• Oregon’s Bo Nix leads the class: The 24-year-old signal-caller captured the lead in seven PFF grading categories, ranging from pressure grade to third-down grade.
• LSU’s Jayden Daniels shows off arm talent: The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner left his mark on the FBS this season with phenomenal arm talent, earning him several PFF grading titles, including throws past the sticks, deep passing grade and throws outside of the numbers.
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The 2024 NFL Draft season is well underway with the NFL scouting combine and individual pro days in the rearview. Every player brings a unique skill set to the table, in the hope of having their name called on the big stage. We’re breaking down the draft class’ best players in each and every facet, for every position, to get a more informed view of the NFL hopefuls.
These are PFF’s highest-graded quarterback prospects in each key grading facet.
Clean-Pocket Grade: Caleb Williams, USC (93.4)
When the protection holds up and Williams is given adequate time to work, there isn’t a better passer in the nation. Without pressure, the Trojans' signal-caller amassed 17 big-time throws with just two turnover-worthy plays in 2023, with the latter being the lowest of any eligible passer in this year’s class.
Pressured Grade: Bo Nix, Oregon (91.2)
Nix established himself as the far and away best passer when under pressure this past season, with his 91.2 grade sitting more than 18 points on the grading scale above the next highest grader. The Oregon product recorded an outstanding 9-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio when pressured.
Blitzed Grade: Bo Nix, Oregon & John Rhys Plumlee, UCF (90.6)
Just three passers surpassed the 90.0 grading threshold against the blitz, with Nix and Plumlee sharing this title among draft hopefuls. Nix made few mistakes when faced with blitzes, totaling 21 touchdowns and zero turnover-worthy plays, both of which pace the class. While Plumlee may not have thrown nearly as many touchdowns, he attacked the defenses that blitzed him, producing a 12.6-yard average target depth and a 61.6% air-yards rate.
Play-Action Grade: Michael Penix Jr., Washington (93.0)
Washington made effective use of run action all season long, a scheme in which Penix excelled. The former Husky led the class in play-action dropbacks (198) this past season, from which he produced 18 big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays while amassing 96 first-downs — all of which led this year’s prospects.
Throws Past the Sticks Grade: Jayden Daniels, LSU & Bo Nix, Oregon (94.8)
Needless to say, former transfers Daniels and Nix both attacked opposing defenses this past season, with each throwing more than 37% of their passes beyond the sticks. That aggressive approach allowed them to produce fantastic numbers, including each surpassing 30 touchdowns with sub-3% turnover-worthy play rates when targeting past the sticks.
Short Passing Grade: Caleb Williams, USC (90.7)
Williams has the awareness to orchestrate the timing and tempo needed to efficiently run the short-passing game. The Trojans' signal-caller produced 7.3 yards per attempt with an incredible 84.4% adjusted completion rate on throws targets nine yards or less downfield, all without recording a turnover-worthy play — one of just two draft-eligible quarterbacks to throw none.
Intermediate Passing Grade: Bo Nix, Oregon (94.7)
The Oregon standout had a knack for finding the soft spots of FBS defenses and using a defender’s leverage against them, which allowed him to attack the intermediate parts of the field (10-19 yards) with ease. Nix showed off incredible ball placement, particularly when targeting back-shoulder routes, in the intermediate passing game, where he racked up 16 scores and just a single turnover-worthy play.
Deep Passing Grade: Jayden Daniels, LSU (99.2)
The Heisman Trophy winner has a rocket for an arm, and he wasn’t afraid to make full use of it this past season. Daniels produced a phenomenal, class-leading 63.3% adjusted completion rate with 22.4 yards per attempt and a 142.4 passer rating on deep throws.
First- and Second-Down Grade: Jayden Daniels, LSU; Bo Nix, Oregon; & Michael Penix Jr., Washington (91.3)
Keeping an offense on schedule on early downs is one of the more stable metrics when evaluating quarterback play. Daniels managed an impressive 140.7 passer rating on first and second downs, while Penix tallied 40 big-time throws and Nix produced an 83.9% adjusted completion rate.
Third- and Fourth-Down Grade: Bo Nix, Oregon (91.8)
Accuracy on late downs was undoubtedly a strong point of Nix’s game this past season. The Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year managed an outstanding 82.3% adjusted completion rate on third and fourth downs while targeting 50.5% of his throws past the sticks. Additionally, Nix surrendered just a single sack on 113 late-down dropbacks.
Red-Zone Grade: Sam Hartman, Notre Dame (88.8)
While he took just 41 dropbacks in the red zone, Hartman produced class-leading marks in big-time throw rate (8.1%) and adjusted completion percentage (83.3%). Perhaps more impressively, 12 of Hartman’s 24 completions resulted in scores.
Outside the Pocket Grade: Bo Nix, Oregon (87.9)
Nix boasts the requisite athleticism to make plays from outside the pocket. When flushed in 2023, he produced an 81.7% adjusted completion rate and a 65.2% air-yards rate on his way to nine passing touchdowns and just a pair of interceptions.
Throws Outside the Numbers Grade: Jayden Daniels, LSU (92.8)
It takes immense arm talent to attack outside the numbers at a high level, something Daniels displayed time and time again in 2023. The LSU standout flashed his strong arm often with impressive throws outside, totaling a 14.1% big-time throw rate and a 144.4 passer rating — both top marks in the class.
Throws Inside the Numbers Grade: Drake Maye, North Carolina (93.4)
The North Carolina signal-caller displayed masterful control when attacking inside the numbers. Maye took advantage of the middle of defenses often with a variety of concepts that allowed him to target all levels of the field. His 17 big-time throws led the class, along with an impressive 1.2% turnover-worthy play rate that ranked second among 2024 draft prospects.
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