2024 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper releases final quarterback rankings for all draft eligible QBs
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his final quarterback rankings for all draft eligible quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
There aren’t surprises at the top, but as you go down the list, it’ll be interesting to see where some of these QBs land. Heck, outside of the top four, it could be a crap shoot.
Let’s dive into Kiper’s rankings of all 21 quarterbacks in this year’s draft.
1. Caleb Williams, USC
Your No. 1 quarterback and it’s not even close. Kiper did not budge the 2022 Heisman winner off his top spot at QB nor on his Big Board.
Williams is a generational talent and it’d be stunning to not see him go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears Thursday night. Chicago might finally have it’s guy.
2. Jayden Daniels, LSU
Daniels might have the argument to pass Drake Maye in this year’s draft after his Heisman campaign. The talk only increased in recent weeks.
The LSU quarterback always had dual threat abilities, but they were on a different level this past season. Since the trend of a lot of these rookie quarterbacks to start right away, that might be the case for Daniels as well.
3. Drake Maye, North Carolina
Maye slipped behind as a quarterback prospect in this draft behind Daniels. The general consensus all season was he was the QB2 to Williams, but the LSU Tiger’s Heisman season had something to do with this.
Maye has all of the tools and the prototypical size to succeed at the NFL. It’s a question of where he will go and how early he will be selected by a quarterback-needy team.
4. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
McCarthy gets the ranking ahead of some other guys who had monster numbers over the last two seasons. However, the Michigan quarterback won a national title this past season.
The thing about McCarthy is that he rarely makes mistakes and he’s that typical coach’s quarterback. Can he win games by himself at the next level? It remains to be seen but in the right system, he’s extremely coachable and solid under center.
5. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Penix Jr. might be higher on this list if he hadn’t dealt with injuries throughout his college career. But there’s no question when he’s firing, he’s awesome.
Penix Jr. had prolific years at Washington, leading the Huskies to the national championship this past winter. Is he a first round quarterback? He can be. It’s just a wait and see approach.
6. Bo Nix, Oregon
Nix can be a dual threat if he has to be, but there’s no question this kid is a gunslinger. He only got better once he transferred from Auburn to Oregon. In those two seasons with the Ducks, he threw for 8,101 yards, 74 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 74.9% completion percentage.
At Oregon, he had some of the best stats in all of the land. Unfortunately, he could not win a championship. Still, he should be a tantalizing prospect for someone.
7. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Rattler was once thought of as a crown jewel type of quarterback. While he’s had a rollercoaster career at Oklahoma and SOuth Carolina, including being replaced by Williams, he’s been mostly solid.
Rattler has a cannon, make no mistake. Decision making will be paramount at the next level and he’ll need some time to develop.
8. Michael Pratt, Tulane
It was four productive years for Pratt at Tulane who threw for over 20 touchdowns and less than 10 interceptions in each of his four seasons. His best season came in 2022, but he was nothing less than consistent.
More likely a mid-round draft prospect here, but Pratt is a solid piece. He finished his career with 9,611 yards, 90 touchdowns, 26 interceptions and a 60.6% completion percentage. Let’s not forget his 1,147 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns.
9. Jordan Travis, Florida State
Travis is another case of a quarterback that could be higher had it not been for injury. Travis was a stone-cold killer as a leader for Florida State.
It was a playoff bound team, but his devastating leg injury derailed those hopes and any high pick potential. He’s accurate and he can run, but Travis’ recovery will dictate how his career gets started.
10. Kedon Slovis, BYU
Slovis is an interesting prospect considering he got off to a great start as a freshman at USC, but it wasn;t the same the next two years.
He took a year at Pitt and BYU in 2022 and ‘23 to try and get it back on track. He didn’t pop off the page, but perhaps NFL scouts can figure out if their franchise can return this QB to his 2019 form (30 touchdowns, 3,502 yards as a freshman).
Rest of Kiper’s Quarterback Rankings
11. John Rhys Plumlee, UCF
12. Davius Richard, NC Central
13. Devin Leary, Kentucky
14. Joe Milton III, Tennessee
15. Carter Bradley, South Alabama
16. Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
17. Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
18. Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
19. Cam Miller, North Dakota State
20. Emory Jones, Cincinnati
21. Jack Plummer, Louisville
All of these quarterbacks will be on display in the 2024 NFL Draft this week but it’s likely not all will be selected in the seven rounds. Where does everyone go?