The 2024 NFL draft class could be a generational one in terms of quarterbacks, at least early on in the cycle.
Going into this 2023 college football season, both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are being highly touted as top prospects with the chance of going 1-2 come next April. While the hype is high on both prospects, where do the two rank among the top quarterback prospects in the last five years?
ESPN’s Matt Miller ranked the quarterbacks selected in the first round of the last five drafts along with the top prospects in 2024. And both Maye and Williams made the top 5.
Williams topped the list at No. 1 as the top prospect over the last five years while Maye checked in at No. 4. Here is what Miller said about Maye:
“Maye would be QB1 in most drafts,” an AFC area scout said.
In his first season under center for the Tar Heels, he improved the North Carolina offense, throwing for 38 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions while also running for seven more scores. Maye is still an unknown with just 14 games under his belt, but the potential is outstanding. It might seem like the No. 1 spot in 2024 firmly belongs to Williams, but Maye should be a worthy competitor over the next nine months.
“If Caleb Williams weren’t in this draft, we’d be talking about Maye as a generational prospect,” an AFC executive said. “He still might be one.”
That’s very high praise for Maye who enters year two as the Tar Heels’ starter at quarterback. Another big year could improve his stock even more and challenge Williams for the top spot.
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