Current:Home > News2024 NFL draft: USC's Caleb Williams leads top 5 quarterback prospect list -Golden Summit Finance
2024 NFL draft: USC's Caleb Williams leads top 5 quarterback prospect list
View
Date:2025-04-27 18:31:11
The 2024 NFL scouting combine is here with 321 football players descending on Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this week for the annual event.
That means draft season is upon us. Who are the top prospects at their position?
Quarterbacks, wide receivers and offensive tackles are three of the strongest position groups in this year’s draft class and some of those players are among this year's most fascinating draft prospects. Where will they land in the first round of the draft?
NEVER MISS A SNAP: Sign up for our NFL newsletter for exclusive content
USA TODAY Sports explores the top five quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL draft:
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
USC QB Caleb Williams
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 215
Caleb Williams is the consensus top quarterback prospect in the draft. He has arguably the strongest arm amongst the QB prospects. He can torque his body and throw from different angles and can make magic happen on off-script plays.
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has good mobility, pocket awareness and is a playmaker behind center.
Williams ended his USC career with many Trojan single-season records, including for total yards (4,919), most touchdowns scored rushing and passing (52), completions (333), passing yards (4,537) and touchdown passes (42).
Weaknesses: Sometimes Williams tends to hold the football too long and tries to do too much. There were also times during his college career that he was careless with the football.
LSU QB Jayden Daniels
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 210
No quarterback saw his draft stock rise higher in 2023 than Jayden Daniels. He made tremendous strides as a passer in his two seasons at LSU after transferring from Arizona State.
Daniels’ accuracy and precision passing were impressive during a prolific 2023 season in which he amassed 3,812 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy. He finished his 2023 campaign with a 208.0 passer rating, the highest in FBS history.
The dual-threat quarterback has good mechanics and footwork. He’s best on short and intermediate throws.
Weaknesses: Did Daniels hit lightning in a bottle at LSU? Can he stay on this same trajectory? His slender frame might also cause some durability concerns.
Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 213
Watch Michael Penix’s tape of his 430 yards and two touchdown performance in a 37-31 Sugar Bowl win against Texas and it’s hard to argue that he’s not a top three quarterback in this year’s draft. Penix picked apart Texas much like he did to teams in the Pac-12.
Penix, a left-handed passer, is accurate, poised and has a strong arm.
In 2023, Penix’s 4,903 passing yards broke his own Washington school record and led the nation. He won the 2023 Maxwell Award.
Weaknesses: Penix does play a little stiff. He also had two ACL tears and shoulder injuries in college.
North Carolina QB Drake Maye
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 230
Drake Maye has the body type of a prototypical NFL QB. Maye is big, has a strong arm, throws with velocity and can make throws all over the gridiron. The playbook is wide open with him.
Last year, Maye was one of eight FBS quarterbacks to average more than 300 yards passing per game. He also finished with the third-most total offensive yards per game (338.1).
The North Carolina product is a top-two quarterback on many draft boards. He has the size and arm talent to make scouts salivate.
Weaknesses: Maye can get careless with the football and had poor footwork at times.
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 202
Former Michigan coach and new Los Angeles Chargers head man Jim Harbaugh called J.J. McCarthy the greatest quarterback in Wolverines history. That alone is a rousing endorsement for a program that produced Tom Brady and even Harbaugh.
McCarthy is efficient with the football. He completed 240-of-332 passes for 2,991 yards with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions during Michigan’s national championship season.
McCarthy is composed and plays within the structure of an offense.
Weaknesses: McCarthy doesn’t have an elite trait, and the accuracy and success of his deep throws are below average.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
veryGood! (9393)
Related
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- 2024 NBA playoffs: First-round schedule, times, TV info, key stats, who to watch
- Trevor Bauer accuser charged with felony fraud after she said pitcher got her pregnant
- 'We must adapt': L.L. Bean announces layoffs, reduced call center hours, citing online shopping
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Federal judge denies request from a lonely El Chapo for phone calls, visits with daughters and wife
- Brock Purdy recalls story of saving a reporter while shooting a John Deere commercial
- How Simone Biles Really Felt About Husband Jonathan Owens' Controversial Relationship Comments
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, more 'Office' stars reunite in ad skit about pillow company
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- House speaker faces new call by another Republican to step down or face removal
- The fluoride fight: Data shows more US cities, towns remove fluoride from drinking water
- Who will be the No. 1 pick of the 2024 NFL draft? Who's on the clock first? What to know.
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Katie Couric recalls Bryant Gumbel's 'sexist attitude' while co-hosting the 'Today' show
- Court papers show Sen. Bob Menendez may testify his wife kept him in the dark, unaware of any crimes
- Hundreds of African immigrants in New York City rally for more protections
Recommendation
Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
University of Texas confirms nearly 60 workers were laid off, most in former DEI positions
Ahead of Paris Olympics, police oversee evictions, leading to charges of 'social cleansing'
Feds charge arms dealers with smuggling grenade launchers, ammo from US to Iraq and Sudan
FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
Maui Fire Department report on deadly wildfire details need for more equipment and mutual aid plans
Olympic Sprinter Gabby Thomas Reveals Why Strict Covid Policies Made Her Toyko Experience More Fun
University of Texas confirms nearly 60 workers were laid off, most in former DEI positions