2024 NFL Draft: QB Rankings
1
Caleb Williams
School: USC
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 214 lbs
Strengths:
Williams is a talented QB prospect with the tools to uplift a franchise. He has good arm strength, showing the velocity to zip in tight window passes, or launch it deep. But even with a strong arm, he has shown the awareness in certain situations to take some heat off the ball and throw with more touch. His deep ball is nice, and he can differentiate when it needs to be thrown on a rope or with more on an arc. Williams has dynamic qualities as an athlete. He escapes pressure often, showing the athleticism even to get away from free blitzers coming off the edge. When forced off script, he does well to keep his eyes down the field as he looks for a pass. Williams throws a nice ball on the run, and can get good velocity on it with the flick of a wrist. He can also throw at a variety of arm angles. Though he looks to pass first, Williams is also a running threat. The agility is there to make people miss in the open field, and he has the speed to draw off from defenders.
Weaknesses:
Williams has the physical tools to be a high end player, but is still developing mentally. With all of these tools, he often tends to play hero ball. Instead of taking open plays at the short or intermediate level, he’ll sometimes launch it deep into double or triple coverage. As well, he sometimes throws the ball off his backfoot instead of resetting his feet in the pocket. Williams does do a decent job of going through his progressions, but this is less meaningful if he is not going to take open routes that he comes across. Accuracy on all three levels have been displayed, but I’d like to see a little more consistency. Some of his passes end up being sailed high and can fall into the wrong hands. Another issue in his game is his tendency to hang on to the ball way too long. This is also connected to his decision making and not taking open receivers underneath. Williams will sometimes scramble around avoiding pressure until the pocket closes in on him. Further compounding the issue is his lack of ball security, leading to fumbles.
Summary:
Williams has the tools that every franchise would be looking for in a top 10 QB that can turn around a franchise. I wouldn’t quite say his arm strength is elite, but it is high end. And he has the athleticism and off script ability to turn nothing plays into significant gains. Williams will have to improve his decision making and avoid making reckless plays. As well, mechanics could use some tweaks, which should help his accuracy. Williams isn’t a perfect prospect, andt there are both physical and mental things to iron out, but he has the talent of a top pick, and he will likely be the 1st overall pick in the draft.
| Grade: 88.8 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Jayden Daniels
School: LSU
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 210 lbs
Strengths:
Daniels is a dynamic athlete who poses the threat to take it to the house with his legs at any time. Designed runs should be a big part of his game, as he can pile on the yards. Daniels also can scramble outside the pocket off script, and still keep his eyes forward to make a pass. His accuracy is good for the most part, and he has decent enough arm strength to push the ball down the field. His touch on some of his deep passes is really nice, putting the ball on an arc and dropping it in the bread basket. Though running is a big part of his game, Daniels shows poise in the pocket, staying calm even as things start to break down. He will sit through the pressure and deliver an accurate pass. Daniels does well to go through his progressions, and can find his second or third target when the first read isn’t open.
Weaknesses:
Daniels has good arm strength, but it is not elite. Ball velocity is only solid when throwing on a rope into tight windows. As well, some of his deeper passes can hang on him a little and the receiver will have to wait. Throws to the far sideline can especially have some issues. Overall, Daniels has good pocket presence and good pocket awareness, but there are instances where he’ll run into pressure. In the pocket, his footwork comes and goes. There are times where his feet stop and he becomes still in the pocket. In some instances, most of his ball velocity is coming from his upper body. As a passer, he anticipates things well most of the time, but there are instances of hesitation where he passes up on open throws over the middle.
Summary:
Daniels is an elite athlete and a weapon on offence. He can go for a house call on any play. His athleticism allows for designed runs and read options to be incorporated into the offence. But he is also a good passer, which allows for diversification. Though he doesn’t have elite arm strength, Daniels can still push it down the field, and his accuracy is pretty good most of the time. He is a good processor for a rookie, which should help him early on as he transitions to the next level. There are kinks to iron out, but Daniels should be a good starter at the next level, with tools that can push him into the upper end of the spectrum. He will be drafted within the first few picks of the draft.
| Grade: 87.4 | Round Grade: 1st |
3
Bo Nix
School: Oregon
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 214 lbs
Strengths:
Nix has made impressive strides since his days at Auburn, catapulting himself into a top prospect after transferring to Oregon. His talent is visible, even in a restrictive system like the one ran at Oregon. Nix has good arm strength and the ball velocity to fit throws into tight windows, and complete passes deep down the field from the opposite hash. He is a smooth, quick athlete, showcasing the ability to make moves in a phone booth and work his way out of the pocket as it is collapsing. Then once he is outside the pocket, you see playmaking speed. It is not elite to the level of Daniels, but still very good. I love the way he is able to throw off-platform and at a variety of arm angles. This gives him more throwing windows and the opportunity to still make a play when pressure has prevented him from cleanly stepping into his throw. Overall, his accuracy is pretty good, though a lot of his throws were more open than what he’ll see at the NFL level. NIx’s pre-snap reads are good, and he can identify which target gives him the best chance against any given look.
