2024 NFL DRAFT: Position Breakdown: QUARTERBACKS and RUNNING BACKS

 

QUARTERBACKS 

This year’s crop of signal callers has a chance to be a very special class in contention with the classes of 1984, 2004 and 2012. The first three picks will be Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. After that the trio of JJ McCarthy, Michael Pennix Jr and Bo Nix are all likely to be drafted in the first round. Michael Pratt and Spencer Rattler could also turn into starters down the line. Here is a breakdown of each player in the class. 

Caleb Williams-QB-USC  
6’1”/214
NFL Comp: Kyler Murray/Jalen Hurts
Stats: 2-year Average:
4085 passing yards
36 passing touchdowns
5 Interceptions
67.6 completion percentage
169.3 QB Rating
10.5 Rushing Touchdowns

Williams put up insane passing numbers for Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid offense during his 2022 Heisman Trophy season. He naturally took a step back after losing Jordan Addison to the NFL. He has a great arm and is physically gifted. He makes plays in the pocket and is great when the play breaks down. His ball security is elite with a low interception to attempt rate.

The main concerns are based on playing a Spread Based Offense and only taking snaps in shotgun. The NFL success of Riley quarterbacks have been a mixed bag. He could end up the best of Hurts, Murray and Baker Mayfield. Williams is likely going to be the first pick and go to DA BEARS where he will work with new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Waldron worked was able to help Geno Smith have a career year in Seattle. He will cater the offense to Williams’ skill set and add a lot more spread concepts.

Jayden Daniels-QB-LSU   
6’4”/190/4.41
NFL Comparison: Russell Wilson/Taller Michael Vick
2023 Stats
3812 passing yards
40 passing touchdowns
4 Interceptions
72.2 completion percentage
208.0 QB Rating
1134 Rushing Yards
10 Rushing touchdowns

Daniels is the evolution of the quarterback position. He is a tall and lean quarterback with blazing speed and a very strong arm. His deep ball and ability to make plays with his legs are reminiscent of Russell Wilson though they have polar opposite body types. Daniels has the highest potential of any player in the draft (including Williams) given his dual threat ability. His concerns deal with his slender frame and if he can take the hits of a 17 game NFL season. He took sacks in college that he cannot afford to take at the next level.

Drake Maye-QB-UNC   
6’4”/223
NFL Comp:  Philip Rivers/Daniel Jones
Stats: 2-year Average:
3964.5 passing yards
31 passing touchdowns
8 Interceptions
64.75 completion percentage
153.45  QB Rating
8 Rushing Touchdowns"

Maye is the prototype big armed and big bodied quarterback. He can make every throw on the field and has a very good velocity. He is a good athlete for a bigger player and has shown he can make plays on the run when the play breaks down. He had a drop-in production but most attribute that due the lack of elite talent around him and poor line play. I compare him to a pair of signal callers that also played their college ball in the state of North Carolina (Rivers at NC St and Jones at Duke). Rivers is his upside while Jones should be his floor. All 3 guys are big pocket passer that had accuracy issues.

Michael Penix Jr.-QB-Washington
6'2"/216
NFL Comparison: Mark Brunell/Tua Tagovailoa
2023 Stats
4903 passing yards
36 passing touchdowns
11 Interceptions
65.4 completion percentage
157.1 QB Rating

No player in this draft has overcome more adversity than Penix. He suffered through multiple ACL tears while at Indiana. The past two years at Washington he proved himself as one of the best quarterbacks in college leading the Huskies’ explosive offense. The lefty has a very strong arm to deliver every throw down the field. He has the skills to be a solid starter but obviously comes with injury concerns/

JJ McCarthy-QB-Michigan
6'3"/219
NFL Comp: Baker Mayfield/Mac Jones
2023 Stats
2991 passing yards
24 passing touchdowns
4 Interceptions
72.3 completion percentage
167.4 QB Rating

McCarthy’s mix of winning intangibles, size and raw athletic ability have him rising up draft boards and now is likely a lock to be drafted in the top 10. He played in a pro-style offense and led Michigan to a National Championship. He was very accurate as passer and those traits should translate. He was not asked to do too much at Michigan and is likely to be a game manager at the next level. Like Baker Mayfield, he could have some success in the right system. However, he could also be nothing more than a low-end starter like Mac Jones.   

