Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on: 3/2/2024.

Drake Maye has the best chance to challenge Caleb Williams to be the first quarterback drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams and Drake Maye were both considered better overall prospects than Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud the top two quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Quarterbacks Combine Recap: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels the top three quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft as well as the projected top three picks opted not to throw at the 2024 NFL Combine as all three will throw at their Pro Days. With the star quarterbacks not throwing, the focus shifts to Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr who are my other two first round quarterbacks outside of the top 3. The only other day 1 starter outside of those five is Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, and his ceiling is not as high as the top 5 quarterbacks.

Other quarterbacks with potential to develop into starters include Spencer Rattler, Sam Hartman, Michael Pratt, and Jordan Travis. Those four, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix will headline the quarterbacks at the 2024 NFL Combine.

Notre Dame quarterbck Sam Hartman, Michigan quarterbck J.J. McCarthy, Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton, and Oregon quarterback Bo Nix all impressed me with their short ball accuracy on the slant pass that scouts asked those quarterbacks to throw. The only quarterback in group one that made a bad throw on a short pass was Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary.

Every quarterback threw a sideline pass except for Joe Milton and every quarterback in group one struggle. Bo Nix went 0/2, Sam Hartman went 1/3, and J.J. MCCarthy went 0/1.

J.J. McCarthy rebounded in the deep in drill. Joe Milton was the only quarterbck without an incompletion in group one through 3 drills. Joe Milton finally threw his first incompletion on a deep in during his second rep.

J.J. McCarthy threw his second incompletion on the circus bench. Joe Milton did well in the circus bench drill. Devin Leary did well in the circus bench drill. J.J. McCarthy went 0/3 in the circus bench drill. Joe Milton had 2 incompletions after the circus bench drill, J.J. McCarthy, Devin Leary, and Sam Hartman had 4 incompletions at this point with Bo Nix having 7 incompletions on pace to break Will Levis record for most incompletions at the NFL Combine.

Bo Nix threw his eighth incompletion in the sail corner drill. Devin Leary is at six incompletions. J.J. McCarthy threw his fifth incompletion, but looked like he was gaining momentum near the end. Sam Hartman now has the second fewest completions on the day after a bad Senior Bowl game. Joe Milton still has the fewest incompete passes in group one following the sail corner drill.

Bo Nix looked a lot better executing a curl route. So did Sam Hartman, Devin Leary, and J.J. McCarthy.

Joe Milton threw deep ball passes from 62, 65, 68, 71, 72, and 73 yards. Joe Milton dominated the Josh Allen drill.

J.J. McCarthy threw passes from 61, 62, 63, and 65 yards. Outside of Joe Milton and J.J. McCarthy there wasn't a quarterback that stood out in terms of deep ball accuracy.

Devin Leary had 45, 46, and 53 on the deep ball. Sam Hartman and Bo Nix struggled in the deep ball drill. Bo Nix threw his deep ball 50, 55, and 44 yards. Sam Hartman had 50, 53, and 51 yards on the deep ball. These three quarterbacks don't have th same throwing power as Joe Milton or J.J. McCarthy.

Joe Milton struggled on the comeback route drill going 0/3. Sam Hartman and Joe Milton both have 7 incompletions. J.J. McCarthy has 8 incompletions. Devin Leary has 10 incompletions and Bo Nix has 11 incompletions with these quarterbacks approaching the 14 incompletions Will Levis threw at last years NFL Combine.

Sam Hartman had the fewest incompletions following a deep ball drill. J.J. McCarthy dominated the end zone fade. Joe Milton did well in this drill too. Bo Nix went 1/3 on the end zone fade. Sam Hartman struggled on the end zone fade going from 7 to 10 incompletions. J.J McCarthy edged out Joe Milton for fewest incompletions as McCarthy finished with 8 incompletions while Joe Milton had 9. Sam Hartman and Devin Leary finished group one with 10 incompletions while Bo Nix had 13 incompletions one shy of what Will Levis had.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt, and Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed were the only quarterbacks to get through the slant drill without an incompletion.