Weaknesses:
The mental aspect will be a big question mark heading into the NFL, as the system he operated at Oregon was extremely simple. It consisted of a lot of screen passes and quick stuff, with few plays requiring him to look beyond his first read. In a more complex system, how will he adapt? Was he a capable player running a simple offence, or was he able to mask weaknesses? In addition to the mental aspects, there will be more on his plate physically. The windows will be tighter and he will be forced to be more precise. Though I thought his accuracy in the short and intermediate levels were pretty precise, even if the throws were quite open. Deeper down the field, he has the ability to drop it in the bucket, but he did have some overthrows that left a lot of yards on the field. As well, there were a few instances where his deep ball was lacking air underneath. Throwing it on a line allowed the defender to make a play on the ball in some of these cases. Though he has the ability to evade pressure, there are instances where panic will cause him to chuck up an ill-advised pass. He needs to eliminate those kinds of plays.
Summary:
The transition to the NFL level will be a big step for Nix, as he will now be tasked with operating a pro system, which will ask more of him. He is a boom or bust prospect, and the possibility exists that he will revert to the player he was at Auburn once he is removed from his environment at Oregon. However, the other side must also be acknowledged. I admittedly went into his evaluation with some bias against him. It was hard to shake the image I had of him as a player from his time at Auburn, but he won me over. The arm strength, athleticism, ability to make off platform throws, and ability to run and make plays off script are all things that give him a lot of upside. His accuracy has improved significantly, and if he continues on the upward trend, he can be a high end starter.
| Grade: 85.4 | Round Grade: 1st |
4
Drake Maye
School: North Carolina
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 223 lbs
Strengths:
Maye is a big QB who also has good athleticism for his size. His arm talent is what stands out the most, however. Maye is able to sling it to all three levels, possessing the velocity to squeeze the ball into tight windows, and the distance to hit deep passes down the sideline. He throws with decent touch when throwing the long ball. His accuracy is generally solid. I wouldn’t say he is a high end athlete, but Maye is able to escape the pocket and extend the play. He can throw on the run, or tuck it and run if he chooses. Enough speed is there to pick up yards when he does choose to run. Maye has made some splash plays going off script, combining all of his tools to keep plays alive and pull a game changer out of his bag of tricks.
Weaknesses:
Decision making needs to improve. Maye doesn’t always react to pressure well. On some plays where it is essentially over, he will chuck it up before taking the sack, putting the ball in harm’s way. This carelessness shows up more often than I would have liked to see. Going through progressions is also a bit of an issue. I wouldn’t call him a one read QB, but he does look a lot more comfortable going to that first read, and will sometimes force it in, even if it’s not there. His accuracy can come and go at times, with inconsistent mechanics playing a big part. Some of his passes are air mailed, while others are one hoppers to the intended target. His footwork can get a bit sloppy at times, and on some of his throws, he is getting all upper body into it, leading to some of these missed passes. Maye has the tools to evade pressure, but doesn’t always sense it coming until it’s too late. This contributes to his tendency to hold onto the ball longer than he should.
Summary:
Maye has the upside to be a good starting QB at the next level. His combination of arm strength and athleticism allows him to make big plays that can change a game at any given moment. Mechanics will need to improve, which should level out most of his accuracy concerns. The bigger thing to me comes on the mental side. Limiting the recklessness and improving his decision making will be critical to maintaining success at the NFL level. I wouldn’t call Maye a sure thing prospect, but his issues are all correctable. Maye will be a top 2-3 pick in the draft, and has the potential to be a quality starter pretty early on in his career.
| Grade: 85.2 | Round Grade: 1st |
5
Michael Penix
School: Washington
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 216 lbs
Strengths:
Arm strength is what stands out the most when watching tape on Penix. He generates a lot of velocity, and can thread the needle into some very tight windows. You can see the ability to throw the ball to all areas of the field, and his ability to hit his receiver in stride deep down the sideline from the opposite hash is especially impressive. For the most part, he stays calm under pressure. Penix has shown that he can navigate the pocket, stepping up or shifting to either side when he needs to avoid pressure. He reads the field pretty well, and knows who to target in various situations. Penix also goes through his progressions with a sense of calmness, limiting his number of forced balls when the first read isn’t open. He has enough athleticism to scramble outside of the pocket when needed, and his arm strength gives him the ability to still complete passes down the field when out of structure.
