NFL Scouting Combine Invites 14 Quarterbacks: How They Fared in 2023, ’24 Draft Projections

With Tremendous Bowl LVIII within the rearview mirror, it’s formally NFL draft season. On Tuesday, the league launched its full listing of attendees for the 2024 scouting mix, which is scheduled to run from Feb. 26 to March 4 in Indianapolis. 

Of the 321 invitees, 14 of the gamers anticipated to attend are quarterbacks. Informal followers are in all probability accustomed to a number of the massive names—USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner. The invite listing additionally options some intriguing big-school sign callers that flew a bit below the radar final yr, akin to South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler and small college passers like Tulane’s Michael Pratt and Western Kentucky’s Austin Reed, who will search to impress on a giant stage.

Williams stays the odds-on favourite to go No. 1 in April’s draft, because the Chicago Bears weigh whether or not to take a quarterback with the highest choose or transfer ahead with former first-rounder Justin Fields. The group as an entire, although, may produce 4 or 5 first-round picks and boasts a number of intriguing gamers.

Right here’s a have a look at all 14 quarterbacks on this yr’s NFL scouting mix, their measurables (through official program rosters), school stats and the way Sports activities Illustrated tasks them to fare as we close to the mix:

Jayden Daniels, LSU (6′ 4″, 210 lbs)

Daniels joined Brian Kelly at LSU in ’22 after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Arizona State, and he thrived within the former Notre Dame coach’s offensive system. LSU didn’t make an enormous leap as a workforce after a powerful first yr below Kelly, however Daniels grew to become a singular offensive drive, accounting for practically 5,000 yards from scrimmage and 50 touchdowns in his fifth season. Now, he finds himself mentioned close to the highest of the 2024 NFL draft.

NFL Defensive Coordinators will lose many nights of sleep making an attempt to determine how one can comprise Jayden Daniels for a play not to mention 60 minutes. 🔥💨 pic.twitter.com/sE6oISb781

— Jeremy (@PopesFFH) February 6, 2024

SI quarterback rating: No. 3

SI’s newest mock draft: No. 3 to New England Patriots

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame (6′ 1″, 212 lbs)

After changing into a Wake Forest nice throughout his five-year tenure in Winston-Salem, N.C., Hartman completed his prolonged school profession at Notre Dame. He led the workforce to a 9–3 common season and an look within the Solar Bowl, although he would sit out that 40–9 win over Oregon State.

Statistically, Hartman’s most prolific seasons got here in his last two seasons at Wake Forest. In ’21, he threw for a career-high 4,228 yards with 39 landing passes and 14 interceptions, and he adopted it up with 3,701 yards, 38 touchdowns and 12 picks the next yr. Nevertheless, his completion share, yards per try and quarterback ranking topped out in ’23 with the Preventing Irish.

Roman Wilson is cookin’!One other massive reception, this one from Notre Dame’s Sam Hartman. pic.twitter.com/GSoaGuq0pK

— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) January 30, 2024

Hartman is extensively projected as a day-three draft choose.

SI quarterback rating: N/A

SI’s newest mock draft: N/A

Devin Leary, Kentucky (6′ 1″, 217 lbs)

One other quarterback who transferred between Energy 5 applications, Leary started his profession at NC State earlier than taking part in his fifth yr within the SEC at Kentucky. His one yr with the Wildcats was pretty nondescript, and his greatest school season really got here with the Wolfpack in ’21, when he accomplished over 65% of his throws for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns and simply 5 interceptions.

Getting into the mix, Leary is mostly mocked on the finish of the draft.

Devin Leary…..Jordan Dingle…..😳 pic.twitter.com/gjLpJkvEZW

— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) September 18, 2023

SI quarterback rating: N/A

SI’s newest mock draft: N/A

Drake Maye, North Carolina (6′ 4″, 230 lbs)

If a quarterback can supplant Williams because the No. 1 choose, it possible can be Maye, who’s coming off two implausible seasons below middle for the Tar Heels. After taking part in a bit as a freshman in ’21, he threw for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and simply seven picks in ’22. He additionally brings a component on the bottom, with greater than 1,100 speeding yards and double-digit touchdowns over his two seasons as starter.

Drake Maye dots pic.twitter.com/C389oocc6h

— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 17, 2023

SI quarterback rating: No. 2

SI’s newest mock draft: No. 2 to Washington Commanders

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan (6′ 3″, 202 lbs)

There isn’t any extra intriguing prospect within the draft than McCarthy, who’s recent off of main the Wolverines to a nationwide championship.

