Early Season QB movement
The NFL is a hugely popular sport for a number of reasons. The on-field action is a major draw and sees NFL teams serve up a feast of hard-hitting play for people to enjoy. This is also a sport with lots of off-field drama and locker-room gossip to keep people entertained.
The NFL is one of the most popular sport tournaments to bet on for fans and this has helped it remain well-followed. With NFL games being easy to access at top online sportsbooks, and betting on games helping fans get more involved with the action, the link between sports betting and pro ball is easy to understand.
The annual NFL Draft is something supporters look forward to each year. 2024’s edition may be a way off yet, but lots of people will already be getting ready for it. One awesome way to do this is to check out the top early-season prospects in college ball who might stand out in the 2024 Draft. The quarterback class in particular, is a good place to start and looks full of potentially elite-level talent.
But which college QBs seem to be top prospects to keep tabs on?
Caleb Williams
Although he might seem a little on the small side, standing at 6 feet 1 inch, for a modern NFL quarterback, USC’s Caleb Williams is still looking like the top QB prospect for 2024’s Draft. After an impressive first season in college ball at Oklahoma in 2021, Williams' Heisman Trophy win in 2022 after a move to USC was special. A dynamic presence operating outside of the pocket, combined with real athleticism, the ability to play under pressure, and accurate passing, has seen people compare Williams to Patrick Mahomes.
Drake Maye
Whilst Caleb Williams might be everyone’s early season top QB pick for the 2024 Draft, Drake Maye is not far behind. Playing his college ball at North Carolina and standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Maye has the physicality and size you would expect in a modern-day pro quarterback. He also excels when making plays in the pocket and has a magical arm that saw him make 4321 passing yards in 2022. This outstanding early season prospect for 2024’s NFL Draft is also agile, quick, and an effective runner.
Quinn Ewers
Whilst this young 5-star recruit’s first season as a starter for Texas might have been tricky at times, he is still someone who looks like a great early-season prospect for 2024’s Draft. His arm talent is simply exceptional, and he possesses real power when he throws. He also has a natural feel for the game, which is hard to teach. Ewers seems to have real poise under pressure, good agility to dodge pass rushers, and the knack for extending plays. If he can have a decent season in 2023, he could be in demand next year.
Michael Penix Jr
Michael Penix Jr really made his mark in 2022 playing for Washington and this has been enough to see him included on our list. In truth, his talent has never been in doubt, but injuries have hampered his progress pre-2022. If he can stay fit through 2023 and perform well again, he will be a top young QB for NFL teams to consider. Penix Jr’s passing game is his main forte, and he is not only accurate with his passes but shows great vision plus good variation. He also has the ability to think quickly under pressure and takes great care of the ball.
Bo Nix
Auburn’s Bo Nix came with high expectations placed on his shoulders and was classed as a 5-star recruit. His talents have been on display throughout his time in college football, and this should see NFL sides who are looking for a raw, exciting QB who has a huge ceiling glance his way in 204’s draft. Nix is so highly regarded due to his strong arm, physical size, and footwork. His mobility around the field is excellent and this allows him to operate well outside of the pocket. His passing is also generally pretty good, especially passes made when off balance. With eye-catching ball-carrying skills and good open field awareness, he looks set to light up the QB class in the next draft.
Top QB Early Season Prospects for 2024’s NFL Draft
Everyone loves the NFL Draft, and many fans are already looking forward to what 2024’s edition may deliver. A huge part of this is running the rule over the top young talent currently in college ball and trying to predict which outstanding prospects may be picked up by pro-NFL sides. The quarterback class always garners plenty of attention, and the players listed above look like the ones worth keeping track of.