Weaknesses:
Penix has a great arm, but throwing with touch is something he can improve on. He throws a lot of bullet passes, and even his deep shots are often on a line. It would be good to see a bit more air under some of his long bombs. As a passer, there are times where he’ll have some mechanical blips, which lead to errant passes. This impacts his accuracy to all three levels of the field. Penix has enough athleticism to go off script, but doesn’t possess those dynamic qualities. He can be a bit stiff, which makes it hard for him to change directions on a dime. As well, though he can pick up yards on the ground, he by no means is a homerun threat. Overall, he actually looks a lot more comfortable staying within his structure, and there is sometimes a reluctance to exit the pocket when under pressure. Though he has the arm strength to still make plays on the run, his accuracy takes a big hit in these situations, largely due to inconsistent mechanics. His injury history will be something to monitor as the draft process goes on. He had several season ending injuries in college, including two torn ACL’s on the same knee.
Summary:
Penix has starter upside thanks to his strong arm and poise as a pocket passer. The tools are there for him to succeed, and I do think he could play early on. However, he will need to iron out some kinks mechanically and improve his throwing motion. This should help him be more consistent with his accuracy. Penix much prefers to play inside the pocket, though he has enough tools to operate outside of it too. It would be nice if he can get a bit more comfortable going off structure. His injury history could cause his draft stock to take a hit, but talent wise, Penix has the tools to be a starting QB.
| Grade: 83.9 | Round Grade: 2nd |
6
JJ McCarthy
School: MIchigan
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 219 lbs
Strengths:
McCarthy enters the NFL with a winning pedigree, bringing a National Championship with him. He operated a pro system at Michigan, and has plenty of experience taking snaps under centre. McCarthy shows solid ball velocity when given the chance to step into his throw. He’s got a decent bullet pass to the intermediate level. McCarthy plays with a little toughness, and will hang in the pocket, taking a hit to get his pass off. Athleticism is a strong point in his game. McCarthy can play off script, rolling out to either side and delivering a good throw on the run. He can also pick up chunk yardage on the ground. The ability to make people miss is there, and his speed warrants some designed runs being called from time to time.
Weaknesses:
His arm strength is decent, but there are some limitations. His velocity takes a big hit when he isn’t able to step into the pass. Some of his passes run the risk of being undercut by the defender. On deep passes, this same issue often prevents him from putting more air under the ball. Many of his deep balls take more of a flat path to the intended target, as opposed to arching it into the bread basket. Mechanics will need some work. His dropback can be a bit choppy, and his throwing motion isn’t always maximizing efficiency. Mentally, he has shown the ability to go through his progressions, but there are still times where he latches on to that first read. McCarthy will have to improve some of the mental aspects of his game. This includes pre and post-snap.
Summary:
McCarthy looks to have a solid floor at the next level. His experience in a pro system should help, and he has good athleticism and enough arm strength to run an offence. That being said, he also doesn’t have as high a ceiling as some of the other prospects. He is a bit lacking when it comes to arm strength. Velocity flashes do occur, but in ideal conditions when he is able to step into his pass. At other times, his passes are a bit more vulnerable to being jumped, and on deep balls, he is forced to throw on a line, rather than putting air under it. At the next level, McCarthy can succeed as a starter, but he might be more dependent on the scheme and team around him to maximize his potential.
| Grade: 83.4 | Round Grade: 2nd |
7
Spencer Rattler
School: South Carolina
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 211 lbs
Strengths:
Rattler has good arm strength and is capable of connecting on passes to any part of the field. He’s got a good drive ball on shorter and intermediate passes, showing the ability to fit it into tight windows. The velocity also is present on off-platform throws, giving him more playmaking potential when under pressure. His quick release allows him to make snap decisions from less than desirable positions, and still get enough power into the pass. Accuracy for the most part, is pretty solid to the first two levels of the field, and he has good mechanics that help him stay relatively consistent. As an athlete, Rattle is nimble. He has quickness that allows him to maneuver around the pocket when pressure is coming. Enough speed is also there for him to extend the play outside the pocket.
