2024 NFL Draft: Caleb Williams and 6 QBs fans should look out for
The quarterback class for the 2024 NFL Draft looks promising which is good news for teams are in the market for a future signal caller
Today is a sad day for NFL Draft fans as the 2023 NFL Draft is now in the books. We saw some winners and losers, with one of the biggest winners being the Philadelphia Eagles. Another big winner was Anthony Richardson, who heard his name called earlier than most mocks expected. We’ll have to wait and see how these players pan out over the course of three years when we’ll see the true “winners and losers.” But as any draft fanatic knows, it’s time to look into the future. Teams are all about finding the next great signal caller, and it appears the 2024 NFL Draft has a better quarterback class than this year’s draft.
At first glance, it may seem like a lot, but there are three guys who are near locks. And we know that teams are thirsty for talent. It doesn’t hurt that there are a few teams in play for a future quarterback. The Miami Dolphins have Tua Tagovailoa for another year, but his health is always in question. There’s also the New York Jets, who have Aaron Rodgers for two or three seasons. If they opt to move on from Zach Wilson as a project, they’ll be in the market for a quarterback.
Matt Stafford is on his last legs due to his bad back, and with the franchise in rebuild mode, the Los Angeles Rams are also in play. The Minnesota Vikings are likely moving on from Kirk Cousins after next season. For reasons unknown, the Washington Commanders have yet to find a guy who can take them into the future. Desmond Ridder will have all the chance in the world to find success with the Atlanta Falcons, but he’s on a one-year leash. The Tom Brady era is over so the Buc will need a quarterback. Let’s meet the prospect fans should look out for.
7 quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft to know
7. Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Yes, you’re seeing Spencer Rattler’s name again on draft prospect lists, but this is the year he can make things happen. Rattler’s composite stats from 2022 may be misleading, but he ended the season strong with 1,389 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and just three interceptions across the final five games. With a full year of stellar play in 2023, Rattler could secure a top spot in the 2024 NFL Draft thanks to his arm elasticity and a gunslinger mentality.
Rattler is a natural athlete who plays with balance and light feet in the pocket. He has excellent overall arm strength and is skilled as a pocket passer with a nice feel for pressure. He can make throws most college-level quarterbacks wouldn’t even attempt, and his ball placement is a strength. Rattler has the natural instincts to make plays when forced to improvise and is generally accurate on intermediate and short throws.
While Rattler has occasional misfires, he has impressive moments of strong accuracy and ball placement to all levels of the field. He features quite the fastball but knows when to take something off his throws and use off-speed pitches. He does well to hit rhythm throws when executing quick game and is a talented thrower on the move.
However, Rattler’s field vision and decision-making are highly erratic. He sometimes chases big plays down the field and puts the ball in harm’s way while ignoring obvious profits. When pressured, Rattler lacks poise and gets antsy, resulting in questionable decisions. He’s not a skilled runner and lacks awareness of his own physical restrictions in terms of size and speed. He’s a major pocket drifter and appears adverse to stepping up. After joining Oklahoma with plenty of hype, Rattler couldn’t keep hold of the starting job due to erratic play and concerns over his leadership.
If he can improve his decision-making and show more consistency in his play, there’s no doubt he could secure a top spot in the 2024 NFL Draft. So keep an eye on Rattler this season as he works to elevate his game to the next level.