2024 DRAFT CLASS QBS
The 2024 draft class is stacked especially at the quarterback position. With two former Heisman trophy winners and two more who were Heisman finalists, but who is the best quarterback is it the USC phenom Caleb Willams or is it the old man of the group in Bo Nix? I am going to look into each quarterback and rank the top five quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class.
5. Drake Maye North Carolina
Ok I know this is a bit of a stretch because all the experts have Maye going immediately after Caleb Willams or vice versa. However aside from the 7,937 passing yards and 63 touchdowns in his Tar Heels career Maye only started two seasons. Maye is more of a developmental quarterback. I do not see him coming in and starting immediately for a team such as Chicago or Washington. However he could go somewhere such as New Oreleans or Tampa Bay and develop into a starter.
4. Caleb Williams University of Southern California
I know this is crazy. The 2022 Heisman winner who is expected to be the number one pick in this years draft is at 4th spot on my list. Williams had a tremendous season in 2022 of course but he is only a three year starter at USC and this past season USC was not as good as everyone thought they were going to be. 7-5 and not only did they have 5 losses they are against major good teams in the top 25. It seemed as if Williams crumbled under the pressure. Also, in the 2023 Cotton Bowl against Tulane Williams and USC did not step up and play that great. Once again another bright spot light and Williams crumbled.
3. Michael Penix Jr. Washington
Penix is one of the older quarterbacks and I was wrestling with the idea of between him and the next guy that will be on my list at who to put at number 3 and I landed with Penix due to the simple fact of being injury prone. At Indiana the three seasons he was there he was injured all three until he linked back with his former Indiana OC Kaleb Deboer. In two seasons he threw for 9,544 passing yards and 67 touchdowns. Penix before he got injured at Indiana he had tremendous stats so he has proven that he can play at a high level the question is can he stay healthy.
2. Jayden Daniels LSU
Now Daniels is and interesting case the Arizona State transfer 6,024 yards in his three seasons as a Sun Devil and when he transferred to LSU it was not expected for him to excel as well as he did. In two years as a Bayou Bengal he threw for 6,725 yards. Both seasons he was healthy and one of those seasons at Arizona State he was injured. He was efficient at LSU and he played some of the best competition in the college football ranks when it comes to the SEC conference. He also went on to win the Heisman trophy in his final season so he has proven he can compete at a very high level.
1. Bo Nix Oregon
Nix, a 5 year starter at both Auburn and Oregon, has started 50 plus games in the college ranks. Nix's three years at Auburn was not good and it seemed as if he could not hack it. Nix then transferred to Oregon and under head coach Dan Lanning in two seasons 8,101 yards and 74 touchdowns in the Ducks uniform and he showed that he is the most complete quarterback and could be a ready to go day one starter for a team as a in a sense seasoned vet if a team is in need a day one starter Bo Nix is the day one kind of guy. If I am a GM of an NFL team in need of a QB I am going with Bo Nix.
One name not on this list is Michigan's JJ McCarthy. The main reason being the fact that for two years he shared snaps at Michigan and his best year was this season. He was an all around talent at Michigan having a phenomenal season in 2023. McCarthy is still a little green with not having a ton of starting experience and not only that but he won a national championship and there was lots of speculation around the Michigan team it will be interesting to see if McCarthy can excel in the NFL ranks. While the experts do not agree with my rankings being a college football lover that I am and have watched all 5 of the quarterbacks I listed this is where I think they stack up.
