NFL
2024 NFL Draft: The best quarterbacks of this year’s class? Williams, Maye, Daniels...
The search for a top QB can be make-or-break for NFL franchises and there are a few top prospects heading into the NFL Draft.
NFL Draft 2024 live online: First-round picks, teams, players and big board updates
The 2024 NFL Draft gets underway on Thursday evening in Detroit, Michigan. The next generation of young players will soon discover whether they will make it to the NFL, or whether their career is destined to end in college.
There some, however, who have little doubt about their future prospects. Every year there are a select few who are guaranteed to be drafted and play a key role for their prospective teams going forward. As always, the top quarterbacks are the most prized of the young talents and look set to be snapped up in the early rounds of the draft.
Of this year’s cohort Caleb Williams (USC), Jayden Daniels (LSU) and Drake Maye (UNC) look to be the top selections. We take a look at their careers so far and likely destinations...
Will Caleb Williams join the Chicago Bears?
The outstanding prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, most agree, is Caleb Williams. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner has starred for the University of South Carolina, throwing 72 touchdown passes with just 10 interceptions over the past two years.
He boasts the arm strength and the footwork to find space in the NFL and will add real dynamism to whichever team is lucky enough to pick him up. At this stage, it looks like the Chicago Bears will use their No. 1 overall pick to bring Williams to Soldier Field. Not only is Williams expected to be a top NFL performer, he also fills a gap in the Bears’ roster after the departure of quarterback Justin Fields last month.
What is Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury?
Behind Williams, Louisiana State University quarterback Jayden Daniels looks like a good bet to be taken as the No. 2 overall pick. The second selection is currently owned by the Washington Commanders and Daniels has confirmed that he would be happy to sign.
“I’m blessed to go wherever I’m called,” Daniels told reporters on Wednesday. “Whoever calls my phone, (when the) commissioner gets up and says my name, I’ll be blessed, and they’re going to get my all.”
The Commanders front office can add a key piece to their roster but they will be wary after a photograph emerged seeming to show a bizarre injury to Daniels’ elbow. The photo of Daniels playing with LSU included a significant protrusion from his right elbow. Medical professionals on Twitter have suggested that it could be an inflamed bursa, a fairly common response to repeated bangs against hard surfaces and nothing that should worry recruiters.
Last month Daniels took to social media to downplay talk of an injury, writing: “my elbow is perfectly fine .. stop the cap!!”
Will the Patriots take Drake Maye or trade down?
On draft night there is a lot at play, more than just the respective talents of each player. The New England Patriots currently hold the No. 3 overall pick and could use it to draft a new quarterback, like Drake Maye from the University of North Carolina.
Maye has been described as a perfect fit for the underperforming Patriots as they look to rebuild their offense, under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. He favours a movement-heavy playbook which requires quarterbacks to throw on the run, something that Maye has shown himself capable of executing. The Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars over the offseason and will look to bring in a replacement.
But is Maye the right choice? In recent weeks there has been a lot of talk that the Patriots would consider an offer for their third pick in the draft. The New York Giants (No. 6) and the Minnesota Vikings (No. 11) have been mooted as teams that could look to trade up and grab Maye as the No. 3 pick.
The Patriots have not drafted a top-three quarterback since taking Drew Bledsoe as the No. 1 overall pick in 1993 and will likely to reluctant to turn down a big offer if one comes their way. Trading down would let them strengthen the roster more broadly and would reduce the pressure on their incoming signings, who will be tasked with helping the Patriots bounce back after two losing seasons.