Read the latest 2024 NFL Draft quarterback tracker

The top of the heap is clear. But who’s QB3 for 2024?

It’s perhaps the most fascinating draft question right now, as USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye continue to look like the consensus top two passers and no-doubt top-10 picks. However, we could see at least two more — and maybe three or four more — quarterbacks go in Round 1 next spring, perhaps even in the top half of the first round.

Advertisement

And two of them, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, are off to awesome starts thus far.

Ewers has played a tougher schedule. He and the Longhorns toppled No. 3 Alabama Saturday night, with Ewers delivering a sparkling 24-of-38, 349-yard, three-touchdown outing on the road. It was the best Ewers has played as a college football player, and if it’s any indication of what’s to come, could be terrific news for his draft stock.

target acquired 🎯

📺

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 10, 2023

Heading into that game, the biggest things to watch with Ewers were his general decision-making from the pocket (be it when facing pressure or not) and his footwork from a stationary base. Much of Ewers’ inconsistent accuracy throughout the early stages of his career has been due to his footwork — he’d try to whip the ball into a tight spot without stepping into a throw, often because he’d made a read late.

On Saturday night vs. the Crimson Tide, there weren’t many of those missteps, if any. Ewers was on time and on target all night. And though there were hiccups in the middle of the game, he was at his best when the Longhorns needed it. That was a massive pressure game for the entire Texas’ program, but especially for Ewers, who had to have a big day.

McCarthy, meantime, has played much lesser foes (East Carolina and UNLV), but he’s been nearly perfect. His decision-making is faster, and his understanding of what Michigan’s offense is doing — even when Jim Harbaugh’s not in the stadium — has been outstanding. He’s gotten stronger compared to last season, too.

Like Ewers, accuracy and footwork consistency from a stable pocket were areas of needed improvement for McCarthy this offseason. So far, he looks to have made some big strides. He throws the corner route as well as anybody in America, and his ability to leave the pocket without losing his downfield vision is also toward the top of any list.

J.J. McCarthy's first half passing for @umichfootball:
17/18
188 YDS
TD

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 9, 2023

Steve Sarkisian and his QB coach, A.J. Milwee, deserve credit for pushing Ewers. Perhaps as big a pat on the back should go to new Michigan QB coach Kirk Campbell, who did great work with McCarthy this summer and has the junior seeing the field much better.

Advertisement

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders also has pushed himself into the QB3 conversation. Colorado’s offense had problems vs. Nebraska’s front Saturday and struggled to run the ball throughout the first half (and much of the third quarter). Without that run game — and while dealing with suspect protection — Sanders was on the move a lot and still made some nice throws. Most important: Nebraska’s secondary had maybe two busts in the first half, and Sanders exploited both for big plays.

GO DEEPER

Colorado's Sanders records 3 TDs in win vs. Nebraska

Sanders continues to distribute the ball, and he can make off-platform throws while remaining a threat as a runner. One major area of improvement for him is in situational football — things like poor clock management at the end of the half or taking a sack in the red zone. So much of that, though, can be improved with time on task. He’ll have plenty of it.

Another coaching nod here: Deion Sanders’ decision (and ability) to bring in Sean Lewis as OC/QB coach was arguably the best assistant coaching hire in the country this offseason.

Daniels (6-foot, 220 pounds) is a fascinating fourth-year prospect with terrific speed and quickness in the open field. He also plays with great improvisational skills and generally has his eyes downfield on movement throws.

There are still times when he’ll either throw it too early or too fast, though, particularly on deep shots — the result often being an off-target throw. His footwork is not consistent, and his delivery feels like it could be more compact.

But he’s also a playmaker. Daniels went 21 of 29 for 277 and two touchdowns vs. a talented Illinois defense on Friday. Though we’ve still yet to see a full season from Daniels, he remains an intriguing prospect.

Third down.
Deep in your own territory.
Jer'Zhan Newton bearing down on you.

No problem for #Kansas QB Jalon Daniels. He continues to get better and better. Strong performance last night in win over Illinois.

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 9, 2023

As for Nix, I thought he really battled and showed plenty of mental toughness during a back-and-forth win at Texas Tech. He finished 32 of 44 for 359 and two touchdowns (with no picks) and ended the game hitting 12 of his final 13 throws, helping the Ducks earn a comeback victory on the road.

Advertisement

It’s not always perfect with Nix, but he tends to find a way.

Despite the Vols’ wins over Virginia and now Austin Peay, this has not been quite the start Milton (or NFL scouts) wanted.

