2024 Draft Prospect Watchlist: Quarterbacks

The 2023 NFL Draft is over and teams are getting comfortable with their new draft picks. The next class of players is getting prepared now for another year of college football. Each position will be analyzed in the coming days. Here is the 2024 NFL Draft prospect watchlist: Quarterbacks.

Quinn Ewers, Texas Longhorns

Ewers graduated early and signed with Ohio State. After a season there, he transferred to Texas. He was starting as a redshirt freshman in 2022 for the Longhorns. Ewers passed for 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions on 58.1 percent completion. He was only able to play in 10 games, as he suffered a shoulder injury.

It is easy to see why Ewers was such a highly-regarded prospect. He has solid size and great arm talent. Ewers can get some zip on his passes and has a nice deep ball. He’ll need to continue to work on his accuracy, especially in the short and intermediate parts of the field to give his pass-catchers room to run after the catch.

Drake Maye, North Carolina Tar Heels

Maye followed in plenty of his family members’ footsteps by going to North Carolina as an athlete. He played sparingly as a freshman and redshirted in 2021. For the 2022 season, Maye passed for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 66.2 percent completion. He helped the Tar Heels to a 9-5 record.

In his one season as the starter, Maye showed solid arm strength and athleticism. The more intriguing traits he showed were that he can go through his progressions and had good accuracy to all levels of the field. He needs to feel pressure better and not leave some balls up for grabs in 2023.

Michael Penix, Washington Huskies

Penix started his career at Indiana before transferring to Washington and really elevating his draft stock. During his time as a Hoosier, Penix passed for 4,197 yards, 29 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on 59.4 percent completion. In 2022 as the starter for Washington, Penix had 4,641 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 65.3 percent completion. He helped the Huskies go 11-2.

While he has always had an NFL-level arm, the way he improved his accuracy this past season was very impressive. He’s a good athlete who can make plays out of structure, but needs to continue to work on his accuracy on short and intermediate throws. Although he will be an older prospect, he could see his stock rise, much like Hendon Hooker did for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Caleb Williams, USC Trojans

Williams started his career at Oklahoma before following head coach Lincoln Riley to USC. With the Sooners, Williams passed for 1,912 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions on 64.5 percent completion. At USC in 2022, Williams totaled 4,537 passing yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions on 66.6 percent completion. He led the Trojans to 11 wins and an appearance in the Cotton Bowl.

His elite arm strength and ability to make plays out of structure have drawn the eyes of college football fans and NFL evaluators. He has solid accuracy to all levels and good pocket presence. Williams needs to work on taking sacks or tucking the ball and running when there is nothing open downfield, as he can get greedy and throw too many balls up for grabs.

Other Prospects to Watch

Brennan Armstrong, NC State Wolfpack- Armstrong struggled with a new coaching staff taking over at Virginia in 2022. He has the ability to make plays out of structure, but does not have a great arm.

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame Fighting Irish- Hartman transferred from Wake Forest to Notre Dame this offseason. He isn’t a big quarterback, but has solid accuracy, which could help his draft stock this season.

KJ Jefferson, Arkansas- Jefferson had a good season in 2022, but has a chance to really improve his status as an NFL Draft prospect this season. He is a battering ram of a runner and protects the football well, but will have to show better accuracy in 2023.

Phil Jurkovec, Pittsburgh Panthers- After an injury-plagued career at Boston College, Jurkovec transferred to Pitt. He has a solid arm and can hit on deep balls, but doesn’t provide the ability to play out of structure.

Devin Leary, Kentucky Wildcats- He had a good 2021 season, but Leary struggled and was injured in 2022. Leary transferred to Kentucky for a fresh start, where he can display his great accuracy and decision-making that he displayed in 2021.

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers- McCall flirted with the transfer portal, but ultimately decided to return to Coastal Carolina. He has run a hybrid spread/option attack, which highlights his quick decision-making skills and ability to make plays out of structure.

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan Wolverines- McCarthy took over as the starting quarterback in 2022 and helped Michigan make their second straight College Football Playoff. He leaned on a dominant running game, but has very good physical tools. McCarthy will need to make more tough throws in 2023 to improve his stock.

Bo Nix, Oregon Ducks- Nix started his career at Auburn with some promise, but eventually transferred to Oregon. This past season at Oregon he was able to revitalize his draft stock. He has good athleticism and solid arm strength, but needs to show better decision-making and the ability to go through more progressions.

Spencer Rattler, South Carolina Gamecocks- After transferring from Oklahoma, things didn’t look great early last season at South Carolina for Rattler. He finished the year strong, showing off talents that were seen earlier in his career, including his strong arm and accuracy.

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes- He has dominated the FCS level, but now Sanders will be put to the test in the Pac-12. Sanders has good short accuracy and uses his eyes to manipulate safeties. He protects the ball and can make plays out of structure. Sanders doesn’t have elite arm strength and needs to make more full-field reads this season at Colorado.

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• Source: https://thegamehaus.com/nfl-draft/2024-draft-prospect-watchlist-quarterbacks/2023/05/04/