Bo Nix-QB-Oregon 
6'2"/214
NFL Comp: Case Keenum/Colt McCoy
2023 Stats
4508 passing yards
24 passing touchdowns
4 Interceptions
77.4 completion percentage
188.3 QB Rating

Nix is the most experience quarterback and possibly player in this entire draft. He put up video game numbers in his last season in Oregon’s spread offense. Like Keenum and McCoy he should have a good career as a backup and can win you games in the NFL if pushed into action. Is he a franchise quarterback? Likely not, but we have seen quarterbacks with limited arms and athletic tools turn into franchise guys (Brock Purdy, Kirk Cousins).

Michal Pratt-QB-Tulane
6'2"/217
NFL Comp: Andy Dalton/Teddy Bridgewater
Stats: 2-year Average:
2707.5 passing yards
24.5 passing touchdowns
5 Interceptions
64.5 completion percentage
160.35 QB Rating
382 Rushing Yards
8 Rushing Touchdowns

Pratt is a Florida native that has been a starting quarterback since his Freshman year at Tulane. He is a very fundamental player with a solid size and a good arm. He is the ideal low-end starter, high-end backup type of quarterback. This is why I compare him to Dalton and Bridgewater. If Pratt played at bigger school he would likely be seen as an equal prospect to Nix.

Spencer Rattler-QB-USC  
6’1”/211
NFL Comp: Jimmy Clausen/Sam Howell   
2023 Stats
3186 passing yards
19 passing touchdowns
8 Interceptions
68.9 completion percentage
147.7 QB Rating

Rattler is a former five-star recruit that became more consistent in his two years at South Carolina after a roller coaster three years at Oklahoma. He was is much better as a game manager than gunslinger. He has always had the arm tools. He will need to continue to improve the rest of his game if he is to have a chance as a starter in the NFL.

Jordan Travis-QB-FSU 
6’1”/200
NFL Comp: Tyler Huntley/Seneca Wallace
Stats: 2-year Average:
2985 passing yards
22 passing touchdowns
3.5 Interceptions
63.9 completion percentage
157.3 QB Rating
296.5 Rushing Yards
7.5 Rushing Touchdowns

Travis was just behind Daniels in the Heisman race before a leg injury ended his season and six-year college career. He is a very good athlete, solid passer and tough competitor. He has the maturity and professional attitude to be a very good backup in the NFL.

Joe Milton-QB-Tennessee
6’5”/235
NFL Comparison: EJ Manuel/Paxton Lynch
2023 Stats
2813 passing yards
20 passing touchdowns
5 Interceptions
64.7 completion percentage
147.3 QB Rating
299 Rushing Yards
7 Rushing Touchdowns

Milton has incredible measurables but did not establish himself as a full-time starter in college until his 6^th season. He has a huge arm and elite athletic skills. A team will draft him as a developmental prospect. 

 

 

PROSPECT	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	AGE
Sam Hartman-QB-Notre Dame	6'1''	211	24.7
Kedon Slovis-QB-BYU	6'3"	223	23.0
Taulia Tagovailoa-QB-Maryland	5'10''	208	24.1
Devin Leary-QB-Kentucky	6'1"	215	24.6
Carter Bradley-QB-S Alabama	6'3"	218	24.1
Phil Jurkovec-QB-Pittsburgh	6'5"	225	24.4
Austin Reed-QB-Western Kentucky	6'2"	220	24.1
Jason Bean-QB-Kansas	6'3"	195	24.8
Jack Plummer-QB-Louisville	6'5"	215	24.5
John Rhys Plumlee-QB-UCF	6'0"	200	23.3
Emory Jones-QB-Cincinnati	6'2''	201	23.9
Gavin Hardison-QB-UTEP	6'3"	215	23.9
Spencer Sanders-QB-Ole Miss	6'1"	210	24.3
Brennan Armstrong-QB-NC St	6'2"	212	24.5
Gerry Bohanon-QB-USF	6'3"	215	24.4

RUNNING BACKS
This year’s crop of Running Backs has only a handful of guys with day two potential. Aside from lack of star power is the simple matter of supply and demand. Dallas is the only team that is really a running back away from taking another step.

Jonathon Brooks-RB-Texas
6'0"/216
NFL Comp: Melvin Gordon/Miles Sanders
1425 Total Yards
11 Touchdowns
25 receptions

Brooks waited patiently for two years behind two NFL running backs in superstar Bijan Robinson and power back Roschon Johnson. Brooks did not disappoint in his only season as the workforce back. Brooks’ quickness for his size is his greatest asset. He moves and cuts like a back weighing 200 pounds. He showed some skills as a receiver in space but he is not likely to ever be 40 receptions in a year type of back.

Trey Benson-RB-FSU 
6’0”/216/4.39
NFL Comp: Ryan Mathews/Lamar Miller
1133 Total Yards
15 Touchdowns
20 receptions

Benson has an ideal combination of speed, size and power. He is a straight downhill runner with speed and power between the tackles. He also can out run corners on the edge. Like most back in this class he needs a lot of work in the pass game.

