We all know that Caleb Williams is at the top of the board for every 2024 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings you see. The conversation really starts with the #2 pick. The 2024 NFL quarterback rankings have had Drake Maye over Jayden Daniels for a long time.
But Jayden Daniels just had a historic season that finished with him winning the Heisman trophy. The tape and resume absolutely lean towards Daniels. Drake Maye is more of the prototype and is still #2 on most boards.
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2024 NFL Draft Quarterbacks Rankings: Jayden Daniels over Drake Maye?
This is more of a projection based on his tools and how the decision-makers feel their games translate. The NFL has come a long way in adapting to the college game. The NFL Draft and dual-threat quarterbacks are going higher.
The success of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts has a lot to do with that. I think there is a strong argument to go with Jayden Daniels over Drake Maye in this draft.
In this article, I am going to discuss NFL Draft quarterbacks’ Rankings. We can only project landing spots and draft capital at this point. The top 3 picks are held by teams that all need quarterbacks and are unlikely to trade out.
Chicago has hired Shane Waldron to run their offense as they likely move on from Justin Fields. New England has yet to find their Offensive Coordinator, and they likely will have their pick decided by Washington.
We also could see as many as six first-round quarterbacks this year. Free Agency could fill up some spots as well as open up some others. The quarterback carousel is going to be very busy this year.
We only see five quarterbacks drafted in the first round every few years. It’s been a very long time since we saw six. Also, on average, the NFL drafts around ten quarterbacks per year over the past decade.
It’s a lot less than most people would expect. Last year, we had 12 drafted. Some say it was the Brock Purdy effect, with him being the last of the nine drafted in 2022. Rookie salaries are huge, could we see six first round quarterbacks in 2024?
Here are my initial 2024 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings (Heights and Weights are Unofficial).
1. Caleb Williams, USC
Age: 22
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 215 lbs.
Projection: #1 overall
NFL Player Comps: Russell Wilson (Daniel Jeremiah), Trey Lance (NFL Draft Buzz), Kyler Murray (Bleacher Report), Donovan McNabb (With The First Pick).
The first thing you will probably see is the Russell Wilson player comparison. This was actually from Daniel Jeremiah first, and he described it as peak Russ.
Williams is not what you would think of as a rushing quarterback. He does have the ability to rush, and he does extend plays with his feet quite a bit.
His powerful arm and his quick release fit perfectly into today’s NFL. We see players like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes with huge arms, doing a lot of short passing. Arm strength is also about getting the ball out quickly, not just throwing bombs.
It is almost like they are infielders turning two from second base. This is something that Williams does really well, and we saw this with Russell Wilson. Caleb also can extend plays within the pocket or outside of the pocket.
Playing off schedule is a must in today’s NFL, and that is where having a big arm as well as athleticism comes into play. Williams has all of that and he plays the positional very well from a traditional standpoint within the pocket.
From a Dynasty perspective, he is what you are looking for. Williams could be a high-upside player with his rushing ability on top of his passing skills. We expect him to go to Chicago unless the Bears trade out.
Chicago is where he will pair up with Shane Waldren, who ironically worked very closely with Russell Wilson. They have to work on the offensive line, but D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet are good weapons to start with.
Fantasy Impact: Caleb Williams has everything you are looking for in a dynasty quarterback. This is a blue-chip prospect with upside both as a passer and his ability as a playmaker.
Williams appears to be headed to Chicago, and that brings some concerns. But, this is a high-level prospect who should be able to produce early as a fantasy asset due to his skill set. Williams has fast hands and a quick release to help him in the quick passing game.
Williams has some rushing upside and uses his legs to create off-schedule. He is electric outside of the pocket, and his ability to extend plays reminds us of some of the top fantasy options. Williams has QB1 overall upside and should be a dynamic dynasty asset for many years. Expect him to go #1 in the NFL Draft and likely go #1 overall in your Superflex Rookie Drafts.
2. Jayden Daniels, LSU
Age: 23
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 210 lbs.
Projection: Top-3 Pick
NFL Player Comps: Justin Fields (NFL Draft Buzz), Bleacher Report (Tyrod Taylor), Dak Prescott (Fansided), Lamar Jackson (Sports Illustrated), Randall Cunningham (With The First Pick)
Jayden Daniels started his career off at Arizona State after being one of the Nation’s top recruits. As a true freshman, Daniels threw for 2,943 yards, 17 passing touchdowns, and only two interceptions. He also rushed for three touchdowns and 355 yards.
