Ranking Top 14 Quarterbacks In 2024 NFL Draft

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2024 NFL draft QB Hot Board: Ranking the top 14 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 build-up for the 2024 QB class has centered around Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, but this group runs deep.

"The top two are obviously playing well," an NFC team's assistant general manager texted me last weekend. "The second and third tiers of this group have been pretty good so far, too, though."

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. The Pac-12, in particular, is loaded with draft talent at the position -- and we get to see two from that conference face off this weekend, with USC's Williams vs. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders in Boulder.

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

 

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14. 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 four games, he has completed 70.4% of his passes for 918 passing yards, nine touchdown throws and three interceptions. Also a threat on the ground, he has added another 128 rushing yards this season.
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. The two areas where he struggles with accuracy are between the hashes (69.2%) and to the right sideline (68.8%).

 

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13. Sam Hartman, Notre Dame​

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 210 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Mid-to-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, as opposed to the unconventional Wake Forest scheme. Notre Dame relies more on rhythm and timing, and Hartman has thrown for 1,236 passing yards, 14 touchdown passes and no interceptions through five games. His 86.8 QBR ranks eighth.

"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 74% of his throws and six 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 six touchdowns to no interceptions and a 99.7 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 22.2% of his throws. 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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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. His three touchdown passes outside the pocket this season are tied for the fourth-most in the FBS. He's one of the more talented dual-threat passers in the 2024 group, having also rushed for seven TDs in three straight seasons coming into this year. (He has two so far this season.)

Travis is also showing more consistency from the pocket through four games. Overall, he has thrown for 1,028 passing yards, 10 touchdown passes and one interception. Travis has 14 career games with a passing and rushing score in the same game, a Florida State record.

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. Bo Nix, Oregon​

Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 217 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Early Day 3

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 1,169 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes and only one interception.

"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.

Smart decisions and efficiency are the biggest takeaways from his game, as he has already tied the Pac-12 record for most games over the past 25 years with a completion percentage of at least 80% (five). Nix is also a competitive runner, scoring 14 times on the ground last season.

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 with pushing the ball to the intermediate-to-deep areas. Only 23 of his 131 passing attempts this season have traveled beyond 10 yards, and his 5.0 air yards per pass attempt ranks 127th in the country.

 

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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 he helped Tulane to a huge Cotton Bowl win over USC in January, scouts were buzzing about Pratt 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 last week against Nicholls.

Now the program's leader in career touchdown passes (74), 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.

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. His worst play of the season so far happened because he didn't identify an incoming blitzer, resulting in a fumble (against South Alabama). 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. Cameron Ward, Washington State​

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

Where he excels: Ward already has 1,390 passing yards, 13 touchdown passes and zero interceptions this season, including two 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 this month.

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. His 91.4 QBR outside the pocket ranks inside the top 25 nationwide.

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.

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

 

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8. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina​

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 217 pounds
Class: Senior | Projected range: Late Day 2/early Day 3

Where he excels: A strong argument can be made that Rattler has been the best QB in the SEC through the first quarter of the season. Watch the tape on 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.) Most recently, Rattler went 18-of-20 for 288 yards, three touchdown passes and no picks against Mississippi State.

"He was really hot and cold during his first season there," said an AFC national scout. "When they protect him, though, he's looked good this year."

Rattler 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.

Where he needs work: The South Carolina offensive line has struggled to find continuity, leaving Rattler under duress at a high rate (37.2% of dropbacks, 27th-most in the FBS). And when pressured this season, he has only completed 52.6% of his passes and has been sacked 16 times, missing 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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7. Riley Leonard, Duke​

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 212 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 2

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 778 passing yards, two touchdown throws and no interceptions.

One of his better attributes is his running ability, both as a scrambler and on QB-designed runs. Leonard already has two games with at least 90 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. He is a competitive runner who can make defenses pay by creating explosive plays.

Where he needs work: Leonard is averaging 6.7 air yards per pass attempt (110th in the FBS). The scheme works for Duke, as the team has won all four games this year by at least 20 points -- the longest streak within a season in program history. But the offense also raises questions regarding his draft stock.

"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."

I've heard more mixed opinions on where he will get drafted than any other QB in the class. Some scouts view him as a potential early-round pick, while others think he's a late-rounder, pointing to his lack of arm strength and the offensive cautiousness of that Duke scheme.

