2024 NFL Draft Top 16 Quarterbacks

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2024 NFL draft QB Hot Board: Ranking the top 16 quarterbacks​

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We're inching toward the 2024 NFL draft, and after three quarterbacks were drafted in the first four picks in 2023, we could again see a bunch of talented signal-callers go early in April. A lot of the buildup for the 2024 QB class has centered around Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, but this group runs deep.

We watched a record 12 quarterbacks get drafted in the first five rounds this year, breaking the previous mark (11) set in 1995. But it shouldn't come as a surprise if that record is already challenged in 2024. Some scouts believe as many as 20 passers could be drafted in April.

How do the best quarterbacks stack up? I ranked every passer with a draftable evaluation in my second edition of the 2024 QB Hot Board, an in-depth list that provides a look at the top signal-callers. Right now, that includes 16 guys, up from 14 at the end of September. We'll hit brief breakdowns of strengths and weaknesses, along with each player's current draft stock. A lot can still change, but here's how the top draft-eligible options rank right now. (We will continue updating this multiple times in the lead-up to the draft, so keep checking back for the latest rankings.)

 

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16. Riley Leonard, Duke​

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 212 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Late Day 3

Where he excels: Leonard announced his presence in a strong QB class with a season-opening victory over Clemson, where he made timely plays to help the Blue Devils pull off the upset. With a slightly above-average arm, he flourishes in his pre-snap reads and quick passes. The Duke offense is reluctant to go vertical, leaving Leonard with a lot of screens, shallow crossers and curl/flat combinations. It has led to 1,102 passing yards, 3 touchdown throws and 3 interceptions over seven games.

Leonard suffered a right ankle injury in the Notre Dame matchup back in September and struggled to return to his pre-injury form when he returned nearly a month later. And now a left toe injury could leave him out for "extended time."

One of his better attributes is his running ability, both as a scrambler and on QB-designed runs. Leonard has rushed for at least 85 rushing yards in three of seven games this season. He can make defenses pay by creating explosive plays.

Where he needs work: Leonard is averaging 8.1 air yards per pass attempt (79th in the FBS), and the Duke offense raises questions regarding his draft stock. After some buzz coming into the season, many scouts have cooled on Leonard because of his inconsistent play, pointing to his lack of arm strength and the offensive cautiousness of Duke's scheme. And there's a chance he returns to school after a 2023 season full of injuries.

"The offense that he plays in is elementary," said an NFC area scout while watching him against Clemson. "I just wish we could see him do more, but we likely won't see that until he gets to the next level."

 

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15. KJ Jefferson, Arkansas​

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 247 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Late Day 3

Where he excels: Jefferson has turned his plus traits into production. Through nine games, he has 1,802 passing yards, 16 touchdown throws and 8 interceptions. Also a threat on the ground, he has added another 535 rushing yards this season (not including lost sack yardage).

Jefferson has played in multiple offenses throughout his career, so he has experience with different types of schemes. But he has looked most comfortable when he can use his arm from condensed sets and mix in play-action passes and downhill QB-designed runs. He has a fluid motion and is making better decisions, timing his footwork with routes. I saw him live during the season opener against Western Carolina, and his consistent improvement from season to season has been evident.

Where he needs work: Can he drive the ball into tight windows? We've seen issues on throws that require sideline accuracy, which can be traced back to Jefferson throwing off his back foot and failing to incorporate his lower body. And as an additional point, Jefferson has been sacked 36 times this season, so he needs to get the ball out quicker.

 

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14. Sam Hartman, Notre Dame​

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 210 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Late Day 3

Where he excels: The ACC's all-time leader in touchdown passes (110) elected to finish his career in South Bend, an opportunity to show he can operate a traditional offense instead of the unconventional Wake Forest scheme. Notre Dame relies more on rhythm and timing, and Hartman has thrown for 2,272 passing yards, 18 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions through 10 games.

"I'm so glad that he got out of that Wake offense because he wasn't doing anything that projects to the next level," said an AFC area scout.

The sixth-year senior has completed 75% of his throws and thrown eight touchdown passes on throws under 10 yards this season. Getting the ball out quickly hasn't been a problem for Hartman, as he's a quick decision-maker. But he has also been accurate on deep throws, even though he has arm strength limitations. Hartman has eight touchdowns to one interception and an 87.7 QBR on throws 20-plus yards downfield this season.

