Harley's 2024 QB Rankings
For me, at the NFL level, you need to still be able to throw from the pocket. Guys who point to Mahomes or Rodgers overlook that their college tape showcased a ton of pass plays they made within a collapsing pocket where they kept their eyes downfield to throw. Poise matters. Those two also average 15-20 rushing YPG a season, much closer to the Elways/Youngs/Tarkentons/Staubachs of NFL history.
Lamar was incredibly underrated as a pocket QB coming out IMO. That's what separated him from the Mike Vick comparisons in my eyes. I'll always look at the pocket passing ability first because that's what matters in the NFL.
I've come around that arm strength should be a bigger factor than I used to think but I'm not going to go ga-ga over Zach Wilson or Matt Stafford just because they have strong arms. With that said, the Mac Jones/Bryce Young types will be lower ranked as a result.
1: Caleb Williams (USC) 6'1" 218. Patrick Mahomes 2.0. Tough in pocket. Can play within system/pocket. Prone to Russell Wilson eyes on the rush when scrambling. Far, far, far, and away is the #1 for me and it's not even close. 1x01 Chicago
2: Michael Penix Jr (Washington) 6'2" 216. Not as athletic as JD but love his pocket poise. Stronger arm, and a better pocket QB in my opinion. 1x08 Atlanta
3: Jayden Daniels (LSU). Crazy accurate. Can make all the throws in the NFL. Tucks & runs at pressure, and doesn't even feign to keep his eyes downfield. Justin Fields vibes if he's drafted by a poor team with no talent around. Can he win from the pocket in the NFL? Wasn't big on him last year, gut feeling is I have him so high because I don't like the guys behind him as much, not that I like him so much more. 1x02 Washington
4: JJ McCarthy (Michigan) 6'3" 219. Live arm and varies touch on throws. Good accuracy out of the pocket. Tends to trust his receivers to bail him out on contested throws. Prone to holding the ball too long. 1x10 Minnesota
5: Drake Maye (North Carolina) 6'4" 223. His strength is he sees it/throws it, and gets the ball out quickly. The ball floats when he throws deep. Matt Leinart would be my comp. Very good college QB but does he have the necessary traits to stick in the NFL? I'd be fine taking him in the 2nd or 3rd Round. 1x03 New England
6: Michael Pratt (Tulane) 6'2" 217. Tough in the pocket, and will take a shot. Best touch on deep throws in the class. I'll always boost a guy who has an elite single trait like that. Looks short. I'm way higher on him than probably anybody else. 7x245 Green Bay
7: Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) 6'0" 211. Pocket presence is so-so at times but he's always stepping up & keeping eyes downfield. Plays with a chip on his shoulder. His arm strength is adequate but flashes touch/quickness throwing. I was higher on him last year but I still think he could be the best in this class if he gets the right coach/system. 5x150 New Orleans
8: Bo Nix (Oregon) 6'2" 214. Still don't like him. Can run ala Danny Dimes but checks it down too often if his 1st read isn't there. Does flash an NFL-level arm so I can see the appealing potential. System makes him such a hard QB to evaluate though, all projection and potential. 1x12 Denver
9: Jordan Travis (Florida State) 6'1" 200. May have the quickest release in the class. Makes dumb decisions, and will run literally straight backward when pressured. Can't do that in the NFL. Injury will likely drop him to UDFA but this ranking is assuming full health in a year while in the NFL. 5x171 NY Jets
10: Garrett Shrader (Syracuse). Low round version of Bo Nix, IMO. Tends to tuck & run but has Danny Dimes level legit speed. Pocket presence awareness is so-so. If I wanted Bo Nix, I'd just take Shrader as a 7th Round/UDFA instead.
11: Jack Plummer (Louisville). 80s/early 90s throwback QB with his size and pocket presence. Intriguing arm with some touch. Could get a backup shot. Sleeper. UDFA - Carolina
12: Austin Reed (Western Kentucky) 6'2" 220. Good touch. Flashes an arm at times. I liked Bailey Zappe more. UDFA - Chicago
13: Kedon Slovis (BYU) 6'3" 223. Played at multiple colleges. Can make throws at the NFL level but never jumped off the tape. Backup vibes. More name than game. UDFA - Indianapolis
14: Joe Milton III (Tennessee) 6'5" 235. Strikes me as a slow processor. Has an arm but Hooker was way better. Gives me Dwayne Haskins vibes. 6x193 New England
15: Michael Hiers (Samford). Solid enough arm. Could latch on as a backup.
16: Sam Hartman (Notre Dame) 6'1" 211. Holds the ball forever. Average arm. Backup in the NFL at best. UDFA - Washington
17: Davius Richards (NC Central). Short but thickly built. Could stick in WCO as a 3rd string backup. Rhythm passer is his strength.
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