL throws, but he puts the ball in harm’s way too often, despite the low turnover number.
Pratt is overly reliant on his arm strength and makes numerous ill-advised throws. His accuracy improved in college, but his spot-on accuracy is still a concern, particularly on the deep ball. Pratt is a mobile quarterback who can threaten the defense on designed runs or scrambles, but this is a go-to far too often for him.
>> READ MORE: Pratt's Full Scouting Report
10. Jordan Travis, Florida State 
Big Board Rank: 194
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 212
Jordan Travis projects as a backup quarterback at the next level. He's coming off a devastating ankle injury that cut his 2023 season short. Travis should fit well in a run-centric system that utilizes play action and allows him to use his legs.
He leverages his mobility on designed runs and scrambles to extend plays. Travis does a good job keeping his eyes downfield while he keeps plays alive. He has a quick, compact but whippy release and shows up in clutch situations.
Travis has brought the Seminoles back from deficits to win games on multiple occasions. He struggles with his weight transfer, falling back and off throws, and throwing with a wide base, which leads to off-target throws and poor accuracy.
Additionally, he’s erratic, especially on the run and under pressure. Travis senses pressure well and shows poise, but he gets sped up too much and makes bad decisions too often.
>> READ MORE: Travis' Full Scouting Report
9. Austin Reed, Western Kentucky 
Big Board Rank: 190
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 222
Austin Reed projects as a backup quarterback in a West Coast offense that prioritizes the quick game. He has an electric release that gets the ball to his receivers with velocity and can fit the ball into some tight windows on short throws.
He shows good pocket awareness against rushes to escape the pocket and keep plays alive. On the move, he keeps his eyes downfield and has the athleticism to make passes from different angles and body positions.
Reed struggles with sloppy footwork and inconsistent mechanics, which can affect his accuracy, especially on deeper throws. He often stares down his first read, which allows underneath defenders to close and undercut his throws, especially when he struggles to take some velocity off and layer his throws.
Reed possesses some athleticism that allows him to be a threat in the run game.
>> READ MORE: Reed's Full Scouting Report
8. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina 
Big Board Rank: 116
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 217
Spencer Rattler played in South Carolina’s shotgun-heavy offense. The Gamecocks utilized play-action a good amount, especially when pushing the ball down the field vertically.
Rattler was a highly-regarded prospect out of high school and originally started his collegiate career at Oklahoma. He spent three seasons there and started for the majority of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but eventually lost his job to fellow 2024 draft prospect Caleb Williams.
In 2022, Rattler transferred to South Carolina where he started 25 games, totaling 42 starts in 48 collegiate games. He has a sufficient frame but lacks some height. He is a sufficient athlete for the position but won’t overwhelm defenses with his ability to extend plays with his feet.
Rattler is a passionate player who has experienced ups and downs in college. He is a tough competitor on the field and shows some leadership qualities.
>> READ MORE: Rattler's Full Scouting Report
7. Bo Nix, Oregon 
Big Board Rank: 113
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 217
Bo Nix projects as a quality backup at the next level, who has enough ability to be an effective quarterback in standard down-and-distance situations but will struggle in obvious dropback situations when teams tend to play tighter coverage and/or dial-up pressure.
He is proficient in the quick game, but his accuracy will not help optimize YAC, which is not ideal for West Coast offenses that would otherwise suit his skill set.
The Ducks were primarily an 11-personnel spread team with a gap-heavy run game and a passing game that emphasized low and high horizontal stretch concepts, with lots of screens and RPO elements.
He missed the final three games of the 2021 season because of a broken ankle. Nix is a good athlete with the speed and elusiveness to threaten a defense when needed. He has a sufficient build for the position. Nix is also visibly emotional on the field and a tough competitor, with players rallying behind him at Auburn and Oregon.
>> READ MORE: Nix's Full Scouting Report
6. Joe Milton, Tennessee 
Big Board Rank: 110
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 235
Joe Milton projects as a circumstantial starting quarterback in an RPO-heavy offense. He has all the physical traits needed to become an NFL starter, including the arm talent to make every throw.
Still, he has too much inconsistency in his accuracy, footwork and processing to do so right away. He doesn’t have a ton of starts or snaps under his belt for a college quarterback, so allowing him to get into an NFL system, learn how to be a pro and get some practice reps will do him a ton of good in his first few seasons.