The Tennessee senior started Saturday’s Austin Peay game just 1 of 8 through the air and was consistently late with his reads and progressions, often leaving the ball toward the middle or back shoulder of his crossing receivers. Milton did have four incompletions that hit the hands of his receivers on the first two series, but every one of those throws was either too late or too high.

Milton did his best to keep his cool, and didn’t allow his frustrating start to derail the game. He finished 21 of 33 for 228 yards and two TDs, and Tennessee won, so the offense figured it out. However, some of the issues that have always been there with Milton are still popping up — and they need to stop.

He has a big opportunity this week when Tennessee visits Florida.

GO DEEPER

Week 2 Saturday Takeaways: The Pac-12 might be as good as it thinks

Performances of note

Caleb Williams, USC: 19 of 21, 281 yards passing, 21 yards rushing, 4 total TDs

Williams and the Trojans had a 49-3 halftime lead, and the star QB didn’t play after halftime in a 56-10 win over Stanford. So, all of those stats came in the first two quarters — and that left enough time for a few additional “how did that happen” highlights from Williams, who’s shown he can escape the pocket and throw lightning beams while on the run. He’s still QB1.

Drake Maye, North Carolina: 21 of 30, 208; 57 rush yards, 1 TDs

Bit of a weird one for Maye, who started somewhat slow against a quality Appalachian State squad before making some big-time throws — and plays with his legs — to earn a 40-34 double-overtime, home win. It’d still be nice to see better consistency in Maye’s decision-making and other little stuff, but like Williams, he can do things with his arm that others just can’t.

DRAKE MAYE IN THE CLUTCH 🥶 @UNCFootball SURVIVES 2OT ‼️

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) September 10, 2023

Sam Hartman, Notre Dame: 15 of 24, 286 yards, 4 TDs

Another weird one. Notre Dame had to fight through a 90-minute weather delay in the first half, but this was easily the worst start Hartman’s had to a game with the Irish. He held onto the ball too long in the pocket at times, struggled vs. pressure and forced some things against a stout NC State defense. Once Notre Dame got its run game going, though, Hartman settled in and delivered — with help from sophomore TE Holden Staes, who had a breakout day.

Advertisement

Jordan Travis, Florida State: 15 of 29, 175 yards, 2 TDs

Travis didn’t attempt a pass after halftime in a 66-13 win over Southern Miss, but it was hardly a smooth start for Travis on the heels of his great opener vs. LSU. Travis fell victim to some dropped passes during a 6-of-15 start, but he also struggled with his own timing. Travis hit too many long foul balls — contested deep shots that didn’t connect. Travis’ weapons are enticing, but scouts will need to see him return to a more patient approach.

Michael Penix Jr., Washington: 28 of 38, 409 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

Penix once again put up huge numbers and had some great throws, against an overmatched Tulsa squad. He also had some errors, including an interception. It came on a throw from the pocket, where he was forced to move due to a rush, didn’t get himself all the way reset and sailed a ball into the end zone. He also nearly threw another interception on a ball toward the sideline later in the half.

The great with Penix is great. The bad, at times, can be concerning.

GO DEEPER

Is Marvin Harrison Jr. the 2024 NFL Draft's top prospect? WR stars in Week 2

Riley Leonard, Duke: 12 of 12, 136 yards, 1 TD

The 6-4 junior had an easy one vs. Lafayette (a 42-7 win) and didn’t have to throw a pass in the fourth quarter. After knocking off Clemson in Week 1, Leonard and Duke could be 4-0 headed into a tilt with Notre Dame on Sept. 30.

Michael Pratt, Tulane: DNP vs. Ole Miss

This was a bummer — Pratt had to sit out with a knee injury Saturday (a 37-20 loss to Ole Miss). It’s kind of a big deal for Pratt’s draft outlook, too, because Tulane won’t play another defense of this caliber the rest of the way. We’ll see if Pratt heals up in time for next week’s trip to Southern Miss.

Jayden Daniels, LSU: 18 of 24, 269 yards, 5 TDs

Daniels had a much smoother showing Saturday than he had against Florida State last week, albeit while facing a weaker opponent — LSU rolled Grambling State, 72-10. The competition level didn’t really matter, though. Daniels needed to inject some confidence back into his offense after the Week 1 clunker. He showed some strong resiliency, so let’s see if it builds.

(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic; Photo of Quinn Ewers: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)

The Football 100, the definitive ranking of the NFL’s best 100 players of all time, goes on sale this fall. Pre-order it here.