His 2020 season was derailed due to a boating accident, and we all know that year was weird for college football. Daniels came back to Arizona State in 2021 and struggled.
He threw for 2,380 yards but had only 10 touchdowns to pair with his 10 interceptions. He had four rushing touchdowns to go with his 223 rushing yards.
Daniels entered the transfer portal and went to LSU to pair with Brian Kelly. His 2022 season was a career year for him. Jayden had 2,913 yards through the air to go with his 17 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
He rushed for a career-best 885 yards and 11 touchdowns. Then in 2023, Daniels went nuclear with one of the greatest single-seasons in college football history. In 2023, Jayden Daniels threw for 3,812 yards, with 40 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.
He added 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. The only season graded higher was Joe Burrow’s historic 2019 season.
His 4-1 touchdown touchdown-to-interception ratio, 72% passing, and 11.7 yards per attempt were all better than Maye’s. Daniels also improved this year, while Maye saw a decrease in completion percentage, passing touchdowns, and an increase in interceptions. Daniels jumped up in competition by moving to the SEC and flourished.
My only concerns with him are his slight frame and his age. But, we are seeing that we need to revisit our prototypes these days in the NFL. Also, 2020 was a lost year for a lot of college players and has created an older prospect pool.
His early success and his development from 2021 to 2022 to 2023 is really impressive. His development as a passer and his ability to read defenses have prepared him for success in the NFL.
Fantasy Impact: Jayden Daniels is my #2 quarterback because of his playmaking ability. This guy not only put up video game numbers on the ground but threw the air.
You could make an argument that he was not only the best rusher, but the best passer in the country last year. Daniels should produce early in fantasy because of his legs.
Regardless of the landing spot, he should produce early and make an impact on the players around him.
3. Drake Maye, UNC
Age: 21
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 230 lbs.
Projection: Top-3 Pick
NFL Player Comps: Justin Herbert (Bleacher Report), Daunte Culpepper (With The First Pick), Carson Palmer (Daniel Jeremiah), Justin Herbert (Mel Kiper Jr.).
Jayden Daniels did more to take this from Maye, but Maye’s 2023 performance left the door open. Maye did not play much as a freshman behind Sam Howell. But, he did breakout his first year as a starter as a Sophomore.
He passed the ball for 4,321 yards, threw for 38 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Maye added 698 yards on the ground with 7 rushing touchdowns. His 2023 campaign wasn’t as good, but it was still a very good season.
Maye threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He rushed for 449 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. Maye’s combination of size and athletic traits have him projected as the #2 quarterback off of the board.
Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks put him on the Washington Commanders, potentially pairing him with Ben Johnson. We saw the production that Sam Howell had last season and the weapons that would be at his disposal.
It will be a new offense, with Johnson or if the team hired Dan Quinn or Mike McDonald. Maye’s rushing ability, on top of his passing skill set, could make him a fantasy option right away.
Current Rookie ADP has Maye projected over Daniels. This could be due to preference, but also could be because of potential fit. We will know more once we know the draft capital and landing spot. Daniels and Maye are very close in my NFL Draft Rankings.
Fantasy Impact: Drake Maye is likely headed to Washington, but Ben Johnson is not. When I wrote this, I fully expected Johnson to go to Washington. The pairing with Maye would have been amazing for Maye.
Now, we wait to find out who the pairing will be. Maye could end up in New England, which also doesn’t know who their Offensive Coordinator is going to be yet.
Maye may not be a fantasy producer early in Washington or New England. One has no offensive line, and the other has no weapons. He has some rushing ability, but not as much as the two above him.
For fantasy purposes, he may take a year or two to develop, depending on the situation. This doesn’t mean he isn’t going to be good for fantasy. You just might have to wait.
4. Bo Nix, Oregon
Age: 23
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 225 lbs.
Projection: Mid-1st Round
NFL Player Comps: Jalen Hurts (Bleacher Report), Hendon Hooker-82%/Mac Jones -80% (NFL Draft Buzz), Jordan Love (33rd Team).
Bo Nix will be 24 when the NFL season starts, and C.J. Stroud will be 22. He has played a lot of football, starting as a true freshman with Auburn. Things didn’t work out for Nix at Auburn, and after the team had some coaching changes, he hit the transfer portal.
Nix’s production got worse each year over his three-year career at Auburn. In his final season, he threw for 2,294 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
At Oregon, Nix broke out in his first season. He threw for 3,593 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He had career highs in rushing with 510 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.
