The 2024 NFL Draft is getting closer by the day, and Fans First Sports Network is here to give you the best draft analysis anywhere! Between now and the NFL Draft, we will reveal our NFL Draft big board, one position at a time. Today, we will begin with the quarterbacks.

Those of you who know us from Behind the Steel Curtain may remember our BTSC Big Board we did the past three years, and we are excited to have a good portion of the crew back to do it here at FFSN. The board will be my comprised of my personal rankings, player stats, and scouting reports for all early-round prospects. Stats are compiled by community member SNW, and scouting reports come from a collaborative effort of myself, Jeremy Betz, Adam Curry, Noah_E., skyfire322, and Necksnation.

For each position, we will give a positional ranking, my overall round ranking, previous season stats, and an in-depth scouting report for each early and mid-round round prospect. We hope this will be a helpful resource for you as you become familiarized with draft prospects that your team may be looking at.

Let’s dive in!

1. Caleb Williams | USC | 6’ 1”, 218 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Top 5
2023 Stats: Games 12, Comp 266, Att 388, Pct 68.6, Yds 3633, TD 30, Int 5, Rush 97, Yds 142, Ave 1.1, TD 11.
Andrew Wilbar: Williams’ comparison to Patrick Mahomes may be the most blasphemous comparison in this entire draft class. Williams has outstanding potential at the NFL level, but he does not possess the uncanny instincts of Mahomes. His combination of arm strength, mobility, and accuracy are wonderful attributes to possess as a quarterback, but a major concern of mine is that Williams did not elevate the performance of those around him in 2023. He may not have had a Jordan Addison at his disposal in 2023, but his supporting cast of weapons was still better than what most teams had. His decision-making was questionable at times, but I believe that will improve in time. My biggest concern with Williams’ game is honestly his attitude. I do not like using the term “crybaby” on a prospect, but if we are being fair, Williams has made it clear he does not want to go to Chicago with the first overall pick. Looking back at his collegiate career, he was faced with minimal difficulty and given everything on a silver platter. From his transfer, to his coach, to his surrounding weapons, he has gotten his way wherever he has gone, and that would be at least a minor concern of mine. Nonetheless, Caleb Williams is an incredible talent who could very well be taken first overall.

2. Jayden Daniels | LSU | 6’ 3”, 185 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Top 5
2023 Stats: Games 12, Comp 236, Att 327, Pct 72.2, Yds 3812, TD 40, Int 4, Rush 135, Yds 1134, Ave 8.4, TD 10.
Andrew Wilbar: Daniels caught my attention during the early portion of his time at Arizona State, and I fully expected him to develop into an early first-round prospect. However, I did not expect his collegiate career to become what it became. After struggling to develop at Arizona State, Daniels transferred to LSU for his final two years, taking his game to new heights and walking away with the Heisman Trophy this past season. Daniels has always had a strong arm and excellent mobility, but what he really improved on during his time at LSU was his accuracy. While he still struggles to get off his first read at times, he has learned not to force passes into traffic unnecessarily. I see a lot of Justin Fields in him, but don’t take that as a negative. Many of Fields’ struggles have been due to things he cannot control. Fit is such an important factor, and for Jayden Daniels’ sake, I hope he lands in a better spot than Fields landed.

3. Drake Maye | North Carolina | 6’ 5”, 220 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Top 10
2023 Stats: Games 12, Comp 269, Att 425, Pct 63.3, Yds 3608, TD 24, Int 9, Rush 112, Yds 449, Ave 4.0, TD 9.
Andrew Wilbar: Going back at my 2020 synopsis on Justin Herbert, I see a lot of similarities in Drake Maye. My grade on Maye is significantly higher than my grade on Herbert coming out of Oregon, primarily because I believe Maye did more to elevate the play of players around him at North Carolina than Herbert did at Oregon. The downside with Maye is that he did not play well against quality competition. He has the size, the arm, and the athleticism to be a top-tier quarterback in the NFL, but he did not have any “wow” games in 2023. In many regards, he looked better in 2022, although having Josh Downs likely contributed to his success. Being consistent with ball placement is a fixable issue for a quarterback, but that issue alone may be enough to keep Maye from being taken ahead of Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. I expect Maye to be a strong starting quarterback in the NFL, but, just like Justin Herbert, being clutch in big moments is something that may give NFL teams second thoughts about taking him.

