The 2024 NFL Draft, held on April 25-27 in Detroit, might have as many as 5 quarterbacks chosen within the first spherical. It is uncertain all of them are destined for achievement.
The truth is, after inspecting the NFL careers of 15 QBs who had been first-round picks over the previous 5 drafts, it is honest to say solely six or seven groups made the suitable alternative.
Word: We didn’t consider 2019 Commanders choice Dwayne Haskins, who died in an accident involving a dump truck in 2022.
With that in thoughts, listed here are the first-round quarterbacks drafted since 2019, accompanied by a grade based mostly on how their careers have unfolded.
2019
Kyler Murray | Arizona Cardinals (first general)
KEY NFL STATS: 66.6 % completion price, 15,647 passing yards, 94 TD passes, 46 interceptions, 2,448 dashing yards, 26 dashing TDs
The Cardinals properly pulled the plug on the Josh Rosen experiment after one season to draft Murray, and whereas the group is amid one other rebuilding section, the two-time Professional Bowler is way from a bust. Murray has made one playoff look, and based mostly on his efficiency following his return from a 2022 ACL tear, it won’t be too lengthy earlier than he propels Arizona again to the postseason.
GRADE: B+
Daniel Jones | New York Giants (sixth general)
KEY NFL STATS: 64.3 % completion price, 12,512 passing yards, 62 TD passes, 40 interceptions, 1,914 dashing yards; 13 dashing TDs
One of the shocking picks of the 2019 NFL Draft, Jones handled turnover points, accidents and a number of teaching adjustments early in his profession. He signed a four-year, $160M deal after main New York to the playoffs in 2022, however his ineffective play and a season-ending ACL tear in 2023 might pressure the group to pick out his substitute on this 12 months’s NFL Draft.
GRADE: C-
2020
Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals (first general)
KEY NFL STATS: 68 % completion price; 14,083 passing yards, 97 TD passes, 37 interceptions, 605 dashing yards, 10 dashing TDs
Though Burrow has suffered two season-ending accidents to start out his profession, it is clear the Bengals made the suitable alternative by deciding on the previous Heisman Trophy winner. Burrow, the one energetic QB to beat Patrick Mahomes within the playoffs, has already led Cincinnati to at least one Tremendous Bowl look and when wholesome is within the dialog for being a top-three quarterback.
GRADE: A+
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (fifth general)
KEY NFL STATS: 66.9 % completion price, 12,639 passing yards, 81 TD passes, 37 interceptions, six dashing TDs
Though he has established himself as one of the vital correct quarterbacks within the NFL, it is honest to say Tagovailoa wasn’t value being chosen fifth general, particularly contemplating gamers at his place who had been drafted after him (Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts). To safe a large contract extension, Tagovailoa should show he can win significant video games regardless of his questionable arm energy and lack of mobility.
GRADE: B-
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (sixth general)
KEY NFL STATS: 66.6 % completion price, 17,223 passing yards, 114 TD passes, 42 interceptions, 911 dashing yards, 11 dashing TDs
The Chargers have solely made the playoffs as soon as (and collapsed as soon as there) since drafting Herbert, however the one-time Professional Bowler is likely one of the NFL’s finest arm abilities. Apart from being the first player in league historical past to throw for a minimum of 4,000 yards in every of his first three seasons, Herbert ranks third amongst QBs in passing yards and fourth in landing passes since he was drafted.
GRADE: A
Jordan Love, Inexperienced Bay Packers (twenty sixth general)
KEY NFL STATS: 63.7 % completion price, 4,765 passing yards, 35 TD passes, 14 interceptions, 4 dashing TDs
Inexperienced Bay shocked many on draft evening by electing to not give Aaron Rodgers one other weapon to gear up for a possible Tremendous Bowl run and as an alternative choose the franchise’s quarterback of the longer term. After sitting behind Rodgers for 3 years, Love excelled in his first season as a starter in 2023, rating second within the NFL in TD passes (32) and seventh in passing yards (4,159) whereas guiding the Packers to the NFC divisional spherical.
GRADE: A-
2021
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (first general)
KEY NFL STATS: 63.8 % completion price, 11,770 passing yards, 58 TD passes, 39 interceptions, 964 dashing yards; 11 dashing TDs
Lawrence hasn’t lived as much as his generational prospect billing, however when he has been wholesome — and never enjoying below City Meyer’s tutelage — he is a reliable beginning quarterback. Even so, 2024 shall be a career-defining season for Lawrence, as we’ll get a clearer image of the place he stacks up in opposition to his friends within the quarterback hierarchy.