Where he needs work: While he has had plenty of success in the pocket, pressure has rushed him into making premature decisions. When under duress and hit this season, Hartman has only completed 31.7% of his throws, which ranks outside the FBS' top 100. He doesn't have the playmaking ability to create extra opportunities outside of the normal structure of plays with any consistency.

 

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13. Cameron Ward, Washington State​

Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 223 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Early-to-mid Day 3

Where he excels: Ward has 2,773 passing yards, 17 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions this season, including three 400-yard passing games. He became the first Pac-12 player with four passing touchdowns and a rushing score in consecutive games since Ryan Leaf in 1996 when he did so against Northern Colorado and Oregon State in September.

Ward plays the game freely with good pocket presence. He can deliver the ball on time but also make defenses pay with a backyard style that forces the secondary to defend for multiple extra seconds, using his legs to create outside of structure. No one has more dropbacks resulting in a play outside the pocket than Ward (103), and he has an 83.6 Total QBR on those snaps.

Where he needs work: An outstanding improvisational playmaker, Ward has plenty of "wow" plays on tape. But he could make things easier on himself by trusting what's available in his progressions. He will often take an unnecessary deep shot or fall back on his scrambling ability instead of just taking what the defense gives him underneath. The UCLA game showed some of those issues, as he finished 19-of-39 for 197 passing yards, 1 touchdown throw and 2 interceptions.

Separating him from the Washington State scheme will be the biggest challenge for evaluators as they project him at the next level. All-star events will be a key component of figuring out Ward's draft stock.

 

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12. Jordan Travis, Florida State​

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 212 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Early-to-mid Day 3

Where he excels: The process is hardly ever conventional with Travis, but the end result is usually positive. He has made a name for himself with his playmaking ability, showing creativity outside of structure. He's one of the more talented dual-threat passers in the 2024 group, having also rushed for seven TDs in four straight seasons now. And Travis has 18 career games with a passing and rushing score in the same game, a Florida State record.

Travis is also showing more consistency from the pocket this season. Overall, he has thrown for 2,469 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions, and his 82.9 Total QBR is seventh in the country.

Where he needs work: All that said about his ability outside of structure, Travis tends to rely on it too often. Issues pop up when teams are able to put pressure on him, and I want to see him stand in the pocket and deliver under duress more. Travis' ability to make plays has scouts excited, but more consistent play inside structure is important.

 

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11. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina​

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 217 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Early-to-mid Day 3

Where he excels: Rattler has been among the best QBs in the SEC despite the team's 3-6 record. Watch the tape from his season-opening performance against North Carolina. Yes, he was sacked nine times, but he finished that game 30-of-39 (76.9%) for 353 passing yards. Then he had a strong first half on the road against top-ranked Georgia two weeks later, going 16-of-18 for 152 yards and a touchdown pass to help the Gamecocks to a 14-3 halftime lead. (The best team in the country eventually came back, though.)

When Rattler is protected, he has excelled. He has looked like a more decisive and consistent player so far this season. With B-level arm strength to drive the ball, his confidence and comfort in the South Carolina scheme have him back on the draft radar. On the season, Rattler has 2,516 yards, 14 touchdown throws and 6 interceptions.

Where he needs work: The South Carolina offensive line has struggled to find continuity, leaving Rattler pressured at a high rate (39.0% of dropbacks, 22nd-most in the FBS) and taking 36 sacks (tied for third most in the FBS). And while he has completed 54.2% of his passes under pressure (14th-best), he has missed some opportunities to get the ball out quicker by simply hitting hot reads or built-in routes to avoid incoming pressure.

 

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10. Michael Pratt, Tulane​

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 220 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Early Day 3

Where he excels: After Pratt helped Tulane to a huge Cotton Bowl win over USC in January, scouts were buzzing about him coming into this season. He was nearly flawless in the opener, too, going 14-of-15 for 294 passing yards and four touchdown passes against South Alabama. But he suffered a left knee injury in the fourth quarter that sidelined him for two games, returning against Nicholls in Week 4 but missing a good matchup against Ole Miss, which was costly. He now sits at 1,597 yards, 15 TD throws and three interceptions on the season.

