There were six passers who went in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and now in year two, it's clear that severl teams found their franchise QB. All six QBs went in the first 12 picks, and many of them did show a lot of promise as a rookie.
But things have taken off for a few of them here in a crucial second season in the NFL, which is typically when some of them can takeoff and reach new heights. We have indeed seen this, as three of them are in a position to be division winners.
Let's power rank the second-year QB class as the 2025 NFL Season continues.
Drake Maye and Bo Nix are the top second-year passers as 2025 continues
6. JJ McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
JJ McCarthy has made just a handful of starts in the NFL, but it's nearly all-time bad stuff from the second-year QB. The former Michigan QB has struggled to stay healthy as well and has missed a ton of time on task due to injuries. It's just super clear now that McCarthy is not an NFL-caliber QB, and he might not even be a backup-caliber QB at this point. There isn't much to like about what he's done in the NFL, and the Vikings might be ready to move on.
5. Michael Penix Jr, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr has also been bad thus far in his short NFL career, and it's a bit of a disappointment, as the Atlanta Falcons have a ton of talent on offense that most teams simply do not have. Penix suffered a knee injury and is done for the rest of the season as well, so the injuries are still a concern.
Penix is no. 5 in our second year QB rankings, as things just have not gone well for him in the NFL
4. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels has not played a ton this year and has not been available for his team after an insane rookie season in 2024. Simply put, the best ability is availability, so Daniels takes a huge hit in our second-year QB rankings because of an absent 2025 season.
Daniels and the Commanders did come within one game of the Super Bowl in 2024, so that had to be good for something.
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams still has to clean up some of the smaller things, but he's got that 'it' factor about him and is someone who has been able to will his team to victory, which is good for something. Williams' Chicago Bears are in a position to win the NFC North as well, and it's clear that Chicago does have a franchise QB on their hands.
Can they close out the deal and become NFC North champions in 2025?
2. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix has started 28 games in the NFL. The Broncos are 19-9 in those games and are in a position to win the AFC West for the first time since the 2015 NFL Season. Nix has been great and has turned into one of the more clutch QBs in the NFL. Sure, the defense is outstanding, but you would be lying to yourself if you said Nix hasn't been a heavy contributor this year.
Nix has also been the most consistent QB of his entire class thus far.
1. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye is an MVP candidate this year and is on the only team in the NFL that has double-digit wins as Week 13 continues. The New England Patriots have been outstanding this year and could take back the AFC East for their own. Maye does take a lot of sacks, but that is going to change as he gets further into his NFL career. Maye has been the best second-year QB overall.