 

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6. Michael Penix Jr., Washington​

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 213 pounds
Class: Redshirt senior | Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 2

Where he excels: There isn't a hotter hand in the country at the position right now than Penix. The left-handed signal-caller became the first player in program history to have at least 400 passing yards in three straight games. The Washington offense thrives on deep shots, and with an FBS-leading 16 completions on passes of 20-plus yards, he has an explosive arm and a quick release.

Penix is most comfortable playing within the framework of the offense and is at his best inside the pocket. He has totaled 1,571 passing yards, 15 touchdown passes and one interception there, with a 79% completion percentage. (He has 1,636 passing yards, 16 touchdown throws and two interceptions overall.)

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 four games, Penix has only been hit on 14.7% of his dropbacks (fourth-least in the nation) and sacked once. But when he does get outside the pocket, he's only completing 35.7% 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.

 

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5. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado​

Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 215 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Early Day 2

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 76.9% completion percentage, 1,410 passing yards, 11 touchdown throws and only one interception so far. The most impressive part of Sanders' game is his accuracy and poise in crucial moments. The overtime victory over Colorado State 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.

Where he needs work: The Buffaloes have surrendered an FBS-worst 22 sacks, and many of them can be attributed to Sanders. He is the only FBS passer to face pressure at least 20 times in each game so far, and he tends to hold onto the ball too long, too often. 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. His ability to feel the pressure of collapsing pockets must improve, and I'd like to see more awareness for checkdown options.

 

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4. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan​

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 202 pounds
Class: Junior | Projected range: Late Round 1/early Day 2

Where he excels: The Wolverines are placing more trust in McCarthy this season, and it's paying dividends. He is completing an FBS-best 79.8% of his passes and has been accurate to all levels of the field. One of the more impressive parts of McCarthy's game is his efficiency on play-action, where he is completing 83.3% of his passes (24 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 5.6% of his throws this season. Overall, he has 915 yards, eight TD passes and three interceptions this season.

Where he needs work: After a scorching hot start to the season, McCarthy came back to Earth against Bowling Green when he threw his three interceptions. Lapses in decision-making have plagued him, and they tend to snowball. We saw it in the College Football Playoff game last season against TCU (two pick-sixes).

"Harbaugh's still holding his hand a little bit because he knows his bread and butter is the run game," said an AFC area scout. "I still want to see him in more games where they get down early and force him to throw it."

Trying to do too much has led to bad turnovers, and he has to learn to live to see another day by throwing the ball out of bounds or hitting his checkdown.

 

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3. Quinn Ewers, Texas​

Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 195 pounds
Class: Redshirt sophomore | Projected range: Round 1

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. He's off to a good start this year, throwing for 1,033 yards, nine touchdown passes and no interceptions, and leading an offense that asks a lot of its quarterbacks. He was listed at 207 pounds last season, but he's now hovering around 195, and that has translated to more agility in the pocket. His mechanics are more urgent, too.

Ewers has the arm strength and accuracy to make any type of throw, and I've seen good improvement in his throws to the deeper parts of the field and taking care of the football. He is also getting better at seeing his pressure points. When blitzed, he is completing 70.3% of his passes with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. In all, he has thrown 226 straight passes without an interception, helping keep the Texas offense on schedule.

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.

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

 

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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 early this season. Even so, he has shown consistency in attacking downfield with his A-level arm strength. He 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 after a 296-yard day against Pittsburgh.

Through four games, Maye has 1,187 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and another three scores on the ground, and he hasn't had a single game where he completed less than 70% of his passes. In fact, he has thrown for at least 250 passing yards and completed at least 70% of his passes in nine games over the past two years, the fourth-most by an ACC passer over the past 25 seasons.

Where he needs work: Maye only had two games last season with multiple interceptions, but he already has two in four 2023 games. Slow starts have become a trend for him as he adjusts to new personnel, but the lapses in judgment on some throws is concerning. This offense doesn't rely heavily on downfield throws, and there are times when Maye seems to get bored with the easy targets and forces the ball into unnecessary windows.

 

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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 looked very much like the No. 1 overall pick through the first four games of the season. 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 1,200 yards, 15 touchdown passes and zero 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 seven touchdown passes to zero interceptions this season, and he has a 91.7 QBR in those spots.

"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 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.