PFF ranks the Top 10 quarterbacks in college football for the 2024 NFL Draft
Pro Football Focus detailed the top 10 quarterbacks to watch for the 2024 NFL Draft, led by USC quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams.
It’ll be an interesting race to the top for next spring. Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye are the de facto top two quarterbacks for next season and could fight for the No. 1 overall pick.
But now with the 2023 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead to the next crop of 10 quarterbacks who stand out among the rest in college football. Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick listed his 10 quarterbacks to know going into next season.
PFF ranks Top 10 quarterbacks in 2024 NFL Draft
1. Caleb Williams – USC
Williams won the Heisman Trophy last season and has the best skills of all of the quarterbacks in the upcoming draft class. He could contend for a second straight Heisman, especially if he leads USC to a Pac-12 title and the College Football Playoff. Lincoln Riley pretty much gets all of his quarterbacks to the top of the draft.
2. Drake Maye – North Carolina
Maye put up huge numbers in his first season as the starter and got UNC to the ACC Championship Game. Basically, you go from Sam Howell to Maye and the Tar Heels sit pretty. With his second year as a starter coming, Maye is a Heisman Trophy contender going into the 2023 season.
3. Michael Penix Jr. – Washington
The revival of Penix Jr. was a sight to behold. PFF put him No. 3 in terms of the signal callers going into the next draft. After he transferred from Indiana, Penix Jr. found his old form and then some. Washington solidified itself as a Pac-12 contender with him under center going into next fall.
4. Quinn Ewers – Texas
Ewers has the most potential out of this group, arguably. He had to fight off No. 1 recruit Arch Manning to keep his starting job this spring. Last season, when healthy, Ewers showcased his elite playmaking ability and Texas probably beats Alabama if he played the whole game. A whole season of a healthy Ewers means Texas could very well win the Big 12.
Nix transferred to Oregon from Auburn prior to last season and looked like his old self as well, but even better than his freshman year. Nix makes Oregon a Pac-12 contender and he seemed to unlock his Heisman potential in a new system. There’s no telling the steps he could make in his final year.
6. Jordan Travis – Florida State
Travis was another guy who increased his stock last season in a revival year for Florida State. If Mike Norvell has anything to say about it, Travis’ stock could skyrocket in 2023 going into the next draft. Like Nix, it was just a matter of waiting for the best of his play.
7. Joe Milton – Tennessee
Milton was at Michigan, transferred to Tennessee and was, almost, an afterthought. But once Hendon Hooker went down with a torn ACL, Milton came in and looked the part. Not only that, he looked improved from his Wolverine days. Now, he has a lot of expectations going into 2023 and could really end his college career on a high note.
8. J.J. McCarthy – Michigan
McCarthy has a lot of talent, but in a run-heavy offense, is overshadowed a bit. But perhaps if Michigan is to win a third straight Big Ten title and get back to the College Football Playoff, McCarthy needs to have the best year of his career as a passer. The talent is there and maybe Jim Harbaugh can let him loose, at least a little bit more.
9. Jayden Daniels – LSU
Daniels was a stud at Arizona State but recaptured his magic as well once he transferred to LSU. He showed elite flashes with the Tigers last season and has the tools to be a higher draft pick. That’s not saying Daniels could be the No. 1 overall pick, but NFL teams should pay attention to the LSU quarterback.
10. Sam Hartman – Notre Dame
Hartman put up huge numbers in the ACC and will go down as one of the best players in Wake Forest history. But why not run it back for one more year at Notre Dame? With arguably more talent around him and a bigger stage, Hartman could really increase his draft stock while playing for the Fighting Irish.