Written by Matt Green
Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Washington Huskies reacts after a first down against the Washington State Cougars during the fourth quarter at Husky Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. | Retrieved from Gettyimages.
Predicting Where the 2024 NFL Draft QB's Will Land
In terms of depth, talent, and potential, the 2024 NFL quarterback class is among the premier groups of the 21st century. It is possible that six quarterback will be selected in the first round of the draft; the last time that happened was in 1983. The biggest question about those quarterbacks heading into the draft, though, is where will they land?
Caleb Williams: Chicago Bears (1st Overall)
Once the Chicago Bears traded Justin Fields away in March, it was all but official that Caleb Williams would start his career wearing orange and navy blue. For years, Williams has been considered the best draft prospect in this class. Chicago has already started adding pieces like Keenan Allen in preparation for their incoming rookie quarterback. It would be a franchise-altering move, and not in a good way, if Chicago were not to select Williams for whatever reason.
Drake Maye: Washington Commanders (2nd Overall)
The Washington Commanders have a difficult decision on their hands: Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels. While each are unique in their skillset, the consensus is that their talent level is about the same. Daniels is a former Heisman Trophy winner, but he also played in a better situation at LSU. Maye, on the other hand, has been renowned as QB2 in the class since before Daniels won his award. On top of that, Maye is two years younger than Daniels, and age in the NFL is almost as valuable as gold was in the Klondike.
Jayden Daniels: New England Patriots (3rd Overall)
The New England Patriots are another team at the top of the draft in need of a quarterback. If Williams and Maye are both gone, Daniels would not be a bad compensatory player. He is coming off of a season in which he threw 40 touchdowns and only threw four interceptions. Many scouts believe that he is the most NFL-ready quarterback in the class because of his refined decision making.
J.J. McCarthy: Minnesota Vikings (7th Overall)
Some mock drafts believe that a team will trade up to pick four to select J.J. McCarthy, but I believe that there will be a run of wide receivers and offensive tackles in the middle of the top ten. If McCarthy falls to seven, it is hard to imagine that a team like the Minnesota Vikings would not trade up for him. McCarthy's play style is similar to Kirk Cousins'; Cousins averaged 30.6 passing touchdowns a season for the Vikings in the five years preceding his 2023 campaign. The Tennessee Titans, who have a lot of needs, would be a suitable trade partner for the Vikings.
“From what I’ve heard the Patriots are very, very into both Maye and Daniels” @PSchrags weighs in.
— Savage (@SavageSports_) April 18, 2024
pic.twitter.com/PfHgHAUCK0
Michael Penix Jr.: Las Vegas Raiders (13th Overall)
Michael Penix Jr. is the dark horse of this year's draft. Many NFL analysts have reported that teams are taking him off of their boards because of his injury history. The Las Vegas Raiders, though, are in desperate need of a quarterback. At pick 13, the Raiders do not have the luxury of selecting from the cream of the crop; however, Penix Jr. has the potential to among the best quarterbacks in this year's class. Over the last two seasons, Penix Jr. threw 67 touchdowns. Of the top-ranked quarterback prospects this year, only Caleb Williams and Bo Nix thrown more passing touchdowns in that period.
Bo Nix: New Orleans Saints (45th Overall)
If Bo Nix falls outside of the top 15 picks, which I predict will happen, it is possible he could experience a Will Levis-type fall. There is not an exigency of quarterback for most of the teams in the second half of the first round , but they have other positions of need. While the New Orleans Saints have Derek Carr in their quarterback room, he showed signs of deterioration last season. Nix is a player that could sit behind Carr for a year, learn the ropes, and jump into action next season. Ironically, if the Saints were to pick Nix here, they would be doing so with a draft pick that was originally the Denver Broncos', who are another team in need of a starting quarterback.
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