Weaknesses:
Rattler has made strides, but isn’t fully developed mentally. He can still be slow to go through his progressions or, in some cases, latch on to his first read. His receivers and offensive linde didn’t do him a lot of favours, but I still didn’t like how often he tried to force the ball into windows that just weren’t there. There were times where he threw it into traffic, and with the receiver going for the ball, as well as multiple DB’s, it ended up popping up into the air. Not a good thing for the offence to have the ball just up for grabs like that. He especially did this when under pressure. Instead of escaping the pocket, he would backup a little and just let it go. Rattler has the ability to throw his deep balls on an arc, but I’d like to see him do it a little more often, which should help his accuracy on these passes. Looking at his shorter and intermediate passes, his accuracy was generally good, but there were instances of some easy misses. Some passes would end up way behind his target on, say, a short crosser. Athletically, he has enough athleticism to extend the play, but I’d say he is quicker than fast. He’ll be able to do it at the next level, but I don’t think he is a dynamic athlete or a big threat to go for chunk yardage on a consistent basis.
Summary:
Rattler has the makings of a potential starter at the next level. He has good arm strength, good quickness to work the pocket when under pressure, and solid enough accuracy. With some tweaks, his accuracy could even improve, and he could avoid some easy, yet costly mistakes. The bigger issue with Rattler is on the mental side. This is the element that very much makes him a boom or bust prospect. If he can be quicker going through his reads, and eliminate the panic passes when under pressure, I like his chances. But failing to do so will likely see him max out as a backup QB.
| Grade: 76.5 | Round Grade: 3rd |
8
Joe Milton
School: Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 235 lbs
Strengths:
Milton has elite traits and an abundance of highlights that jump off the page. He has a rocket of an arm. Can easily throw it 60 yards down the field without losing any velocity. His bullet passes see the ball leave his hand with a smoke trail. A ton of zip is evident when watching him pass the ball. Milton can rile it into tight windows. The amount of velocity he generates also, at times, can make up for being a split second late getting the ball out. Milton is a tremendous athlete, possessing the speed and agility to make people miss, and take it all the way. His elite size for the position adds an extra wrinkle, and further makes things tough on the defence. With his size, and the amount of speed he is able to build up, defenders have a tough time bringing him down. Milton has flashed accuracy at the first and second level. He is capable of making pinpoint passes on a rope with general consistency.
Weaknesses:
Physical traits is what it is about, at the moment, for Milton. But for all the talent, he is still developing mentally. And as a bit of an overaged prospect, this is a bit concerning. I’ve seen flashes of him going through his progressions, but he still latches on to his first read far too often. And things were often simplified for him, allowing him to work just half of the field. Even still, he can be slow to process, and pass up on open plays, instead holding onto the ball and getting himself into trouble. His accuracy is decent to the short and intermediate levels, but there are stinkers that sometimes show up. It could be an easy, routine 5 yard pass, and he’ll rifle it high. These are plays that can be frustrating, especially when they’ve shown up a few times, as he is allowing easy yards to slip away. His arm strength is obviously not an issue for him as a deep passer, but his accuracy is lacking on these passes. He more so seems to just launch it into an area and hope that it will hit his intended target. But he has a lot of overthrows, as well as underthrows, where the defender is able to catch up and make a play on the ball.
Summary:
Milton is a very intriguing prospect. His arm strength gives him the ability to make any throw, and his combination of size and athleticism makes him a dangerous, dynamic runner. He is a highlight waiting to happen, but simultaneously a lowlight waiting to happen. Blips in his accuracy and his lack of development as a processor have led to inconsistencies throughout his time as a starter. As an older prospect, it is fair to wonder if he’ll be able to put it together. Can he continue to develop, and use his high end traits to become a starting QB. Or will the inconsistencies be too much to overcome, and limit him to being a career backup? Milton is a boom or bust prospect, but the tools will certainly have teams willing to take a shot at some point.