4. J.J. McCarthy | Michigan | 6’ 3”, 197 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Top 25
2023 Stats: Games 15, Comp 240, Att 320, Pct 72.3, Yds 2991, TD,22 Int 4, Rush 64, Yds 202, Ave 3.2, TD 2.
Andrew Wilbar: Media personalities knock the fact that McCarthy did not do much to win Michigan’s big games, but at the end of the day, he didn’t need to, nor was he asked to. He did everything he was supposed to in order to put Michigan in position to win, even though it does not seem like much on paper. That aspect does not concern me. What concerns me the most, outside of his weird meditation routine, is his lack of touch on underneath and intermediate throws. McCarthy has a strong arm and a gunslinger mentality, but I would hate to be a running back trying to catch a swing pass out of the backfield from him. If he can learn the concept of touch, he will be a good passer at the next level. Despite not having an elite receiver or tight end, McCarthy was efficient in spreading the ball around to many different entities, making it difficult for defenses to defend. Yes, McCarthy has some mechanical issues, and he may not be ready to start right away, but for an inexperienced 21 year-old, he has done enough to warrant a first-round selection.

5. Michael Penix, Jr. | Washington | 6’ 3”, 218 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Mid 2nd
2023 Stats: Games 15, Comp 363, Att 555, Pct 65.4, Yds 4903, TD 36, Int 11, Rush 35, Yds 8, Ave 0.2, TD 3.
Noah_E: If we were talking strictly about arm talent, Michael Penix might be the best in the 2024 class. He has a cannon for an arm, the ball placement is phenomenal on all 3 levels of the field, and he throws with incredible velocity. He has good pocket presence and isn’t afraid to get hit in order to make the throw. Penix knows how to read the field and is excellent at working through his progressions. On top of all of that, he throws maybe the prettiest spiral I’ve ever seen. There are certainly some concerns though. He is not a threat whatsoever as a runner and I worry about his ability to create out of structure in the pros. At times he gets too aggressive when he would benefit more from taking the checkdown, he’s almost like the Anti-Bo Nix. However, similar to Nix he is on the older side. Penix will be just days away from turning 24 on draft day, and he has a significant injury history on his resume. I think Michael Penix could be a very, very good NFL Quarterback, but his ceiling is capped by his inability to make plays with his legs.

6. Bo Nix | Oregon | 6’ 3”, 214 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Mid 3rd
2023 Stats: Games 14, Comp 364, Att 470, Pct 77.4, Yds 4508, TD 45, Int 3, Rush 54, Yds 234, Ave 4.3, TD 6.
Adam C: Bo Nix brings plenty of starting experience with him to the NFL, as the NCAA record holder with 61 career starts. As you would expect, he is more polished than a number of other prospects. He generally has very good footwork and a great base in all situations, which results in NFL level consistency and accuracy. Alongside this accuracy, he is also a strong athlete and can create out of structure, with great accuracy operating off platform and out of the pocket. Despite the experience, he can still struggle with reads and decision making which will worry teams. Too often he hits the check down with other options open downfield, which is uncharacteristic from someone with this amount of game experience. Overall there’s a lot to like, and in the right system, he has the tools to be an immediate starter.

7. Joe Milton | Tennessee | 6’ 5”, 244 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Mid 4th
2023 Stats: Games 12, Comp 229, Att 354, Pct 64.7, Yds 2813, TD 20, Int 5, Rush 78, Yds 299, Ave 3.8, TD 7.
Jeremy Betz: Joe Milton III is that guy in this draft. The passer who possesses all the physical tools and more to be a dynamic dual-threat QB in today’s game. The problem is he doesn’t always put those tools on tape. Milton’s arm is the strongest I’ve ever seen, and he can make any throw. He struggles mightily with consistency and accuracy, however, especially on short to intermediate throws in the middle of the field. He has an efficient, quick release but inconsistent footwork and poor anticipation often force him into bad throws. He needs some serious development as a passer, but the upside is there for him to be an elite NFL passer. At 6’4” and 244 lbs, Milton is closer to a Cam Newton or Josh Allen than he is to a Lamar Jackson as a runner. Operating best in an RPO scheme designed to stress defenses with the QB’s running ability, Milton is a bruising downhill runner with enough speed and quickness to break long gains into the secondary. A smart coaching staff will start there and allow Milton to refine his passing game over the first couple years of his career. An ideal stash and develop prospect, Milton could raise his draft stock with a strong offseason program and Combine.