In 2023, Nix was even better, throwing for 4.509 yards, 45 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. He also had 234 rushing yards with six touchdowns. There will be varying opinions regarding Nix and him as an NFL prospect.
Nix has all of the tools and is the size you are looking for. He does enough on the ground to show some ability to run and create with his legs. He was extremely turnover-prone at the beginning of his college career but showed improvements in each of the last three seasons.
Nix is expected to be the 3rd or 4th quarterback off of the board and a projected 1st round pick. Some potential landing spots would be Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Denver. Daniel Jeremiah had him going to the New Orleans Saints, and Bucky Brooks put him on the Los Angeles Rams.
He is currently going near the end of your Superflex rookie mock drafts. His draft capital will dictate his draft cost. If he is a first-round pick, he will be a mid-late first in rookie drafts.
If he is a 2nd or 3rd round pick, he will go accordingly in those ranges. It will make a big difference if he has a clear path to starting early as well. Is this a Will Levis situation or a Hendon Hooker situation? I like Nix, but the landing spot is huge for his value.
Fantasy Impact: Bo Nix’s dynasty stock has a lot to do with his draft capital. We talked all off-season about Hendon Hooker and Will Levis potentially going in the first round.
If Nix goes Round 1, he is likely a back-end first-round pick in your SuperFlex rookie drafts. A second-round pick will likely have him in the 2nd and 3rd round would do the same.
Nix can play, and in the right situation, we could see some success. But we may need to wait for him to have fantasy success.
5. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Age: 21
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205 lbs.
Projection: Late-1st Round/Early 2nd
NFL Player Comps: Andrew Luck (Sportsnews), More Athletic Kirk Cousins (Bleacher Report), Desmond Ridder/Matt Corral -80% (NFL Draft Buzz), Zach Wilson (Last Word on Sports).
J.J. McCarthy and the Michigan Wolverines won a National Championship. So, of course, McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh decided to go out on top. Both are heading to the NFL, Harbaugh to the Chargers, and McCarthy’s landing spot is to be determined.
Some are questioning the move for McCarthy, who could have stayed at Michigan for another season. He would have been the king of campus for one more year and made money in this new era of college football.
The thought is that he had some strong indications that he was going to go fairly high in the NFL Draft. No one is expecting McCarthy to be a top-10 pick. But we could see him drafted as high as round 1 and should be at least a Day 2 pick.
We have several quarterback openings, several potential openings, and a handful of older quarterbacks in the NFL. McCarthy is just 21 years old and could sit a year or two behind Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford.
He could also find himself competing for a starting job early. McCarthy was not asked to do much in Michigan in a run-first offense. He made plays when needed, and they won a lot of games.
McCarthy threw for 44 touchdowns and 9 interceptions over the past two seasons. He showed some rushing ability with 500 yards and 8 touchdowns in the last two seasons. McCarthy could bulk up a little bit, but arm strength or size is not a question.
His success in big games and his record as a winner will all weigh heavily on his resume. When you add in his youth and his early breakout age, there is a lot of upside.
The question is, how will McCarthy’s game translate to the NFL, and can he be more of a playmaker than a game manager? It would be ideal for him to take the Jordan Love route and sit a bit. Most people have him as the 6th quarterback in their NFL Draft Rankings.
Fantasy Impact: The same thing goes for McCarthy. Draft capital and landing spot mean everything. He is not a rusher, and likely, we are waiting on fantasy production. He could end up sitting behind a veteran or going on Day 2.
Without a clear path as a starter, you are going to have to wait. He likely is a 2nd round Superflex rookie pick unless he is drafted on Day 1 or falls to Day 3.
Patient dynasty managers will be rewarded for taking him, even if the path is not clear in year 1.
6. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Age: 23
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215 lbs.
Projection: Late-First Round/Early 2nd
NFL Player Comps: Kirk Cousins (Daniel Jeremiah), Strong Armed-Tua Tagovailoa (Colin Cowherd), C.J. Stroud (Brock Huard/Chad Rueter/Bleacher Report).
Michael Penix Jr. has had a long career and will also be 24 at the start of the season. Penix played well early in his career, but health was always the issue. Penix had all four of his seasons in Indiana cut short due to injury.
Two were ACL injuries, and the other were shoulder injuries. That, in combination with his age, could make an argument for him to be the 6th quarterback taken. That is why I have him in the sixth spot.
Michael played as a freshman but, due to injury, had a longer career. This was his 6th season of college football, and he followed his Offensive Coordinator, Kalen DeBoer, to Washington, and had a fantastic first season there.