| Grade: 71.8 | Round Grade: 4th |
9
Taulia Tagovailoa
School: Maryland
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 200 lbs
Strengths:
Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Dolphins QB Tua, is a solid, well rounded prospect with the ability to make it at the next level. I wouldn’t call either one of his arm strength or speed elite, but both are adequate. He has the ability to throw with velocity down the middle of the field, and really, to most parts of the field in the shorter and intermediate ranges. Tagovailoa throws with good touch on deeper passes, putting a nice arc under the ball, and giving his receiver a chance to make a play. HIs accuracy is good for the most part, and he can release the ball from a variety of arm angles. Tagovailoa throws with good timing and anticipation, and can really do some damage when he gets in a rhythm. Athletically, his speed isn’t elite, but is good enough to escape the pocket and still make plays as a runner. Really, his quickness is what actually stands out most for him as an athlete. He does well to juke and sidestep his way away from pressure before extending the play outside the pocket. Tagovailoa delivers a decent ball on the run, and he can do some damage as a runner beyond the line of scrimmage.
Weaknesses:
Good arm strength and athletic traits, but not great. Can work the short/intermediate levels, and complete deep passes as well, but there are some deep shots that die down on him. His passes in these instances sometimes end up short of his target. Mentally, Tagovailoa is still a work in progress in some areas. His poise in the pocket and decision making are both things that could use some improvement. He doesn’t always react well to pressure in the pocket. You can sometimes see him panic and just let go of an errant pass. In other instances, he’ll bail at the first sniff of pressure, even though he still had time to sit there and pick out a pass.
Summary:
Tagovailoa has the makings to potentially be a solid starter or quality backup at the next level. He meets both the arm strength and athleticism thresholds, even if they aren’t quite elite. His accuracy is decent, for the most part, and his ability to make plays on the ground is a good thing to have. Tagovailoa will have to work on how he reacts to pressure in the pocket. At this point, a lot of bad decisions are evident on tape, and these issues will be compounded in the NFL if not corrected. He’ll have to work his way up and make some improvements, but Tagovailoa has the potential to be a solid player if he can correct his flaws, and have an opportunity or two present itself.
| Grade: 70.8 | Round Grade: 4th |
10
Jordan Travis
School: Florida State
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 200 lbs
Strengths:
Travis is a good athlete who also brings some arm talent to the table. He can get his passes off from a variety of different angles, and let a pass go on the run with just the flick of a wrist, and still have good zip on the ball. His arm strength is a plus. Travis can throw on a rope, fitting his passes into tight windows. He can also throw it deep, with enough arm strength to get it to the moving target. His speed and quickness allow him to scramble outside the pocket when pressure arrives. He is a dynamic athlete who can rip off chunk gains when he decides to tuck and run.
Weaknesses:
Travis is still a raw prospect. The tools like his arm strength and athleticism stand out, but his accuracy is very inconsistent. At all levels. A lot of his deep balls are just guesswork, while his bullet passes are often rifled into traffic or empty space. Travis has a bad throwing motion, which has an effect on his accuracy. Correcting the bad habits will take some time. Mentally, Travis is still coming along in terms of his ability to make pre-snap reads or identify pressure early on during the play. There are times where he looks lost in the pocket, and others where he looks panicked, as a result of pressure collapsing the pocket.
Summary:
Travis is a developmental project at the next level. He has great athleticism to rip off chunk gains and escape pressure in the pocket. He also has a strong enough arm to attack each level of the field. That said, he still has a number of issues to work out, both in terms of his technique and the mental aspect of his game. His mechanics and accuracy will especially need to improve, and his mental processing will have to progress forward as well. His traits give him starter upside, but if he ever reaches that potential, it will likely take a decent bit of time first. Despite the issues, Travis has traits that still might earn him a look later on in the draft.
| Grade: 65.5 | Round Grade: 5th |
11
John Rhys Plumlee
School: UCF
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 200 lbs
Strengths:
Plumlee is a creative player who loves to go off script. He has good athleticism and is twitchy enough to escape pressure and bring the play outside, while avoiding a sack. Plumlee keeps his eyes downfield and is pretty good at throwing on the run, though he can certainly pick up yards with his legs. In fact, designed runs was an area where he looked quite good. Plumlee has decent enough accuracy at the first two levels of the field. He’s got a baseball background, which is evident on the football field when he is releasing the ball from different arm angles.
Weaknesses:
Accuracy is solid to the first two levels of the field, but I wouldn’t, by any means, call him a precision passer. A lot of his throws are more so put in an area for his target to go get it, rather than putting it right on the money. As you increase the depth of the pass, you see more inconsistencies from him. Arm strength is also something that factors in here. It is solid enough for the short and intermediate game, but he loses some velocity on deeper targets. Mentally, staring down targets is still an issue. Plumlee sometimes still has trouble getting off that first read, though he is improving. As well, there can be a few issues when pressured. He’ll sometimes dip out too early or, on other occasions, wait until it’s too late to salvage the play.
