10 quarterbacks had been chosen within the first two rounds of the previous two NFL drafts, together with a record-setting six within the top-12 picks in 2024.
Of the ten, Atlanta’s Michael Penix Jr. (backup to Kirk Cousins) and Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy (season-ending meniscus damage in August) have but to make their first begins, however the different eight have performed extensively.
This is how we rank every of these eight amongst their friends after Week 11.
1. C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans (second general decide, first spherical, 2023)
Profession stats: 6,736 yards passing, 35 TD passes, 12 INTs, 63.7 completion share | 16-10 report as starter
Stroud appeared like a seasoned veteran in his first 12 months within the NFL, turning into the primary rookie because the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to steer the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.6). Regardless of enduring a minor stoop early in his second 12 months, Stroud deserves the highest spot on this record, particularly due to his historic rookie season.
Forward of the Dallas Cowboys-Houston Texans “Monday Evening Soccer” matchup in Week 11, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy counseled Stroud’s arm expertise and composure, per CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell.
“I feel simply the best way he got here onto the scene, the very first thing that jumped off to me was his arm expertise, however actually his capability to get the ball out in tight quarters,” McCarthy stated. “There’s throw after throw on school tape, and I assumed it translated very nicely to the professional recreation…He could make all of the throws. Good athlete. …his composure within the pocket could be very spectacular.”
2. Bo Nix | Denver Broncos (twelfth general decide, first spherical, 2024)
Profession stats: 2,275 passing yards, 14 TD passes, six INTs, 65.5 completion % | 6-5 report as starter
After throwing zero touchdowns and 4 interceptions by means of his first three begins, Nix has discovered his footing and is among the league’s premier younger QBs. In Week 11 in opposition to the Falcons, he turned the second rookie in NFL historical past to throw for 300+ yards and 4 touchdowns in a recreation whereas posting a 140+ passer ranking, per NFL Communications.
On ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter’s podcast on Tuesday, Corridor of Fame QB John Elway, the previous Broncos star, praised Nix’s skillset and sky-high potential.
“Bo’s obtained all of the instruments, and I feel in in the present day’s recreation, although you may get by with out the motion, it certain is an added bonus to have the ability to transfer round and lengthen performs like Bo’s been in a position to do,” Elway stated. “I feel the sky is the restrict for him and he is simply going to proceed to get higher and higher the extra comfy that he will get.”
3. Jayden Daniels | Washington Commanders (second general decide, first spherical, 2024)
Profession stats: 2,338 passing yards, 10 TD passes, three INTs, 68.7 completion % | 7-4 report as starter
Earlier than struggling a rib damage in Week 7, Daniels was the league’s best quarterback and appeared like a replica of former Washington QB Robert Griffin III, who excelled as a rookie in 2012. Though he has struggled to regain his magic in current weeks, Daniels stays the odds-on favourite (-400) to win Offensive Rookie of the 12 months and ranks twelfth in MVP odds (+2500) on DraftKings Sportsbook (as of Nov. 20).
Following Daniels’ 52-yard game-winning Hail Mary cross in opposition to the Chicago Bears in Week 8, ESPN’s Domonique Foxworth said the previous LSU star deserved the MVP award. That is a stretch now however nonetheless illustrates Daniels’ potential.
“He took a group that all of us thought was a foul state of affairs — with an offensive coordinator that all of us form of snickered at in Kliff Kingsbury and a head coach in Dan Quinn that nobody was climbing throughout themselves to rent — and now this group is among the finest within the NFC,” stated Foxworth, who performed cornerback six seasons within the NFL. “He is doing magical issues.”
4. Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears (first general decide, first spherical, 2024)
Profession stats: 2,016 passing yards, 9 TD passes, 5 INTs, 61.8 completion % | 4-6 report as starter
Whereas he hasn’t but blossomed into the famous person he was projected to, Williams has proven quite a few flashes that he is able to doing so. Taking part in behind one of many league’s worst offensive traces, Williams has thrown for 300+ yards in a recreation twice and tossed 4 landing passes in a London recreation in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However he is removed from excellent. In an article for The Athletic by Insider Jeff Howe, an unnamed rival govt of the Bears identified key flaws in Williams’ recreation.