Jaylen Wright-RB-Tennessee
5'11"/210/4.46
NFL Comp: Isiah Pacheco/Tony Pollard
1154 Total Yards
4 Touchdowns
22 receptions

Wright is a powerful back with great breakaway speed. His stock rose after a great performance at the combine showcasing his 4.46 speed and finishing with the top broad jump. Despite his low TD total in 2023 (he had 10 TDs in 2022) he is a big play waiting to happen. He had three 50 plus yard runs on the season.

Blake Corum-RB-Michigan
5'8"/205/4.53
NFL Comp: Devin Singletary/Shane Vereen
3 Year Average
1333 Total Yards
16.3 Touchdowns
17 receptions

Consistency is the key word when examining Corum’s production and value as a prospect. He is on the small side but is very compact and powerful. He proved his strength at the combine putting up 27 reps on the bench press. At Michigan he was not asked to be a pass catcher, but he has solid hands and could be valuable in the pass game at the next level.

Ray Davis-RB-Kentucky
5'8"/211/4.52
NFL Comp: Maurice Jones Drew/Zack Moss 
1452 Total Yards
21 Touchdowns
33 receptions

Davis took a long path to the NFL with stops at Temple and Vanderbilt before finishing at Kentucky last year. He was productive everywhere but had his breakout last year. He had an excellent 5.7 yards per carry as a runner and was also effective in the pass game.

MarShawn Lloyd-RB-USC 
5'9"/220/4.46
NFL Comp:  D’Andre Swift/Rashard Mendenhall
1052 Total Yards
9Touchdowns
13 receptions

Lloyd is built like a pin ball and runs with great leverage and power through the hole. He offers little in the passing game. He should be used in an early down role very similar to Swift and Mendenhall.

Braelon Allen-RB-Wisconsin
6'2"/235
NFL Comp: Rashad Jennings/Peyton Hillis
3 Year Average
1165 Total Yards
11.7 Touchdowns
16.3 receptions

Allen is the biggest back in this draft class. He plays with power to run over smaller linebackers and defensive backs and has enough speed to run past linemen. He is an old school two down power back. 

Audric Estime-RB-Notre Dame
5'11"/221/4.71
NFL Comp: Brandon Bolden/Chris Carson 
1483 Total Yards
18 Touchdowns
17 receptions

Estime is a pure physical back that loves to run between the tackles. He has a nice combination of power and athletic ability. At the combine he put up 23 reps on the bench press and also showed his explosiveness with high marks on the jumps. He lacks break away speed though.

HONORABLE MENTION 

 

POWER BACKS	Height	Weight	40	Bench
Miyan Williams-RB-Ohio St	5'9''	229	4.55	—
Carson Steele-RB-UCLA	6'1''	225	4.51	—
Kendall Milton-RB-Georgia	6'2''	225	4.62	18
Deshaun Fenwick-RB-Oregon St	6'2''	222	4.77	—
Jase McClellan-RB-Alabama	5'10''	221	4.51	20
Isaac Guerendo-RB-Louisville	6'0''	221	4.33	—
Isaiah Davis-RB-S Dakota St	6'0''	218	4.57	23
Dillon Johnson-RB-Washington	6'0''	217	4.68	—

 

SCAT BACKS	Height	Weight	40	Shuttle
Bucky Irving-RB-Oregon	5'9''	192	4.55	—
Will Shipley-RB-Clemson	5'11''	206	4.39	4.11
Tyrone Tracy-RB-Purdue	5'11''	209	4.48	4.06
Dylan Laube-RB-New Hampshire	5'10''	206	4.54	4.02
Kimani Vidal-RB-Troy	5'8''	213	4.46	4.15
Michael Wiley-RB-Arizona	5'11''	210	4.51	4.43
George Holani-RB-Boise	5'10''	208	4.52	4.33
Daijun Edwards-RB-Georgia	5'10''	207	4.71	4.32
Rasheen Ali-RB-Marshall	5'11''	206	4.41	—
Cody Schrader-RB-Missouri	5'9''	202	4.61	—
Emani Bailey-RB-TCU	5'7''	202	4.61	—
Frank Gore Jr-RB-So Miss	5'8''	201	4.58	—
Jawhar Jordan-RB-Louisville	5'10''	193	4.56	—
Keilan Robinson-RB-Texas	5'8''	191	4.42	—
Jaden Shirden-RB-Monmouth	5'8''	187	4.45	—