The 2024 class of quarterback rookies may mark a historic moment in the NFL. Two out of the six quarterbacks drafted in the first round led their teams to the playoffs, and others flashed plenty of promise when they debuted. Flip open the NFL yearbooks, here are the 2024 Rookie NFL quarterback superlatives:
Jayden Daniels: Most Valuable
Draft position: #2 overall
Regular season stats (17 games): 3,568 passing yards, 69% passes completed, 25 touchdowns, 891 rushing yards, 9 interceptions
Jayden Daniels’ talent and impact on the Washington Commanders is undeniable: he’s in conversation to be the best rookie quarterback in modern NFL history. Despite concerns about his weight, (Pro Football Reference has him listed at a generous 210 pounds), and highly mobile play style, Daniels competed in 17 games and was the rising tide that lifted all boats around the Potomac. He became just the fifth rookie quarterback to reach a conference championship in the last 20 years, and his regular season performances reflect as much. What may be more impressive than his Hail Mary-land touchdown against the Bears is the ball security he demonstrates, despite being a runner and risk-taker. He fumbled just five times during the regular season, and three of those occasions came in his rookie debut against Tampa Bay.
Drake Maye: Most Potential
Draft position: #3 overall
Regular season stats (13 games): 2,276 passing yards, 66.6% passes completed, 15 touchdowns, 421 rushing yards, 10 interceptions
Drake Maye’s overall numbers may not jump off the page the way other rookies’ do, but he’s a case for context and the eye test. Maye was put in a nearly impossible situation, drafted to the league’s least star-studded offense, under the eye of a rookie head coach, and asked to operate behind one of the shakiest offensive lines in recent memory. Once he earned his starting role, his ability to freelance and take deep shots with confidence and accuracy kept the Patriots in games where they had no business hanging around. His enthusiasm as a student of the game and natural resilience bouncing back from mistakes on the field make his ceiling look sky high for the future – if he gets the support he needs.
Bo Nix: Best Fit
Draft position: #12 overall
Regular season stats (17 games): 3,775 passing yards, 66.3% passes completed, 29 touchdowns, 430 rushing yards, 12 interceptions
It’s a discredit to Bo Nix to say he was simply drafted at the right place at the right time, but his marriage to Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos had a happy honeymoon phase for the entire 2024 regular season. Nix’ numbers speak for themselves: he racked up the second-most touchdown passes by a rookie in NFL history and led the Broncos back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Nix benefited from Payton’s scheme and having Courtland Sutton at receiver, but he deserves his flowers for stacking five games in which he threw three or more touchdown passes, including a 38-6 victory over Atlanta in which he averaged 11.73 yards per passing attempt.
Caleb Williams: Biggest Question Mark
Draft position: #1 overall
Regular season stats (17 games): 3,541 passing yards, 62.5% passes completed, 20 touchdowns, 489 rushing yards, 6 interceptions
Being selected first overall carries its own weight. Now, pile on top the expectations of a franchise lost in the desert for decades without a star quarterback, and there’s Caleb Williams. Williams had a nice statistical rookie season, but he’s almost the flipside of Maye in what context adds to a performance. Williams suffered the loss of a head coach midyear and found himself behind a bad offensive line and under constant pressure. The Bears also surrounded him with talent to target in D.D. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze. The chemistry almost never looked right on offense and Williams’ play was a bit of a rollercoaster. The addition of offensive mastermind Ben Johnson this offseason will be the ultimate litmus test for Chicago’s big draft investment.
Michael Penix Jr.: Mr. Ahead of Schedule
Draft position: #8 overall
Regular season stats (5 games): 775 passing yards, 58.1% passes completed, 3 touchdowns, 11 rushing yards, 3 interceptions
Everything about the way the Atlanta Falcons handled their quarterbacks in 2024 was strange: they paid free agent Kirk Cousins to be their starter, but also drafted a slightly older, banged-up prospect in Michael Penix Jr. They started the season riding Cousins’ hot hand, but waited until it cooled completely before turning to their rookie in December. Penix showed tremendous arm strength and accuracy in his starting debut against the New York Giants, then carried Atlanta to two overtime appearances in the unraveling team’s final weeks of the season. It’s tough to conclude much from just three starts, but Penix at least made the case for an earlier promotion during the season.
J.J. McCarthy: Exempt
Draft position: #10 overall
Regular season stats: injured prior to season