The fun part of playing dynasty football is that you always have to keep an eye on the future, regardless of the format of your league. While the quarterback position is more important in Superflex, the incoming rookie QBs will matter to you anyway.
It has been penciled in for months now that both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye will be the first two passers off the board in April 2024, with Williams looking like the clubhouse favorite to be the top pick. But there is a lot of time left in the college football season, so things could potentially change.
The following paints a picture of how some of 2024’s best incoming QBs could fit in with their new teams.
Tier 1
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr.
Initially, this quarterback tier was seen as Williams, then a big gap, and then Maye, with Michael Penix Jr., was not in this group. But with Williams struggling with ball security, Maye putting his team on his back, and Penix looking solid for Washington, this group has a different dynamic.
For Williams, teams will still look at him as the QB1 of this class, regardless of ball-security concerns. Having shown his pure passer abilities since he was a freshman, Williams has been destined to be the top pick.
Mobility, accuracy, arm strength, and game perception outline Williams’ strengths, and he has shown many of them across his three-year collegiate career. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly one thing that stands out about Williams; he’s just that good.
"Caleb Williams is the only guy I've covered in college football that is excellent in all 5 categories."@joelklatt on why the USC QB is a projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/dmq3m8UePo
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 8, 2023
Teams like the Bears, Cardinals, Patriots, Giants, and Packers are all the likeliest landing spots for Williams, based on the current draft order.
For Maye, he is destined to be some team’s QB1, and he likely won’t see his name called outside of the top three picks. A three-year college career with the Tar Heels has been productive, throwing 38 touchdowns to only seven interceptions.
Maye deserves more headlines, which will increase as the draft cycle heats up. Whichever of the five teams mentioned above does not land Williams will likely turn their attention to Maye.
Maye needs to overcome the Mitchell Trubisky effect, as Trubisky was a disappointing high UNC draft pick at QB. But Maye’s play style and overall look don’t resemble Trubisky, so Chicago (or another top team) shouldn’t feel like they are making a repeat mistake.
Including Penix in this group might be surprising, but take a moment to realize something. Penix, who started his college career at Indiana, is leading all of college football in passing yards (3,537), averaging almost 10 yards per completion and a top-five QBR.
While Penix doesn’t take off and run much, Penix is plenty athletic, a skill that transfers well to the NFL. While fighting the stigma of a southpaw struggling professionally, Penix has shown plenty to prove he belongs at quarterback.
Tier 2
Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, Quinn Ewers
Jayden Daniels has taken off in his second season with LSU and has shown just a bit more than J.J. McCarthy lately. McCarthy hasn’t had that ‘flashy’ performance yet this year, limiting him in my look ahead.
While Daniels has impressed running the ball, he has thrown for over 3,100 yards, 30 TDs, and only four interceptions. The Raiders, Falcons, or even the Rams with a pick between 8-14 could be a spot for the quarterback.
McCarthy didn’t show enough in his recent matchup against Penn State, which only ensured he didn’t increase his stock. While the performance didn’t hurt him, the increased viewership of this powerhouse matchup didn’t provide him the kind of stock boost he was looking for.
McCarthy may struggle to translate his game to the NFL, as he hasn’t looked the best when forced to carry the offense. While his winning record (22-1) speaks to more scouts than others, it’s tough to justify a top-15 selection on him (back-end of the 1st, potentially to Minnesota, New Orleans, or even San Francisco).
Bo Nix and Quinn Evers are likely Day 2 picks, but they still would be helpful pieces for any team. Nix has the better body of work, while it’s possible that Ewers might not go pro in 2024.
Nix and Ewers profile as long-term investments for playoff teams, and the Buccaneers & Seahawks come to mind as landing spots.
Best of the Rest
Shedeur Sanders, Riley Leonard, Michael Pratt
There are lots of names that fit here, but Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Riley Leonard (Duke), and Michael Pratt (Tulane) are the biggest.
Sanders may not even declare this year, potentially lining himself up as the top QB in the 2025 class. While his name carries a lot of weight, his on-field performance speaks heavily too, making Sanders quite the polarizing prospect.
Leonard and Pratt come from schools that don’t typically produce NFL QBs, making the grading process a bit tougher. Leonard is the better prospect, but both are mid-day three options, likely drafted as QB2 competition rather than to start.
Your dynasty roster may be championship-bound this season, or you may have already packed it in for next year. Regardless of where you stand in the standings, it’s never too early to look ahead. The 2024 quarterback class should be one of the most polarizing classes in recent memory, so do your homework.
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