“He’s doing the identical issues he did in school by way of holding the ball [too long] and being inconsistent along with his reads,” the chief stated. “He may get away with operating round, throwing the ball up for grabs, throwing throughout his physique, and he had some success doing that. You do not get away with that on the NFL stage too usually. I am slightly shocked they have not been in a position to clear a few of this up.”
5. Anthony Richardson | Indianapolis Colts (fourth general decide, first spherical, 2023)
Profession stats: 1,807 yards passing, eight TD passes, eight INTs, 52.2 completion % | 6-5 report as starter
Richardson has struggled within the NFL, getting benched in favor of Joe Flacco following a Week 8 loss by which he accomplished simply 10-of-32 makes an attempt. After reclaiming the beginning position in Week 11, nonetheless, Richardson appeared to have regained his confidence after main two 70-yard fourth-quarter landing drives in a win in opposition to the New York Jets.
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III weighed in on Richardson’s state of affairs following the Colts-Jets recreation in a post on X.
“Richardson is not probably the most polished QB but, however you knew that whenever you drafted him,” Griffin III wrote in regards to the 22-year-old. “He wants time to develop and perceive the gravity of being the franchise QB. As we speak he confirmed why he is value it. Face to face in opposition to Aaron Rodgers, he was one of the best participant on the sector.”
6. Drake Maye | New England Patriots (third general decide, first spherical, 2024)
Profession stats: 1,236 yards passing, 9 TD passes, six INTs, 66.8 completion % | 2-4 report as starter
In six profession begins, Maye, who turned 22 in August, has appeared surprisingly comfy main one of many least gifted offensive models, passing for at the least 200 yards 4 occasions. In a 28-22 dwelling loss in Week 11 to the Los Angeles Rams, Maye threw for 282 yards and accomplished 75% of his passes (each season-highs).
Rams head coach Sean McVay took word of Maye’s efforts in opposition to his group, as ESPN’s Mike Reiss noted.
“He seems like a stud,” McVay stated. “I do know lots of people that studied him actually laborious, that I really respect their opinions, and so they cherished what he was all about. You’ll be able to simply see the affect he has on his teammates. He seems like he’ll be a particular participant for a very long time.”
7. Bryce Younger | Carolina Panthers (first general decide, first spherical, 2023)
Profession stats: 3,697 passing yards, 15 TD passes, 16 INTs, 59.9 completion % | 4-17 report as starter
It will be unjust to thoroughly pin the blame on Younger for his tumultuous begin as a result of Carolina has a rock-bottom roster. However he is actually failed to fulfill expectations a year-and-a-half into his profession. In 21 begins, Younger has surpassed the 250-yard passing mark as soon as and has extra video games with a number of interceptions (5) than a number of landing passes (three).
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield, who began six video games for the Panthers in 2022, provided his opinion on Younger’s struggles throughout a September news conference.
“Quarterback’s laborious, particularly for younger guys, whenever you’re not given the chance to have success,” Mayfield stated. “A whole lot of the time guys have the expertise, they could have the brains, however they do not have the fitting alternative or the fitting match… For Bryce, a man that may relate to this, discovering that perception inside your self once more and he’ll get it. His story is much, removed from completed.”
8. Will Levis | Tennessee Titans (thirty third general decide, second spherical, 2023)
Profession stats: 2,977 passing yards, 16 TD passes, 12 INTs, 61.5 completion % | 4-12 report as starter
The lone second-round QB decide from the previous two years, Levis has endured highs, corresponding to his 98-yard touchdown pass to WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in Week 11, and excessive lows, headlined by his unfathomable fourth-quarter interception in opposition to the Chicago Bears in Week 1 of this season.
Following Tennessee’s current loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Titans senior writer Jim Wyatt suggested Levis doubtlessly saved face regardless of an terrible report as starter.
“Levis has been a punching bag for lots of followers since since he arrived in Nashville, and he is given people who by no means favored him loads of ammunition alongside the best way,” Wyatt wrote. “He is made too many errors, and the Titans have misplaced too usually with Levis on the controls. However Levis was hardly the issue on Sunday. I assumed he confirmed guts in opposition to a tricky Vikings protection, when he was operating for his life on a number of performs.”