Summary:
Plumlee is a gamer whose play making ability will have some teams interested in his services. His ability to go off script is outstanding. He is a good athlete, which helps, but he also plays a determined game, picking up as many yards as he can as a runner. Plumlee isn’t a strong armed deep passer, but has enough to keep the chains moving. Overall, Plumlee has the tools to be a solid backup QB in the NFL. I think there is a little starter upside, but a good backup is his most likely role.
| Grade: 64.4 | Round Grade: 6th |
12
Spencer Sanders
School: Ole Miss
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 211 lbs
Strengths:
Sanders is a good athlete who plays with a spring in his step. He is bouncy in the pocket, always ready to evade pressure when he has to. Sanders navigates the pocket nicely, stepping up when necessary or otherwise side shuffling to avoid oncoming pass rushers. His poise is outstanding. Sanders has shown that he has no problem taking a big hit to make a big play. He’ll sit in the pocket and get plastered, but not before delivering a nice pass. His athleticism doesn’t just help him evade pressure, it also allows him to pick up yards on the ground when he sees an opening that he can exploit. Sanders has solid arm strength and solid accuracy to the short/intermediate parts of the field. On deeper routes, he has flashed some touch and the ability to put the ball on an arc and drop it in.
Weaknesses:
Sanders has a lot of starting experience at Oklahoma State, but decided to transfer to Ole Miss for this past season. This decision ended up backfiring on him, as he spent the year as their backup, appearing sparingly and only attempting 29 passes. Adding sat to the wound, he was ruled academically ineligible for their Bowl Game, Though his athleticism works in his favour, Sanders sometimes uses it too much, bailing on some relatively clean pockets. As well, there may still be some questions about his ability to throw with velocity on deeper routes. Mechanics certainly played a part. Even his throwing motion seems to be off.
Summary:
Sanders has good athleticism and a decent enough arm to make most throws. He loves to extend offensive plays, His accuracy is a work in progress. Hopefully better technique would help that. Becoming a backup after transferring will be a red flag for most. And he is not a perfect prospect by any means. But Sanders does have athleticism and enough arm strength, poise, and toughness to make it as a backup. As well, teams do have his previous production to fall back on, and his performance at the Hula Bowl was good, perhaps earning him a bit more consideration in the late rounds.
| Grade: 59.6 | Round Grade: 7th |
13
Sam Hartman
School: Notre Dame
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 211 lbs
Strengths:
Hartman has some likable qualities, with his competitiveness at or near the top of the list. He is a fierce competitor who plays with a chip on his shoulder. Hartman flashes ball velocity and accuracy on intermediate passes over the middle, and has also shown to be capable of throwing with good touch. He also likes to extend plays outside the pocket and throws a pretty good ball on the run. Though he can extend plays, Hartman is also fine playing in the pocket. He’ll stand tall with pressure coming and still keep his eyes downfield to find an open receiver. Hartman can go through his progressions and can read the secondary well. He does well to identify weaknesses and exploit them.
Weaknesses:
Hartman’s tape has its fair share of flashes, but he is wildly inconsistent. In terms of velocity, it shows up on passes over the middle, but he loses it when looking deep or to the sideline. As well, his accuracy comes and goes. On any given pass attempt, you don’t know what you are getting. A lot of his passes sail high, and there are concerns about turnovers. His throwing mechanics, at this point, aren’t great, which contributes to his accuracy issues. Hartman can handle pressure, but the internal clock is sometimes an issue. There are times where he’ll hang onto the ball too long and let the pressure get to him. Hartman has enough athletic ability to extend plays, but I wouldn’t say he is dynamic. Faster defenders are able to catch him from behind when he is on the run. While he is capable of extending plays outside the pocket, he likely won’t threaten as a runner past the line of scrimmage.
Summary:
Hartman’s competitive nature and flashes in some areas will attract him to teams as a potential backup option. However, his traits are middling and there are still several issues that need to be worked out in order for him to find consistency. If he can level out his accuracy and limit turnover worthy plays, Hartman will have a chance to challenge for a backup spot.
| Grade: 54.8 | Round Grade: UDFA |
14
Kedon Slovis
School: BYU
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 223 lbs
Strengths:
Slovis brings good football IQ to the tale. He reads the play well and can find the soft spots in coverages. He has flashed accuracy in the short and intermediate parts of the field. Athletically, he isn’t a burner and won’t threaten to pick up chunk yards. However, he is quick enough to evade pressure in the pocket and extend outside of it. Slovis is a tough player, willing to stand tall in the face of pressure. There are times where he navigates the pocket really well to buy himself some extra time.
