The excitement surrounding the 2024 NFL Draft’s First Round on April 25th is tangible, especially with the prospect of witnessing a record-tying six quarterbacks being selected. The last time such a feat occurred was in 1983, a historic year that saw the likes of John Elway, Jim Kelly, and Dan Marino enter the league, all eventually earning spots in the Hall of Fame.
What distinguishes this upcoming draft is the unprecedented scenario of the first three picks all likely being quarterbacks. However, with numerous teams still in dire need of quarterback talent, it’s expected that the remaining three top prospects will also find homes in the first round. In this analysis, I delve into the landscape of quarterback-needy teams and forecast where each prospect is likely to land in the draft.
(R1, P1) Chicago Bears – Caleb Williams With the departure of Justin Fields, it’s virtually certain that Caleb Williams will be the first QB taken off the board.
(R1, P2) Washington Commanders – Drake Maye Drawing comparisons to Justin Herbert, Maye is viewed as the safest pick given his size and performance over the last two seasons.
(R1, P3) New England Patriots – Jayden Daniels or JJ McCarthy While Jayden Daniels appears to be the top remaining QB prospect, rumors suggest the Patriots favor JJ McCarthy.
(R1, P6) New York Giants – JJ McCarthy or Jayden Daniels With Daniel Jones failing to meet expectations, the Giants have the opportunity to pivot with this pick, either by selecting McCarthy or Daniels.
(R1, P11), (R1, P23) Minnesota Vikings – JJ McCarthy, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Michael Penix The Vikings find themselves in a crucial position, aiming to secure their desired QB at pick 11, potentially trading up for McCarthy or Daniels, or opting for the remaining talent with their second first-round pick.
(R1, P12) Denver Broncos – Michael Penix or Bo Nix With a glaring need at QB and limited draft capital for trades, the Broncos will likely select the best available quarterback remaining on their board.
(R1, P13) Las Vegas Raiders – Michael Penix or Bo Nix Facing similar QB deficiencies, the Raiders are poised to benefit from the remaining talent pool, though they may consider trading up for a standout prospect if the opportunity arises.
As teams assess their needs, speculation abounds regarding the landing spots for prospects like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix, and Bo Nix. The draft promises suspense and intrigue as quarterback-needy teams maneuver to secure their future franchise signal-callers.