The program's leader in career touchdown passes (83), Pratt has shown slightly above-average arm strength and seems to always be in control. His three-level accuracy and comfort in executing NFL concepts will be key components of his evaluation. His 77.4 Total QBR and 70.2% completion rate both rank in the FBS' top 20.

Where he needs work: Pratt isn't able to escape when things around him begin to crumble, which means he has to improve in picking up those pressure points when reading the defensive structure. Scouts also want to see how he plays against better competition, potentially in an all-star event before the draft.

 

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9. Quinn Ewers, Texas​

Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 195 pounds
Class: Redshirt sophomore | Projected range: Late Day 2/early Day 3

Where he excels: After he turned in an inconsistent first season under center for the Longhorns, many evaluators wanted to see Ewers' production match the hype. In seven games, he has thrown for 1,915 yards, 13 touchdown passes and 3 interceptions, leading an offense that asks a lot of its quarterbacks. He is currently out with a shoulder injury.

Ewers was listed at 207 pounds last season, but he's now hovering around 195, and that has translated to more agility in the pocket and escapability -- he has five rushing scores. His mechanics are more urgent, too. Ewers has the arm strength and accuracy to make any type of throw, and I've seen good arm extension in his release. He has been able to throw in-rhythm and anticipate routes very well this season.

Where he needs work: While he has become a better passer in certain areas, Ewers' game-to-game consistency still remains a big question mark. A slow start in the season-opener against Rice was followed by the best performance of his career against Alabama (three TD throws and a 91.9 QBR). A similar sequence happened against Wyoming when he started 1-of-6 but then connected on his next six passes. Then, after two strong showings at Baylor and home against Kansas, he had a nightmare first quarter against Oklahoma (two interceptions on his first two drives) before completing a program-record 19 straight passes.

"I'm honestly still trying to figure him out," an AFC scout said earlier this year. "He's getting better each game under [coach Steve Sarkisian], but I still want to see him be more consistent each week."


Then there is his touch on passes to the deeper parts of the field. He's only completing 33.3% of his throws of 20-plus air yards, tied for 76th in the country.

 

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8. Michael Penix Jr., Washington​

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 213 pounds
Class: Redshirt senior | Projected range: Late Day 2/early Day 3

Where he excels: There might not be a hotter offense in the country right now than Penix's Washington unit. The left-handed signal-caller became the first player in program history to have at least 400 passing yards in three straight games to start the season, and he has totaled 3,201 passing yards, 26 TD throws and 7 interceptions over nine games, all wins.

The Washington offense thrives on deep shots, and with an FBS-leading 29 completions on passes of 20-plus yards, Penix has an explosive arm and a quick release. He is most comfortable playing within the framework of the offense and is at his best inside the pocket.

Where he needs work: The biggest question raised about Penix will be his injury history -- two torn ACLs in his right knee and multiple injuries to his nonthrowing shoulder -- though he played in 13 games in 2022. A lot of evaluators saw him as a Day 3 player coming into the season but acknowledge that he will keep climbing draft boards as he distances himself from those injury concerns.

Outside of durability, scouts will be watching how he plays when moved off his spots in the pocket. "That offense is absolute fireworks, but he doesn't get touched," said an NFC scouting director. "I don't think we'll get a true gauge of him until the playoffs ... assuming they're able to get in."

Through nine games, Penix has only been hit on 17.2% of his dropbacks (seventh-least in the nation) and sacked six times. But when he does get outside the pocket, he's only completing 42.9% of his throws. Penix can easily scan the field and make throws from a clean pocket, but scouts want to see how he handles pressure down the stretch.

 

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7. Bo Nix, Oregon​

Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 217 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 2

Where he excels: Operating in an up-tempo hurry-up offense, Nix wins with a lot of pre-snap decisions. He forces defenses to come up and tackle in the underneath areas, making him the perfect passer for Oregon's offense, which aims to stretch defenses horizontally and pick certain spots to make throws down the field. Nix shows a high-level understanding of space reads and leverage, and he does a good job distributing the ball to the Ducks' playmakers. This season, he has thrown for 2,723 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes and only 2 interceptions.

"He's been able to reinvent himself because it's an easier offense ... and they're loaded on the perimeter," said an NFC area scout.