Weaknesses:
Slovis is lacking when it comes to arm strength. He gets enough velocity to toss it over the middle. However, there is a noticeable dip when throwing outside the numbers, even on passes closer to the line of scrimmage. Further, he isn’t a big threat to complete deep passes or push the ball down the field. Slovis can scramble outside the pocket, but isn’t a rushing threat. His pocket presence is good, but awareness in the pocket could improve. Though it is good that he is willing to stand in the face of pressure, there are times where holds it too long, which has led to sacks and, in some cases, the ball being popped out. Accuracy comes in flashes, but there were more easy misses than I would have liked to see. Not good for a QB that will have to rely a lot on short/quick passes.
Summary:
Slovis projects as a QB3 at the next level, as he lacks the arm to threaten down the field. His escapability and football IQ are good enough that, with some improvements in other areas, he could have an outside shot at winning a backup battle at some point. But even so, he would need significant help around him, and at best could only be relied on to manage a game, should he ever see meaningful action.
| Grade: 54.5 | Round Grade: UDFA |
15
Carter Bradley
School: South Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 218 lbs
Strengths:
Bradley brings solid arm strength to the table. Not elite, but he is capable of throwing to all levels of the field, and can get some zip on his drive passes. As well, Bradley isn’t phased by pressure. He’s fine standing in the pocket to keep on scanning the field. He can also step up in the pocket or sidestep rushers to get outside if he needs to. Bradley goes through his progressions, and doesn’t often get stuck on his first read longer than he should. His decision making is good, for the most part. He doesn’t often put the ball in harm’s way, and checks it down when he needs to.
Weaknesses:
Accuracy can be pretty inconsistent. Bradley will often throw it behind his target on crossers, and even on other routes, his targets often have to adjust to the ball. Mechanics could improve, which might help his accuracy down the road. Bradley flashes anticipatory throws, but is late on some occasions. He doesn’t stand out as an athlete, and isn’t a threat to really do much outside the pocket, or as a rusher. He navigates the pocket well and can escape in certain situations, but he is limited to simpler stuff. There are no dynamic qualities.
Summary:
Bradley is lacking the athleticism that teams often look for in QB’s these days. However, he is a solid pocket passer with enough arm strength to make some things happen. His mental game can use some tweaks, but he isn’t too far off in that area. What he really needs to work on is his accuracy. At this point, he has too many inconsistencies in this area. If he can level it out, he could challenge for a backup job at some point. But he will need a bit of development first.
| Grade: 54.1 | Round Grade: UDFA |
16
Michael Pratt
School: Tulane
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 217 lbs
Strengths:
Pratt is a smart QB, able to take command of the huddle and read a defence pre-snap. He is able to work through his progressions and stays calm in the pocket, even as pressure is beginning to close it. You see his poise when he calmly steps up or shuffles to the side to avoid a rusher, all while continuing to keep his eyes down field. Pratt operates well out of play action, and is able to open things up through deceptiveness. His accuracy in the short game is good, and decent at the intermediate level as well. He gets a good amount of zip on his shorter passes, and if he steps into it, can sometimes drive the ball to the intermediate level.
Weaknesses:
Coaches will like Pratt for his IQ, but he is lacking when it comes to traits. His arm strength is decent on shorter passes, but you can see that he really has to step into his pass to generate a good amount of velocity when he goes a bit further down the field. His throwing motion is elongated, and will need some tweaking at the next level. His issues with arm strength really show up when he is throwing deep. His passes die down on him, and he frequently allows the safety or CB to make a play on the ball. Pratt looked to tuck and run a fair bit when under pressure, but he is a stiff athlete. I see him having trouble evading pressure at the next level, and I wouldn’t expect him to be a threat to pick up many yards as a runner.