His first time finishing a season healthy and he put up monster production. Penix threw for 4,641 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He is not much of a runner and didn’t add much on the ground.
He saved the best for last, having a monster super-senior year. Michael Penix threw for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Penix is off to the NFL, and DeBoer is off to be the Head Coach of Alabama.
I would say it worked out pretty well for both. He came up short against Michigan, and that put a bit of a damper on his great season. His arm talent, decision-making, and maturity will be something that teams will covet. But do they feel strong enough to use a first-round pick is the question?
Penix does not have the rushing upside of the quarterbacks listed ahead of him. This limits his upside for fantasy and could limit his draft stock.
The NFL combine will be very important for Penix, specifically the medical check ups. Even if things go extremely well, he is more likely a 2nd round pick.
This is not the kiss of death. We have seen teams move more quickly away from starters. He could end up landing in a great situation.
Fantasy Impact: Michael Penix has some important meetings this summer regarding his health and how it impacts his draft stock. His ability as a high-level passer could lead to fantasy success early in the right system. Draft Capital and Landing spot will mean everything for Penix, who could go Round 1 or Round 3.
He has always been successful. Health really has been the only concern for him. He is likely a 2nd round pick, and if he were to end up with a clear path to playing time, I’m in.
7. Michael Pratt, Tulane
Age: 22
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 220 lbs.
Projection: 3rd-4th Round
NFL Player Comps: Desmond Ridder – 88% (NFL Draft Buzz), Brock Purdy (Prime Time Sports Talk/Last Word on Sports).
Michael Pratt is a player that most NFL fans are asking the question, Who? He is showing up in a lot of NFL Draft rankings, and not many people know about him.
Tulane doesn’t really get the TV time that bigger programs get, and they also don’t play the competition either. Pratt’s rise up NFL Draft boards started in 2022 when the team went from 2-10 to 11-2. They beat USC 46-45 in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl.
Tyjae Spears was put on the map and went straight to the NFL Draft. Pratt and Tulane had a strong 2023, finishing 11-3 and going undefeated in the Conference. What people love about Pratt is his decision making, accuracy, and his size.
Pratt doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, but he is more than capable of making NFL throws. He completed 65.6% of his passes in 2023 and threw for over 8 yards per throw in each of the last two seasons.
Pratt was not as highly recruited and didn’t come from a big-name school. A lot of people will be asking why Pratt is over Rattler, Travis, and Milton. He is consistently ranked higher in NFL Draft Rankings over them.
He is also a younger prospect that could potentially grow, while older prospects might be more finished products. Pratt is a name to watch and a player that you will hear a lot about late Day 2 or Early Day 3.
Fantasy Impact: Michael Pratt will be on every sleeper lister, which means he really isn’t a sleeper. It is rare that any draft has more than three good quarterbacks. This one, having seven, is even less likely.
That being said, Pratt is a very interesting player. He has an opportunity this offseason to separate himself from the herd and close the gap with the big six. There is no clear path for early fantasy success for him, with expected Day 2 draft capital at best.
8. Jordan Travis, Florida State
Age: 23
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 212 lbs.
Projection: Round 4-5
NFL Player Comps: Jaren Hall – 87%/ Max Duggan 86% (NFL Draft Buzz), Joshua Dobbs (Last Word on Sports), Jordan Love.
Jordan Travis started his career at Louisville before transferring to Florida State. He took over as the starter in 2020, and 2021 was his first full season. The new coaching staff and scheme really helped Travis when he broke out in 2022.
The team had a strong transfer class this offseason, and Florida State was one of the top teams in 2023. They were on the way to a College Football Playoff birth when Travis broke his ankle. The team still went undefeated.
Despite being undefeated, because they were without Travis, they were left out of the College Football Playoffs. Travis did not put up Jayden Daniels type of production, but going undefeated was a strong statement.
He did not rush the ball as much this year but has plenty of rushing production on his resume. He has 7 touchdowns on the ground in each of the last 4 seasons, with almost 2,000 rushing yards combined.
This year, he threw for 20 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. There are still still mechanics to clean up and some accuracy concerns with Travis. But his decision-making and play-making ability will be intriguing to NFL teams.
His stock has gained a lot of value over the past two seasons. Unfortunately, his late-season injury could limit his ability to participate in all of the off-season events. But he will be one of the Day 3 quarterbacks to watch this year.