GRADE: B
Zach Wilson, New York Jets (second general)
KEY NFL STATS: 57 % completion price, 6,293 passing yards, 23 TD passes, 25 interceptions, 5 dashing TDs
The BYU product’s robust arm captivated the Jets, although it quickly grew to become evident the group had drafted one other bust, so it changed him with Rodgers final offseason. Following Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles harm, the Jets turned again to Wilson, who struggled, leading to him being benched a number of occasions. He’ll most likely be traded or launched quickly.
GRADE: F
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers (third general)
KEY NFL STATS: 54.9 % completion price, 797 passing yards, 5 TD passes, three interceptions, 235 dashing yards, one dashing TD
17 begins at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State had been sufficient for San Francisco to ship Miami three first-round picks for the suitable to pick out Lance, who performed in eight video games throughout two seasons earlier than being traded to Dallas. The Lance deal is arguably the worst draft commerce in NFL historical past, however the 49ers struck gold with their 262nd choose in 2022 (Brock Purdy) to offset the loss.
GRADE: F
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears (eleventh general)
KEY NFL STATS: 60.3 % completion price, 6,674 passing yards, 40 TD passes, 30 interceptions, 2,220 dashing yards; 14 dashing TDs
In a last-ditch effort to save lots of his job, former Bears GM Ryan Tempo traded as much as make Fields Chicago’s franchise QB, however the deal did not pan out for both social gathering. Fields has displayed distinctive dashing potential within the NFL, however his limitations as a passer prompted Chicago to commerce him to Pittsburgh this offseason so it could presumably draft USC’s Caleb Williams with the highest general choose in 2024.
GRADE: D
Mac Jones, New England Patriots (fifteenth general)
KEY NFL STATS: 66.1 % completion price, 8,918 passing yards, 46 TD passes, 36 interceptions, one dashing TD
It initially appeared Jones was on his technique to being the following nice Patriots quarterback, as he led the group to the playoffs as a rookie and earned a Professional Bowl nod. After struggling mightily with turnover points over the previous two seasons (23 interceptions), New England shipped Jones to his hometown Jaguars, the place he’ll function Lawrence’s backup.
GRADE: C-
2022
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers (twentieth general)
KEY NFL STATS: 62.6 % completion price, 4,474 passing yards, 13 TD passes, 13 interceptions, 4 dashing TDs
The Steelers tried to rectify the error of passing on a sure Pitt quarterback in 1983 — shhh, Dan Marino — by making former Panther Pickett the successor to future Corridor of Famer Ben Roethlisberger. Nonetheless, it shortly grew to become obvious Pickett, whose 1.8 % landing share is the worst in NFL historical past amongst QBs with a minimum of 500 passing makes an attempt, is not a starting-caliber quarterback, main Pittsburgh to commerce him to Philadelphia this offseason.
GRADE: F
2023
Bryce Younger, Carolina Panthers (first general)
KEY NFL STATS: 59.8 % completion price, 2,877 passing yards, 11 TD passes, 10 interceptions
The Panthers executed what could already be the worst commerce in NFL historical past to maneuver as much as choose the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, solely to finish up with the league’s worst document in 2023. No rookie quarterback would have succeeded in Carolina’s disastrous scenario, however the undersized Younger (5-foot-10, 204 kilos) did not present a lot promise by way of the primary 16 video games of his profession.
GRADE: D
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (second general)
KEY NFL STATS: 63.9 % completion price, 4,108 passing yards, 23 TD passes, 5 interceptions, 167 dashing yards, three dashing TDs
Lacking out on the possibility to pick out Younger might show to be one of the best factor to occur to the Texans as a result of Stroud loved one of many biggest seasons by a rookie quarterback. Stroud set a sport document for a rookie with 470 yards passing and 5 TD passes in Week 9. Most significantly, he led Houston to the AFC South title and the divisional spherical of the playoffs.
GRADE: A+
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (fourth general)
KEY NFL STATS: 59.5 % completion price, 577 passing yards, three TD passes, one interception, 136 dashing yards, 4 dashing TDs
Regardless of Richardson finishing simply 53.8 percent of his passes throughout his ultimate season at Florida, his otherworldly athleticism satisfied the Indianapolis Colts to pick out him fourth general. Though the dynamic 6-foot-4, 244-pounder performed simply 4 video games earlier than struggling a season-ending shoulder harm, he confirmed sufficient flashes for the Colts to be enthusiastic about his future in HC Shane Steichen’s offense.
GRADE: B