8. Spencer Rattler | South Carolina | 6’ 1”, 200 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: Mid 4th
2023 Stats: Games 12, Comp 275, Att 399, Pct 68.9, Yds 3186, TD 19, Int 8, Rush 97, Yds 104, Ave 1.1, TD 4.
Jeremy Betz: Rattler is an undersized QB prospect with above average arm talent and enough athleticism to navigate the pocket and earn the occasional scrambling first down. On the positive side, he has a ton of collegiate experience and is a high-pedigree talent. He plays well in rhythm with anticipation and can make every throw. His below-average size and overall inconsistency at every stop though has lowered his draft stock. Once thought of as the next great QB prospect, Rattler has settled into a mid-to-late-round prospect with upside.

9. Michael Pratt | Tulane | 6’ 2”, 200 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 5th
2023 Stats: Games 11, Comp 185, Att 283, Pct 65.4, Yds 2406, TD 22, Int 5, Rush 98, Yds 286, Ave 2.9, TD 5.
Andrew Wilbar: Pratt’s ceiling is likely limited to a game manager in the NFL, as he lacks ideal arm strength and possesses only average explosiveness as a runner. Pratt’s decision-making was generally good in college, as he has only thrown 10 interceptions in over 600 pass attempts since 2022. My big concern as it pertains to mechanical issues is his delivery. It is a slow winding delivery, which may pose a higher risk of fumbling more often in the NFL. I see Pratt as a solid backup in the NFL who could be a temporary placeholder for an injured quarterback.

10. Jordan Travis | Florida State | 6’ 1”, 201 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 5th
2023 Stats: Games 11, Comp 207, Att 324, Pct 63.9, Yds 2756, TD 20, Int 2, Rush 73, Yds 176, Ave 2.4, TD 7.
Jeremy Betz: In a class featuring a number of smaller QB prospects, Travis might be the most intriguing of the bunch. Travis displays good feel in the pocket and impressive arm talent. Operating best on the move, Travis is a playmaker. He’ll frustrate coaches in the rhythm passing game, and will need to move off his spot to see down the field in the NFL. With some improvements in footwork and throwing mechanics, Travis could also improve his accuracy and consistency as a passer. He has great vision and feel for the game. He’s an intriguing study.

11. Sam Hartman | Notre Dame | 6’ 1”, 208 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 6th
2023 Stats: Games 12, Comp 191, Att 301, Pct 63.5, Yds 2689, TD 24, Int 8, Rush 45, Yds 123, Ave 2.7, TD 3.
Adam C: Hartman is a 6 year starter, and is only 1 game behind Bo Nix record with 60 games started in his collegiate career. He has good arm strength, and can make all throws across the field, with good deep accuracy. He is a great operator in the pocket and in structure, although a lot of his reads are only half field, so there are some question marks there. Good at stepping up and staying in the pocket under pressure, keeping eyes downfield. He boasts good all round accuracy and excellent accuracy in quick game, screens and underneath passes. The key concern is that he loses accuracy when throwing on the move and escaping the pocket, with questions over his ability to extend plays and create opportunities. 

Best of the Rest

12. Carter Bradley | South Alabama | 6’ 3”, 215 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 7th/UDFA
2023 Stats: Games 11, Comp 221, Att 326, Pct 67.8, Yds 2660, TD 19, Int 7, Rush 43, Yds -48, Ave -1.1, TD 1.

13. Devin Leary | Kentucky | 6’ 1”, 212 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 7th/UDFA
2023 Stats: Games 13, Comp 209, Att 371, Pct 56.3, Yds 2746, TD 25, Int 12, Rush 42, Yds -60, Ave -1.4, TD 1.

14. Austin Reed | Western Kentucky | 6’1”, 223 lbs
Wilbar’s Overall Grade: 7th/UDFA
2023 Stats: Games 12, Comp 289, Att 470, Pct 61.5, Yds 3340, TD 731, Int 11, Rush 42, Yds 100, Ave 2.4, TD 12.