Patriots already scouting top quarterback prospects for 2024
The New England Patriots are already scouting top quarterback prospect Caleb Williams, according to a new report. (Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports)
The New England Patriots are starting early on scouting the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
As reported by USC beat writer One NFL scout out on the field early watching QB Caleb Williams: New England Patriots
It’s not unprecedented that the Patriots are scouting a top quarterback prospect. They’ve been linked to other big pre-draft names before, like Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson in 2018. What is unprecedented is that Bill Belichick and the Patriots have never been closer to the No. 1 pick in the draft, making Williams a realistic possibility to be available for them.
Entering Week 12, the 2-8 Patriots have the third pick in the 2024 draft, behind only the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals. On Sunday, the Pats will play the team directly behind them in the draft order, the New York Giants. The latter actually helped the Patriots on Sunday by picking up a win over the Washington Commanders to improve to 3-8.
If the Patriots end up at No. 3 overall, they’d be guaranteed one of the projected top-3 prospects: Williams, quarterback Drake Maye out of North Carolina, and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. out of Ohio State. Williams has elite franchise quarterback potential, due to his excellent combination of arm talent and mobility.
Read below for more on Williams, Maye, and other top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content here.
Quarterbacks to watch in a loaded 2024 NFL Draft class
Caleb Williams, USC
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 26: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans looks to pass the ball during the third quarter against the San Jose State Spartans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Williams is the generational prospect in this group. Potential-wise, he’s in the class of guys like Trevor Lawrence, Andrew Luck, and Cam Newton. Stylistically, he’s been compared to Cam Newton and Patrick Mahomes. Yes, the hype is tremendous.
As grim as things seem for the Patriots right now, the odds of them being in position to draft Williams are still incredibly low. Williams is almost a lock to go with the first overall pick, and even if the Patriots don’t end up and want to trade into that spot, the Chicago Bears will have a better trade package, owning both their own first-round pick and the first-round pick of the winless Carolina Panthers.
QB Drake Maye, UNC
Sep 16, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
While Williams is the clear 1/1 right now, the board gets a little blurrier for the rest of the QB group. There’s still some first-round ‘locks,’ but there’s not much consensus to this point as to the order of these players.
Coming into the season, Maye was viewed as the runner-up to Williams in this class. Maye might be the most well-rounded player of the group, but none of his individual traits supersede those of any of the other quarterbacks. He has a big arm, but not the biggest arm. He’s athletic, but not the most athletic. He’s a good processor, but not the best. At 6-foot-5, 220 pounds he certainly has the size to play quarterback in the NFL.
At the same time, Maye has very few weaknesses in his game. If none of his traits are the best in the class, many if not all are the second-best. The big test for him will come on Nov. 11, when the Tar Heels visit a Duke team that appears to have one of the top defenses in the nation.
Michael Penix, Washington
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 23: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Washington Huskies passes during the second quarter against the California Golden Bears at Husky Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
If Maye was the established QB2 coming into the season, Penix looked like the surprise breakout candidate early on. A sixth-year senior who will turn 24 the week after the 2024 Draft, Penix has been slinging the ball all over the yard for a Huskies team that looks like a potential playoff squad this year.
Between his big arm, high IQ, and strong field vision, Penix has lit up defenses to the tune of 1,999 yards and 16 touchdowns in five games, while completing 74.7 percent of his passes. He’s only thrown two interceptions in 178 pass attempts. His 196.47 passer rating ranks third in the nation.
The catch on Penix? For one, he only has two years of true college production after transferring to Washington from Illinois. He’s also a lefty, and for better or worse some teams evaluate lefty quarterbacks different.
Because Washington often plays in the late 10:30 p.m. ET window, Patriots fans on the East Coast may not be as familiar with Penix’s game. For those who want to see what all the hype is about he’s got a few big games coming up – Washington hosts Oregon, which is a top five overall and passing defense in the nation, this Saturday (Nov. 14) at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Patriots will have multiple scouts in attendance at that game, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Then the Huskies visit Caleb Williams and USC in early November. The next week Washington plays a ranked Utah team that also has a strong defense.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
FORT WORTH, TX – SEPTEMBER 2: Shedeur Sanders #2 of the Colorado Buffaloes throws downfield against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on September 2, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
As we transition from the first-round ‘locks’ to potential but fringe first-round picks we’ll touch on Sanders, who sits somewhere in between and in his own unique catagory.
Sanders certainly looks all the parts of a first-round quarterback, and will have a shot at being QB2 if he declares for the draft (he’s a true junior). However his coach and father, Deion Sanders, has said Sanders
Coach Prime discusses the idea of his son moving on to the NFL 🤔
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 20, 2023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1704626657032556867%7Ctwgr%5Efbb8c4be79f7b4edfcb073cb75b4cbc50861c516%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2023%2F09%2Fdeion-sanders-shedeur-nfl-draft-colorado-football" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won’t be declaring and instead
(via @TaylorRooks) pic.twitter.com/S7JOtxJQFHCoach Prime said Shilo & Shedeur ain’t going to the NFL next year 😂
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) September 19, 2023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">return to Boulder for his senior year. Between the setup Sanders has at Colorado, the money he’s making from NIL, and the perceived lack of quarterback talent in the 2025 class, this feels like a real possibility. So while he’ll be a legit option if he’s available, don’t be surprised if he ultimately ends up waiting until 2025 to go pro.