Fantasy Impact: The injury to Travis is really sad, he would have tested really well. An exciting player who could find fantasy success early and easily in the right situation. If he gets Day 2 draft capital, he could creep up your rookie drats boards.
His ability as a rusher offers a safe floor and the upside we are looking for. A concern is his size, and his injury limits him this offseason. I doubt he has early success, but a player I’ll be stashing at the end of my rookie drafts.
9. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Age: 23
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 217 lbs.
Projection: 3rd-4th Round
NFL Player Comps: Brock Purdy 78%/ Jaren Hall 77% (NFL Draft Buzz), Brett Favre (Yardbarker), Baker Mayfield (Last Word on Sports).
Spencer Rattler was actually the highest-rated prospect of the 2019 class. An electric high school football player that dominated in Texas. He was actually featured in a film series called QB1.
Justin Fields and Sam Hartman were also featured. Rattler’s immaturity, as well as suspension during his senior year, were well documented. I personally was not a fan, but let’s be honest. We were all pretty immature and wouldn’t have done well in that type of spotlight.
He still landed with Lincoln Riley, who had just developed first-overall picks, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
Rattler lost the job to Caleb Williams and then followed Shane Beamer to South Carolina. Spencer played well last year but did not declare for the NFL Draft.
Spencer stayed in school and had another big year with South Carolina. He has had zero issues off the field in college and handled the Oklahoma situation professionally.
There is a lot of optimism for Spencer based on his professional growth and his skillset. He is 7 or 8 on my NFL draft rankings. Positives for Rattler are his quick release and strong arm.
NFL Quarterbacks that played baseball traditionally were catchers, 1st or 3rd baseman. Now, we are seeing more that have played infield positions.
Different body types and different types of arms. Looking at Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, and players like this.
They can throw from different arm angles on the run and have extremely quick hands. That is what you see with Spencer Rattler. The concern with him is his decision-making.
He does get into trouble at times by taking too many risks. In Oklahoma, he threw 12 interceptions with his 40 touchdowns. At South Carolina, he has 37 passing touchdowns to go with 20 interceptions. He really struggled against ranked opponents in 2023.
Rattler played against five ranked opponents. In those five games, he completed 62% of his passes. Spencer Rattler threw 1 touchdown vs. 5 interceptions in those 5 games.
He averaged 201.2 yards per game, including 112 passing yards vs. Clemson and 169 yards vs. Tennessee. Although he has 16 career rushing touchdowns, he is not much of a runner. Rattler had over 1,000 yards rushing in high school but only 410 yards in college.
Fantasy Impact: Spencer Rattler is a polarizing player, a lot of people really like him in the dynasty community. He will be near the top of all of your sleeper boards. Rattler has improved as a passer and matured, but I still have some concerns.
He likely doesn’t get a clear path to fantasy success, but he is a player to watch. With the right opportunity, he could be an intriguing player that has success. Spencer has played a lot of football and has some big-time traits.
10. Joe Milton III, Tennessee
Age: 24
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 235 lbs.
Projection: Day 3 Pick
NFL Player Comps: Anthony Richardson (Firstroundmock), Will Levis (NFL Draft Buzz).
Joe Milton is a highly-rated prospect with a rocket arm and a big body. Unfortunately, this has yet to transfer to success. Milton has been passed upon or benched multiple times in his career.
He started out at Michigan and became the starter mid-season in 2020. This season, he threw for 1,077 yards and completed 56.7% of his passes. Milton threw only four touchdowns to match the number of thrown interceptions.
Joe Milton is already 24 years old. It’s hard to play the narrative that he needs to develop more. He really struggles with reading defenses and making quick decisions. At times, he holds the ball too long, and this leads to sacks or turnovers.
He transferred to Tennessee, and the team played transfer quarterback Hendon Hooker over him. Milton started in 2023, and he did have a career year. He had some struggles but had career numbers in all major categories.
Milton rushed for 299 yards and 7 touchdowns this season. In the air, he threw for 2,813 yards and completed 64.7% of his passes. Joe threw 20 touchdowns to his 5 interceptions.
All of these were good numbers, but fail to compare to Hendon Hooker’s monster 2022 season. There was a lot of pressure to bench Milton this season, but the team stuck with him. We will see where he falls in the NFL Draft rankings this April.
Fantasy Impact: Joe Milton is very unlikely to have fantasy production early. He will likely be a Day 3 pick and likely has to wait his turn. His negative plays cost you fantasy points and could cost him opportunities to see the field. We will see where he lands, but he is a 4th round Dynasty Rookie pick at best for now.