His stats don’t leap off the web page, and through giant stretches of Michigan’s title run, the workforce appeared to keep away from having him do an excessive amount of, although the Wolverines’ overpowering speeding assault afforded them that luxurious. Even so, he was environment friendly, he proved he can prolong performs together with his legs, he not often threw interceptions or made backbreaking errors and his document as a winner is undisputable. 

Courting again to highschool, JJ McCarthy has a 61-3 document as a beginning quarterback.• 26-2 at Nazareth Academy• 8-0 at IMG Academy• 27-1 at Michigan

— Brandon Koretz (@BrandonKoretz) February 14, 2024

SI quarterback rating: No. 5

SI’s newest mock draft: No. 12 to Denver Broncos

Joe Milton III, Tennessee (6′ 5″, 235 lbs)

Milton appears to be like like an NFL prototype below middle and sure has the largest arm within the draft class. What he doesn’t have is a ton of sport expertise regardless of a six-year profession at Michigan and Tennessee, and though he performed fairly properly for the Volunteers in ’23, he didn’t set the world on fireplace.

Expectations have been excessive after Milton stepped in for Hendon Hooker and completely shredded Clemson to the tune of 251 yards and three touchdowns the Orange Bowl to finish the ’22 season. He was way more pedestrian because the full-time starter in ’23, however his measurables and arm energy should be attractive for an NFL workforce.

The CRAZIEST throw Ive ever seen… Joe Milton, College of Tennessee, roughly 80 yards to the other again nook of the tip zone! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/lmbImOCnKW

— Brian Thiebaud (@txqb) June 24, 2023

Milton is being extensively projected as a day-three choose, although he can undoubtedly assist himself on the mix.

SI quarterback rating: No. 9

SI’s newest mock draft: N/A

Bo Nix, Oregon (6′ 2″, 217 lbs)

One in every of this class’s many tremendous senior stars, Nix went from three-year starter and sport supervisor at Auburn to a drive of nature in his last two years at Oregon. He emerged as considered one of school soccer’s greatest quarterbacks in ’22 and took issues to a brand new stage in ’23, ending third in Heisman voting.

Nix has a ton of expertise, has performed in quite a lot of offenses and is a confirmed winner. He’ll possible be off the board within the first half of the NFL draft and will even go within the first spherical.

Was looking for Troy Franklin clips, however the anticipation from Oregon QB Bo Nix on this throw is unbelievable. Drops it proper within the bucket pic.twitter.com/r3q2m86QOq

— NFL Draft Recordsdata (@NFL_DF) February 8, 2024

SI quarterback rating: No. 6

SI’s newest mock draft: No. 13 to Las Vegas Raiders

Michael Penix Jr., Washington (6′ 3″, 213 lbs)

Few quarterbacks have loved a extra productive two-year stretch than Penix did at Washington in ’22 and ’23. Final season’s Heisman runner-up eclipsed 4,600 passing yards and 30 landing passes in consecutive years, main the Huskies to the nationwide championship sport in January.

Penix’s harm historical past could harm him come draft time. In 4 years at Indiana, he appeared in simply 21 complete video games, although he confirmed indicators of what was to come back when wholesome competing within the Large Ten. When wholesome, he’s one of the crucial explosive passers within the nation.

Needed to ask Michael Penix Jr. to interrupt down considered one of my favourite passes I've ever seen in school soccer. Listening to his course of and what he's considering pre and post-snap was so cool. Shoutout to @PaniniAmerica pic.twitter.com/Qx2OFa7P8u

— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) February 10, 2024

SI quarterback rating: No. 4

SI’s newest mock draft: No. 39 to New York Giants

Michael Pratt, Tulane (6′ 3″, 220 lbs)

Pratt took over as starter throughout his freshman yr at Tulane and helped engineer this system’s spectacular turnaround below Willie Fritz. With Pratt below middle, the Inexperienced Wave went 28–17 over 4 years, together with a turnaround from 2–10 in 12–2 with a bowl win over USC a yr later.

Good throw by @GreenWaveFB QB Michael Pratt to @FSUFootball TE Jaheim Bell #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/EsCCUIHnXO

— B.J. Monacelli (@bjmonacelli) January 30, 2024

SI quarterback rating: No. 8

SI’s newest mock draft: No. 83 to Los Angeles Rams

Spencer Rattler, South Carolina (6′ 1″, 218 lbs)

What an extended, unusual journey school soccer was for Spencer Rattler. As soon as the No. 1 highschool quarterback within the nation and later a Heisman favourite at Oklahoma, Rattler wound up shedding his beginning job to Caleb Williams as a sophomore, halfway by means of the ’21 season. He re-emerged at South Carolina, following former Sooners assistant Shane Beamer to this system, and turned in two very strong years because the Gamecocks starter. 