Milton was at Michigan from 2018-2020. He played in 14 games there, making five starts during the 2020 season. He then transferred to Tennessee where he started 16 of 29 games.
>> READ MORE: Milton's Full Scouting Report
5. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan 
Big Board Rank: 88
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 212
J.J. McCarthy projects to be a circumstantial starting quarterback with the potential of developing into a “win-with” level quarterback.
He will be best served playing in an offensive scheme that utilizes motions and play action to a high degree. While the flashes of playmaking ability stand out, the level of consistency with which McCarthy plays must improve. He won’t be the most talented quarterback at the next level, but if he can improve his decision-making and ability to play with anticipation, he can raise his floor.
He was the point guard in an offense that relied heavily on its power-run game and play-action passing. Michigan utilized a good amount of pre-snap motion to scheme up receivers downfield as well. McCarthy played in 40 games during a three-year span and was a starter for 28 consecutive games in the past two seasons.
>> READ MORE: McCarthy's Full Scouting Report
4. Michael Penix Jr., Washington 
Big Board Rank: 77
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 213
Michael Penix projects as a top backup or circumstantial starting quarterback at the next level. He can function in most systems but fits best into an offense that utilizes his quick release in the RPO game and also allows him to take shots down the field off play action.
Penix has had a ton of time to develop while in college but has spent a good amount of that time rehabbing from injuries, so he might not yet be at his full ceiling.
He has above-average mobility and can make throws from awkward arm angles/bases. He can also throw the ball deep at a high level. His short and intermediate accuracy can be spotty and inconsistent, but when he is on, he can make any throw on the field.
>> READ MORE: Penix's Full Scouting Report
3. Jayden Daniels, LSU 
Big Board Rank: 25
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 210
Jayden Daniels projects as a “win-with” starting quarterback at the next level, with real flashes of “win because of” traits.
Daniels best fits a spread offense that will allow him to use his strong arm to drive the ball downfield while also allowing him to take off and use his legs when needed. He is an accurate passer with a strong arm, but he needs to clean up some of his mechanics with pressure around him and throw with better anticipation.
Daniels is a five-year collegiate player, starting all 55 games he appeared in, beginning his first three years at Arizona State, then transferring to LSU, where he played these past two seasons.
He is the desired height for the position. However, he is rail thin and should add a little mass to his frame. He is a fantastic athlete, with twitchy movements and breakaway speed to match. His competitiveness and toughness are evident. He can play through physical contact as a runner and in the pocket.
>> READ MORE: Daniels' Full Scouting Report
2. Drake Maye, North Carolina 
Big Board Rank: 7
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 230
Drake Maye projects to become a strong starting quarterback with “win with” ability. At this time, he is best suited for and can be effective in a spread scheme with lots of deep shots, simplified half-field reads and opportunities for improvisation.
If he develops the ability to anticipate and progress through reads, the sky is the limit for him, with an upside comparable to Justin Herbert's.
He played in 30 games in three seasons at UNC, including starting all 14 games in 2022 and their 12 regular-season games in 2023 before declaring for the draft. Maye is a young prospect who is still growing into his body. However, he already shows good size, arm strength and athletic ability for the position.
He is a tough player who was the clear leader of the offense, even as a redshirt freshman.
>> READ MORE: Maye's Full Scouting Report
1. Caleb Williams, USC 
Big Board Rank: 2
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 215
Caleb Williams projects as a ”win because of” franchise quarterback who can thrive in an offense that blends RPOs with traditional dropbacks and will utilize his athleticism. His dynamic playmaking ability and three-level accuracy will dictate his early success or struggles as he develops NFL-level footwork and mechanics.
Williams' offensive line forced him to be special at USC. A better one in the NFL should limit the number of special plays he has to make. He will not throw many interceptions due to his ball placement and decision-making, but if he starts big-play hunting, he could be susceptible to throwing more.
At USC, Williams started all 26 games he played. Before USC, he spent his first year under Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma, playing in 11 games and starting the final seven games of 2021.
Williams has a relatively clean injury history other than a hamstring injury in the 2022 PAC-12 title game and a finger injury in 2023. Although slightly undersized, he withstands hits with toughness, which his teammates rally around. This leads to a hero-ball mentality that, with his accuracy, often leads to big plays.
>> READ MORE: Williams' Full Scouting Report