On tape, there isn't a more efficient passer in college football than Nix. He has completed at least 72% of his passes and thrown multiple touchdowns in nine straight games, passing Kellen Moore for the longest streak by a FBS player in the past 20 seasons. Nix keeps plays alive, too, with the scrambling ability to escape and gain positive yards when his initial reads aren't available. He has five rushing TDs in 2023.

Where he needs work: Nix's limitations are apparent on the more challenging downfield passes. While he's surgical in the underneath areas, he's hesitant to push the ball to the intermediate-to-deep areas. Only 81 of his 301 passing attempts this season have traveled beyond 10 yards, and his 6.2 air yards per pass attempt ranks 130th in the country.

 

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6. Jayden Daniels, LSU​

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 210 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 2

Where he excels: Daniels transferred in from Arizona State prior to his junior season in 2022 and quickly became the leader of the Tigers' offensive attack. An up-and-down first year with LSU raised some questions, but ever since an inconsistent performance against Florida State to open 2023, Daniels has taken off. This season, he has thrown for 2,792 yards, 27 touchdowns and 4 interceptions while completing 72.1% of his passes. The biggest reason behind his 2023 surge is probably deep accuracy. Daniels' 26 completions of 20-plus air yards rank third in the FBS.

"He's been the most surprising of the senior passers this year," said an AFC area scout.

Pocket patience was an issue coming into the season, and many scouts thought Daniels constantly left the pocket prematurely without letting routes develop. But his composure has improved exponentially this year. Defenses have tried to blitz Daniels, yet that's when he has been at his best. He is completing 72.6% of his throws with 10 touchdown passes and zero interceptions when blitzed. Daniels' running ability has also challenged defenses, racking up 768 rushing yards (excluding sack yardage lost).

Where he needs work: Although he has had success on the ground this year, Daniels has a slender frame and takes way too many excruciating hits from defenders. Daniels is currently in concussion protocol after taking one against Alabama. He must learn to save his body by sliding more or simply throwing the ball out of bounds. LSU has surrendered 18 sacks of Daniels this season, and five have been on failed scramble attempts.

 

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5. Carson Beck, Georgia​

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 220 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 2

Where he excels: Beck began the season in a training camp battle for QB1, but he has now settled in as Georgia's unquestioned starter. He had zero starts prior to 2023, throwing just 58 passes over 2021-22 behind Stetson Bennett, so he might not declare for the 2024 draft.

"You always worry about those one-year starters," said an NFC national scout. "But if he goes back [to Georgia for the 2024 season], I think he definitely has early-round potential [in 2025]."

In nine games this season, Beck has 2,716 passing yards, 16 touchdown throws and 4 interceptions. He has a quick release and operates from a strong base. And Beck has mature eye discipline, showing efficiency with getting through multistep progressions. He's effective reading pre-snap looks and doesn't lock onto options that are already eliminated based on the construction of defenses. Beck has thrown for at least 250 yards in all nine games this season, and he's completing 72.2% of his passes.

Where he needs work: With only nine starts to his career, Beck is still feeling his way around. One spot where I've seen some inconsistency is his ball placement on downfield throws. Beck has completed 39% of his passes thrown 20-plus air yards (41 attempts), and his 34.1% off-target rate on such passes ranks 63rd in the FBS.

 

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4. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan​

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 202 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Round 1

Where he excels: The Wolverines are placing more trust in McCarthy this season, and it's paying dividends. He is completing 75.7% of his passes (third in the country) and has been accurate to all levels of the field. His 92.3 Total QBR is second in the FBS. One of the more impressive parts of McCarthy's game is his efficiency on play-action, where he is completing 82.6% of his passes (46 attempts) and taking advantage of defenses selling out to stop the run.

I really like the ball placement that I see on McCarthy's tape this season, too. He hardly ever forces his intended targets to work to haul in passes, putting throws within their body frames. He has only been off-target on 6.3% of his throws this season. Overall, he has 2,134 yards, 18 TD passes and 3 interceptions this season. And check out his third-down numbers: 75% completion percentage, 12.4 yards per attempt, 4 TD throws and zero picks.

