The 2024 NFL Draft is less than a month away and it’s time to dive into the top NFL Draft prospects who will be future fantasy football stars. This preview features the top 10 quarterback prospects coming from the college football ranks. 

How do Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy stack up against each other as they become NFL rookies? Who are some NFL Draft sleepers to know at the quarterback position? 

 

 

 

Find out in this NFL Draft quarterbacks preview as you prep for dynasty fantasy football, keeper leagues, and best ball drafts while updating fantasy football rankings for rookies. We’ll break it all down with scouting reports, strengths, weaknesses, and possible landing spots for each of the Top 10 NFL Draft quarterback prospects. 

2024 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Top 10 Quarterbacks

#1 - Caleb Williams, USC

Caleb Williams is the most NFL-ready quarterback in this draft class and has the dual-threat skillset to be a star. Williams has the natural running instincts, agility, and play-making knack to use his legs as a legit weapon outside the pocket to extend plays. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner also pairs his rushing upside with a top-tier arm talent. 

Williams possesses the unique combination of touch, velocity, and accuracy on throws to all parts of the field and he can sling it just as well on the run as standing in the pocket. However, he does tend to try to do too much on his own and play “Hero Ball” at times. Still, Williams is a big-play highlight waiting to happen with both his arm and legs. 

#2 - Jayden Daniels, LSU

Jayden Daniels’ elite-level rushing ability makes him a very tantalizing quarterback prospect. During his Heisman-winning season at LSU last year, Daniels regularly used his speed and athleticism to break off long gains on both scrambles and designed QB runs. The dual-threat talent is already there with highlight-reel potential on any snap. 

Daniels also has good touch and accuracy on deep balls with underrated arm strength considering his slighter frame. He needs to develop more as a pocket passer on short and intermediate routes, though. Plus, his durability could come into question with how much he likes to run. 

 

 

 

#3 - Drake Maye, North Carolina

In terms of natural arm talent, Drake Maye headlines this year’s quarterback class as arguably the best pure passer. Maye has a very strong arm with the ability to make throws to all levels of the field. He also can throw on the run and extend plays with his legs with his athletic and larger frame. 

The raw physical traits are there for Maye and he has valuable experience playing in a pro-style offense at North Carolina. Maye’s accuracy can be inconsistent and it’s worth noting his 2023 stats (24:9 TD:INT ratio, 63% completion rate) were a step back from his 2022 numbers (38:7 TD:INT, 66% completion). 

#4 - J.J. McCarthy, Michigan

J.J. McCarthy has risen up NFL draft boards this offseason and rightfully so. He was a proven winner at Michigan with a 27-1 record as a starter and the signal-caller for the 2023 national champs. His experience in a pro-style offense under Jim Harbaugh is also likely valuable to NFL GMs. 

Though he wasn’t asked to throw at ton in college, McCarthy has an accurate arm and was very consistent on short and intermediate throws. The big knock on McCarthy is that he played in an excellent run-heavy offense that didn’t need him to throw 40 times per game – especially with a strong defense and his team often blowing out opponents. Still, he deserves to be in the consideration as a top QB in this draft. 

 

 

 

#5 - Michael Penix Jr., Washington

When it comes to pure pocket passers, Michael Penix Jr. tops the list of this year’s quarterback prospects. Penix has an NFL-ready arm talent with the strength to hit deep throws, velocity and zip for mid-range completions, and the ability to hit all parts of the field. He showcased that top-tier passing ability in Washington’s shotgun spread offense last year en route to a National Championship appearance. 

The concern with Penix, though, is his lack of consistency when it comes to accuracy or having to make plays outside of the pocket. Some NFL teams may also be turned off by his injury history in college and older age as a rookie. 

#6 - Bo Nix, Oregon

Bo Nix may not be as polished a passer as other quarterback prospects in this class, but he does have leg up in terms of experience and playmaking ability as a dual-threat guy. Nix’s 61 career starts are the most all-time by an FBS quarterback and he ended his college career second in total yards in NCAA history. 

This veteran experience alone can help him become a more trusted NFL quarterback right away than other rookies who come in with just one year as a starter. Nix is also an athletic, physical runner who excelled in Oregon’s RPO-heavy, quick-strike offense last season. The big knock on Nix is his raw passing skills, which need improvement – especially in terms of accuracy and downfield throws. 

 

 

 

#7 - Michael Pratt, Tulane

NFL scouts have had their eye on Michael Pratt for a few years now and he could’ve entered the Draft a season ago. Despite playing at Tulane in a non-power conference, Pratt has pro-ready passing fundamentals with an underrated football IQ that comes with four years of starting experience. 

He doesn’t have the arm strength of others in this class, but he makes up for it with touch and accuracy on most throws. Pratt is a sleeper quarterback prospect who may be a Day 3 pick but can step right into a backup role/spot starter and carve out a solid career. 

#8 - Spencer Rattler, South Carolina

When Spencer Rattler came out of high school as a former No. 1 recruit, he looked like a future Heisman Trophy winner and potential top-5 pick in the NFL Draft. Well, he eventually lost his starting job at Oklahoma to Caleb Williams and went through some ups and downs at South Carolina over the past few years. Still, Rattler has the arm talent to make throws to all levels of the field with accuracy. 

He also has the valuable experience of playing in two very different offensive schemes in two separate power conferences – Oklahoma’s quick-strike spread attack in the Big 12 and South Carolina’s pro-style setup in the SEC. Rattler needs more development as a passer while showing some inconsistencies in working through progressions and making plays when the pocket breaks down. 

 

 

 

#9 - Joe Milton, Tennessee

Joe Milton may be the biggest boom-or-bust QB prospect this year. In terms of pure arm strength, Milton tops the list with the ability to launch deep balls with ease and the elite velocity to zip throws into tight windows. He has the ideal frame to be a power thrower at the next level and should have NFL scouts gushing about the potential. 

However, Milton is still very raw and unproven in other areas. He needs to improve his accuracy and touch on short and intermediate throws while not relying too much on his power. Plus, Milton’s lack of starting experience could come into question as he started only 17 games over six college seasons. 

#10 - Jordan Travis, Florida State

Before suffering a gruesome leg injury in Florida State’s final regular season game, Jordan Travis was firmly in the Heisman conversation. Travis is another dual-threat prospect with the athleticism and mobility to make plays outside the pocket while using his legs effectively as a runner. 

He needs to improve as a passer in terms of accuracy and arm strength, though. When it comes to making quick reads and decisions as a thrower, Travis already showcased that in college.