Summary:
Pratt has the football IQ that coaches sometimes look for in a clipboard holder. And his short-mid accuracy is decent enough to maybe make him a passable backup in the right system. He is at his best running the play action, where bigger throwing windows can open up. Overall though, he is a prospect that is lacking in traits. Neither one of his arm talent or athleticism jump off the page. And facing a step up in competition, he is sure to have his hands full. If he can make some tweaks and play mistake free football, perhaps he can work his way up to a backup job. But he seems more like someone who will be fighting for a QB3 job in offseasons.
| Grade: 53.3 | Round Grade: UDFA |
17
Austin Reed
School: Western Kentucky
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 220 lbs
Strengths:
Reed works the pocket well, shuffling around and sidestepping pass rushers to buy himself from time. When he has to escape the pocket, he is a capable passer on the run. He generates a decent amount of velocity on shorter passes and some intermediate ones when he is able to step into the ball. Reed generally sees the field well. He goes through his progressions and throws with good anticipation, letting the ball go before the receiver has made his break.
Weaknesses:
Overall, Reed lacks traits to excite at the NFL level. Ball velocity will show up in some of his passes, but not with a lot of consistency, and not on passes down the field. Oftentimes, his passes are lacking in velocity, and he opens up opportunities for defenders to make a play on the ball. As well, Reed can be very inconsistent when it comes to his accuracy as a passer. It is an area where he still needs development. Combining his accuracy and arm strength issues, deep passes aren’t an area where I’d expect much success. Though he is capable of extending the play from time to time, Reed doesn’t stand out as an athlete. He lacks the speed and quickness to consistently make plays outside of the pocket. Most of the instances where he does venture out, he had a lot of space to do so.
Summary:
Reed doesn’t have great measurables, which put a cap on his ceiling. However, he has shown enough in the short and intermediate game to potentially work his way into a backup job. Accuracy and ball velocity have shown up from time to time in these instances, but the accuracy has been inconsistent, and he needs enough time to step into his pass in order to generate this velocity. He actually throws a pretty good ball on the run, but he lacks the athleticism to go off script all the time. Reed could potentially make it as a game managing backup that finds success in the quick game, but he will need to improve his accuracy. Early on, it is more likely that he will be competing for a job as a 3rd stringer on the practice squad.
| Grade: 53.2 | Round Grade: UDFA |
18
Devin Leary
School: Kentucky
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 215 lbs
Strengths:
Leary is a smart player who reads the field well, both pre and post-snap. He identifies coverages well and can use this information to pick out his target, and generate some rhythm in the quick passing game. Leary throws with touch on shorter and intermediate passes, and generally has good accuracy when operating the quick game. He has good poise in the pocket and isn’t deterred by pressure. Leary is willing to stand in there when pressure is nearing, and can take a hit to make a play.
Weaknesses:
Leary is lacking in physical traits, which limit his floor and ceiling. The ball velocity isn’t there to squeeze the ball into tight windows and he won’t be a threat to push the ball down the field. His deep balls are lacking both in distance and velocity. They often die down on him, allowing the defender to make a play back to the ball. Mechanically, he can look awkward a lot of the time. His throwing motion is elongated and inefficient. He navigates the pocket pretty well, but the athleticism isn’t there to consistently escape when it becomes too much to remain inside. Leary is a stiff mover, which makes it easier for pass rushers to get to him.
Summary:
Leary has good football IQ and decent enough accuracy in the quick game to likely earn a spot as a camp arm. However, he lacks the arm talent and athleticism to really threaten for a top 2 spot on a depth chart. Leary will likely be battling for a QB3 job in training camps, and will need to show that he can manage games and take care of the ball in potential preseason action in order to maybe stick around on a practice squad.
| Grade: 46.1 | Round Grade: UDFA |
QB Rankings:
- Caleb Williams (88.8, Rd 1)
- Jayden Daniels (87.4, Rd 1)
- Bo Nix (85.4, Rd 1)
- Drake Maye (85.2, Rd 1)
- Michael Penix (83.9, Rd 2)
- JJ McCarthy (83.4, Rd 2)
- Spencer Rattler (76.5, Rd 3)
- Joe Milton (71.8, Rd 4)
- Taulia Tagovailoa (70.8, Rd 4)
- Jordan Travis (65.5, Rd 5)
- John Rhys Plumlee (64.4, Rd 6)
- Spencer Sanders (59.6, Rd 7)
- Sam Hartman (54.8, UDFA)
- Kedon Slovis (54.5, UDFA)
- Carter Bradley (54.1, UDFA)
- Michael Pratt (53.3, UDFA)
- Autin Reed (53.2, UDFA)
- Devin Leary (46.1, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
- Jack Plummer
- Jason Bean
- Ben Bryant
- Davius Richard