Where he needs work: Lapses in decision-making plagued him in the past, and we saw it in the College Football Playoff game last season against TCU (two pick-sixes). He really needed to learn to live to see another day by throwing the ball out of bounds or hitting his checkdown to avoid bad turnovers. For the most part, he has improved there this season. McCarthy threw all three of his interceptions in one game -- against Bowling Green back in September.


Scouts will be watching Michigan's stretch run closely. McCarthy hasn't faced a high-quality opponent yet this season, but two of his final three regular-season matchups come against Penn State (Saturday) and Ohio State (Nov. 25).

 

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3. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado​

Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 215 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Round 1

Where he excels: Sanders has been one of college football's surprising breakout stars. After setting multiple records at Jackson State, he transitioned to the FBS seamlessly, compiling a 70.1% completion percentage, 2,882 passing yards, 24 touchdown throws and only 3 interceptions so far. The most impressive part of Sanders' game is his accuracy and poise in crucial moments. The overtime victory over Colorado State earlier this season was an eye-opener for many scouts.

"He knows that the pressure and spotlight is on him, but I love how he embraces it -- he's a confident player," said an NFC assistant general manager.

Sanders' protection hasn't held up well this season, but he has still battled to at least 300 passing yards in five of nine games this season. He is a calm distributor, and his ability to precisely deliver the ball to his targets on-time and accurately hasn't wavered despite the breakdowns up front.

Where he needs work: Sanders has been sacked 45 times this season, and he sees pressure on 41% of his dropbacks. This offense can put up points in a hurry, but when the unit struggles, it can usually be traced back to Sanders taking too long to make decisions -- he tends to hold onto the ball too often and tries to do too much when the offensive line can't buy him time. His ability to feel the pressure of collapsing pockets must improve, and I'd like to see more awareness of checkdown options.

 

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2. Drake Maye, North Carolina​

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 230 pounds
Class: Redshirt sophomore | Projected range: Round 1

Where he excels: North Carolina lost many of its offensive skill position standouts, leaving a lot on Maye's shoulders this season. Even so, he has shown consistency in attacking downfield with his A-level arm strength. He has adjusted to the new personnel, and getting receiver Devontez Walker into the lineup after initially being ruled ineligible for the entire season has helped him. Maye has the poise, instincts and accuracy to get the ball to his desired spots, and his ball placement on throws to the intermediate and deep levels of the field stands out.

"Considering what he lost [around him], he has looked really good this year when they let him sling it," an NFC team's director of scouting texted me in September.

Maye has 2,803 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns and another six scores on the ground, and he has completed at least 68% of his passes in seven of nine games.

Where he needs work: The lapses in judgment on some throws is concerning, and the UNC offense occasionally gets stagnant for long periods of time during games. Consistency with his accuracy into man coverage is one specific thing to watch. Maye is only completing 42.2% of his passes against those looks -- the national average is 51.5% -- which matches what we see on tape. His ball placement on quick throws to the short and intermediate areas of the field can be sporadic.

 

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1. Caleb Williams, USC​

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 215 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Round 1



Where he excels: Williams has had some ups and downs over the first 10 weeks of the season but has still showcased No. 1 pick-caliber traits. His arm strength, accuracy and improvisational skills have him sitting atop the quarterback rankings, and scouts see him as one of the best prospects at the position of the past decade. What makes the USC product so special? He always has an answer, no matter the defensive structure presented to him.

This season, Williams has thrown for 2,958 yards, 28 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions. With the instinct to create off-script, he regularly generates explosive plays outside the normal framework of the offense. On plays outside the pocket, Williams has thrown for 11 touchdown passes and has an 85.0 QBR. But teams have also forced him to play more within structure this season, and he has responded by completing 73.1% of his throws from inside the pocket (up from 70.3% last season).

"He's special, and whoever gets him will have a franchise-altering type of talent," an NFC scout said.

Where he needs work: We're nitpicking, but his reliance on big plays and his ability to play outside of structure can be a gift -- and a curse. His success with those passes outside of structure often leads to him welcoming avoidable pressure, as he passes up options available early in progressions in favor of the bigger play. There are plenty of times on tape when Williams could have gotten the ball out quicker, but because he knows he can put on his Superman cape, he instead holds onto it longer than necessary. That might not always translate to the next level.