Michael Pratt overthrew the out route drill. Spencer Rattler threw some accurate passes in the out route. Michael Penix Jr. was the only quaqrterback without an incompletion after the out route drill in group two.

Michael Penix Jr. continued to dominate the circus bench drill. Michael Penix Jr. dominated through the first three drills with no incompletions in group two.

All of the quarterbacks excelled in the curl route. Michael Penix Jr. still has no incompletions through four drills.

Spencer Rattler threw it 60, 61, and 59 yards. Michael Penix Jr. threw two incompletions with both passes being 59 an 58 yards. Michael Penix Jr. needs to improve his deep ball accuracy and touch on his deep ball. His short ball accuracy and medium ball accuracy is superb. Michael Pratt threw it 54, 50, and 44 yards.

The group two quarterbacks threw the end zone faid drill. Then the quarterbacks and wide receivers celebrated.

The 2024 NFL Draft may be deeper than the 2023 NFL Draft. Marvin Harrison Jr. may be the most complete receiver to enter the NFL Draft since Ja'Marr Chase back in 2021.

Wide Receivers Combine Recap: This draft has three blue chip wide receivers in Marvin Harrison Jr. from Ohio State, Malik Nabers from LSU, and Rome Odunze, from Washington. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers both chose not to work out at the 2024 NFL Combine.

Group one was headlined by Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin, Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman, and Texas wide receiver Adontai Mitchell. Franklin and Mitchell ran good 40 yard dash times. Keon Coleman on the other hand did not.

Central Florida wide receiver Javon Baker, Holy Cross wide receiver Jalen Coker, Florida State wide reeiver Keon Coleman, Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin, Oregon State wide receiver Anthony Gould, South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette, Michigan wide receiver Cornellius Johnson, Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan, Pittsburgh wide receiver Bub Means, and Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell all did well for group one in the over the shoulder drill for the wide receivers. Georgia ide receiver Ladd McConkey dropped a pass in this drill, but rebounded in the gauntlet.

Troay Franklin, Anthony Gould, Cornellius Johnson, and Bub Means were the only four receivers to get through the first two wide receiver drills without a drop. Arizona wide receiver Jacob Cowing had a good gauntlet drill.

USC wide receiver Brenden Rice, LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker, Virginia wide receiver Malik Wahington, USC wide receiver Tahj Washington, Florida State wide receiver Johnny Wilson, and Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson all looked good in the over the top drill. Those receivers stood out in the over the top drill for group two.

Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze was exceptional in the gauntlet drill. Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall did well in this drill. Brian Thomas Jr. had no drops during the gauntlet drill continuing his momentum. The same can be said with Malik Washington as well as Tahj Washington and Johnny Wilson. Roman Wilson had a couple of drops in the gauntlet after looking strong.

Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze cemented his top 10 status going the entire day without a drop. He celebrated by doing a backflip.

The 2024 NFL Draft has four running backs that check every box. The guy headlining this group is Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen.

Running Back Combine Recap: Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 yard dash, but looked good in the on the field drills. Braelon Allen should be the first running back off the board.

Texas running back Jonathon Brooks had a good day in the on the field drills despite not running his 40 yard dash. Jonathon Brooks is now my number two running back in this draft.

Florida State running back Trey Benson dominated the 40 yard dash. Trey Benson was the biggest winner at running back today.

Michigan running back Blake Corum entered today as my number two running back. Blake Corum was my top ranked running back back in October. He's the final guy in this group that could go in day 2.

Audric Estime entered today with a day 2 grade. His 4.72 40 time causes him to drop to day 3. He checks every box like his predecessor Kyren Williams, but a bad 40 yard dash knocks him down to my fifth best running back that gets picked on day 3.

Other running backs that could challenge Estime to be the first running back off the board on day 3 include Clemson running back Will Shipley, Oregon running back Bucky Irving, Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright, and South Dakota State running back Isaiah Davis.

Troy running back Kimani Vidal and Monmouth running back Jaden Shirden both ran good 40 times. Both running backs improved their draft status from fifth to sixth round prospects.

Missouri running back Cody Schraeder hurt his draft stock. I had a fifth on Schrader entering today, but now have a sixth round grade on Schraeder.