Though he by no means reached the heights anticipated of him after the start of his school profession, Rattler will possible be a professional in a couple of months time.

Spencer Rattler 🐍🎯 @GamecockFB pic.twitter.com/6TXMZzMnuP

— SEC Community (@SECNetwork) September 4, 2022

SI quarterback rating: No. 7

SI’s newest mock draft: No. 81 to Seattle Seahawks

Austin Reed, Western Kentucky (6′ 2″, 220 lbs)

Western Kentucky has a latest historical past of prolific passers, and Reed actually suits the invoice. After starting his school profession by profitable a Division II nationwide title at West Florida, he performed two seasons at WKU, throwing for over 4,700 yards and 40 touchdowns in ’22. 

With Pratt, Reed is considered one of simply two non-Energy 5 quarterbacks that can be current in Indianapolis. Reed is presently mocked as a late-round draft choose.

This throw from Austin Reed 🔥🔥 #WKU pic.twitter.com/IqhC016t5b

— ★★★★★ (@TSV__1) September 29, 2023

SI quarterback rating: N/A

SI’s newest mock draft: N/A

Kedon Slovis, BYU (6′ 3″, 215 lbs)

Slovis could have the strangest school soccer résumé of any quarterback attending the mix. He started his profession at USC, taking on as starter throughout his freshman yr. After three seasons with the Trojans, he transferred to Pitt for a yr, in the end ending his profession at BYU.

His greatest season got here as a real freshman again in ’19, when he posted profession highs in yards (3,502), yards per try (8.9), touchdowns (30) and passer ranking (167.6). He set lows in all of these classes aside from touchdowns in ’23, although he solely appeared in eight video games for the Cougars. Previous to the mix, he looks as if an extended shot to be drafted.

Kedon Slovis, my goodness what a throw And what else are you able to say about Isaac Rex? pic.twitter.com/Je3AukLctP

— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) September 9, 2023

SI quarterback rating: N/A

SI’s newest mock draft: N/A

Jordan Travis, Florida State (6′ 1″, 212 lbs)

Travis will go down as a Florida State legend for his last yr with the Seminoles, main this system to an undefeated document and the cusp of the Faculty Soccer Playoff earlier than happening with a season-ending leg harm late within the yr. Travis, who performed one yr at Louisville earlier than 5 in Tallahassee, was instrumental in this system’s resurgence below Mike Norvell.

Now, he prepares for the mix simply months into rehab from the harm. It’s unclear how a lot he’ll be capable of take part in Indianapolis. The harm additionally makes his draft potential a bit unpredictable, and he’s being mocked all throughout the ultimate 4 rounds.

Florida State’s Jordan Travis is considered one of my fav SR QB prospects within the 2024 NFL Draft. Flashed some actually spectacular intermediate and deep ball placement… two massive boy throws right here.Has the athleticism to make performs out of construction and the poise to win from the pocket. pic.twitter.com/kI47MN0DOa

— Bobby Soccer (@Rob__Paul) August 25, 2023

SI quarterback rating: No. 10

SI’s newest mock draft: N/A

Caleb Williams, USC (6′ 1″, 215 lbs)

The quarterback that comes final on this alphabetical listing is more likely to hear his title referred to as first in April’s draft. Williams has been the heavy favourite to go No. 1 since his Heisman season in ’22. Though a flawed USC roster and leaky protection harm him in ’23, he nonetheless put collectively a formidable season that hasn’t considerably altered his draft inventory. 

Williams has super arm expertise and pinpoint accuracy, and he’s a harmful improvisor out and in of the pocket. The Bears discover themselves in a singular place, as Fields has made progress throughout his time within the league, however most draft prognosticators nonetheless mission Williams to be the choose at No. 1.

.@CalebCSW delivers a strike to @tahj_washington for the rating! 📺: @Pac12Network 📱: https://t.co/H8gtm99ygy pic.twitter.com/bPYClCNO7g

— USC Soccer ✌️ (@uscfb) August 27, 2023

SI quarterback rating: No. 1

SI’s newest mock draft: No. 1 to Chicago Bears

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