🎥: @WellOffForever , @DeionSandersJr pic.twitter.com/g42l52BzcnQuinn Ewers, Texas
Sep 30, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws a pass during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Coming out of high school, Ewers was considered one of the best quarterback recruits in recent history. His highly-publicized recruitment saw him initially commit to Ohio State before transferring back to his home state and the Texas Longhorns after a year. At Texas, he instantly became the starting quarterback in 2022.
Ewers’ 2022 season was up-and-down, as he dealt with injuries. This year was supposed to be his statement season and it started with a bang. Going into Tuscaloosa to face Alabama, Ewers threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. That had many looking at him as a first-round pick.
However, the inconsistencies from last year have returned. Last week he struggled against Oklahoma, throwing two picks in Texas’ biggest game of the year – the Red River Shootout. Playing in what is a weak Big 12 conference this year (none of Texas’ six remaining regular season games are against ranked teams, and none have defenses currently ranked in the top 30 nationally) he may have missed his biggest evaluation window this regular season. If he gets another shot at Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship, that game will be crucial for him.
Ewers has a big arm, is mobile, and plays with a lot of confidence. But questions about size (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) and efficiency are real. Can he prove the doubters wrong and live up to his recruiting billing coming out of high school?
Bo Nix, Oregon
Sep 23, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws the ball during the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at Autzen Stadium. Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Nix is one of the most fascinating quarterback prospects in this draft. He’s had quite the football journey so far, while still having a lot to prove.
Coming out of high school Nix was ranked as the top quarterback in his recruiting class, and committed to Auburn in his home state of Alabama. Before even setting foot on campus, Nix was already an Auburn legend. His dad Patrick also played for the Tigers in the mid-90s, and was one of the best quarterbacks in program history. Given his recruiting makeup and ties to the university, the hype around Nix, who started was a freshman, was immense.
Nix failed to live up to that hype though. After going 9-4 in his freshman campaign in 2019, Auburn went 12-12 in the final two years with Nix, finishing both seasons unranked and with bowl losses.
Near written-off as an NFL prospect Nix transferred to Oregon in 2022, and has since looked like a completely different quarterback. Much of what ailed him at Auburn now doesn’t – especially when it comes to negative plays. His touchdown to interception ratio has jumped from 2.4 at Auburn to 5.5 at Oregon, and after taking 50 sacks in 34 games with the Tigers he’s been sacked just eight times in 18 games with the Ducks.
Still, there’s one major box Nix hasn’t checked – winning big games on the road. At Auburn Nix went 2-6 against ranked road opponents, with an 0-6 mark against teams ranked in the top 15. Last year, he lost his lone ranked road game in his first season at Oregon. Not only has Nix lost those games, but he’s played poorly in the majority of them. That’s led to the nickname ‘Road Nix.’
Nix turns 24 before the draft, so his ceiling is limited. He’ll need to prove to NFL teams that he can come into the league right away, and that means proving he can beat tough teams on the road. He’ll have two chances to do that this year – this week against Washington (27th-ranked defense), and two weeks from now against Utah (6th-ranked defense). As mentioned above, the Patriots will have multiple scouts at this week’s game.
If Nix plays well in those games, there’s a case to be made he’s a first-round pick. If he doesn’t, his draft stock could really slide.
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 02: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Michigan Wolverines throws a first quarter touchdown while playing the East Carolina Pirates at Michigan Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
McCarthy has been a high-profile quarterback for two years now, having been under center for Michigan’s playoff appearance last year. Given Michigan’s recent success, McCarthy has been tabbed as a potential first-round pick.
There’s certainly draftable traits in McCarthy’s game. He’s athletic, gets good zip on the ball, and doesn’t seem to be to panicky. He’s also 20 years old (he’ll turn 21 in January), meaning he still has significant upside.
However, it’s tough to say Michigan’s success has been because of McCarthy. He’s not asked to do very much for the Wolverines offense. Last year he attempted just 23 passes per game, and this year that number is down to 20. In six games he’s thrown for 215 yards per game, with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. On top of that he hasn’t been overly-productive on the ground, with 133 rushing yards and three scores. While the wins are there, the high-end production isn’t.
Could McCarthy handle a bigger workload? Maybe, although it’s something he’s likely not going to be tasked with at Michigan, which runs its offense through the ground game. If Michigan ends up in a shootout with either Penn State (Nov. 11) or Ohio State (Nov. 25), those games will be very telling and be a better chance to evaluate some of his perceived weaknesses such as field vision and ability to deal with pressure.
Either way, McCarthy will be a project quarterback for whatever team drafts him, and may need a year to develop before being NFL ready. Quarterbacks with that makeup will typically end up as Day 2 picks, but with the success of players like Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy, it wouldn’t be shocking, if McCarthy finishes the season strong, to see him go late in the first round.
Other quarterbacks to watch
CORVALLIS, OREGON – SEPTEMBER 16: Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei #5 of the Oregon State Beavers passes the ball against the San Diego State Aztecs during the second half at Reser Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)
Let’s say the Patriots decide to address one of their other pressing offensive needs like tackle or wide receiver in the first round. Here are some quarterbacks to keep an eye on further down the board…
Day 2:
–K.J. Jefferson, Arkansas
–Jordan Travis, Florida State
–Jayden Daniels, LSU
–Riley Leonard, Duke
–Cameron Ward, Washington State
–Spencer Rattler, South CarolinaDay 3:
–Joe Milton, Tennessee
–DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State
–Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina
–Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
–Devin Leary, Kentucky
–Will Howard, Kansas State
–Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
