With the 2023 NFL season concluding on Sunday, free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft will soon be at the forefront of the conversation. That’s already been the case for 30/32 NFL teams but the 49ers and Chiefs will join the mix as soon as the Super Bowl LVIII clock hits 0:00.
The results weren’t always pretty but 2023 morphed into the year of the rookie quarterback. Thanks to injuries and veteran failures at the position, a record-breaking 10 rookie quarterbacks started in 2023. That resulted in plenty of bad football but it also led to the emergence of franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud in Houston.
With the 2023 NFL season concluding on Sunday, free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft will soon be at the forefront of the conversation. That’s already been the case for 30/32 NFL teams but the 49ers and Chiefs will join the mix as soon as the Super Bowl LVIII clock hits 0:00.
The results weren’t always pretty but 2023 morphed into the year of the rookie quarterback. Thanks to injuries and veteran failures at the position, a record-breaking 10 rookie quarterbacks started in 2023. That resulted in plenty of bad football but it also led to the emergence of franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud in Houston.
As the most important and often most scrutinized position in all of sports, it’s almost impossible for quarterbacks to fly under the radar. However, if you miss out on the big three, here are three additional under-the-radar NFL Draft prospects to target at the quarterback position.
Under the Radar NFL Draft QB Targets
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is a perfect example of a potential first-round pick somehow flying under the radar. It’s understandable why so many across the fantasy football industry prefer USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, but don’t overlook McCarthy’s potential at the next level.
Assuming he gets first-round draft capital and lands in a decent situation, McCarthy would be valued as a mid-to-late first-round pick in Superflex rookie drafts. If you play in devy formats, you can probably snag McCarthy at a lesser cost right now than you’ll pay in a few months.
McCarthy has a slimmer build than some will like but he has good height and can get to his second and third read when needed. You’ll never mistake McCarthy for Justin Fields or Anthony Richardson in the running game but he is mobile enough to stress defenses and pick up extra yards when needed.
After an up-and-down career at both Oklahoma and South Carolina, Spencer Rattler is taking his talents to the NFL. After being named the 2024 Senior Bowl MVP, Rattler might be the fastest-rising signal-caller in the 2024 quarterback class.
Rattler began his career at Oklahoma, finishing with 3,031 passing yards and a 28-7 TD-to-INT ratio in 2020. Rattler would struggle a bit in 2021 and eventually lost his starting job to true freshman Caleb Williams. After the season, both Rattler and Williams entered the transfer portal. Williams followed former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley to Southern Cal, while Rattler transferred to the SEC.
With a below-average offensive line in front of him, Rattler faced constant pressure in his two seasons at South Carolina. After taking 35 sacks in 1.5 seasons at Oklahoma, that number increased to 71 in Rattler’s two seasons in Columbia.
Despite that, Rattler had moments of pure brilliance at South Carolina. He has tremendous arm talent and his ability to make off-platform throws will be an asset at the next level. Rattler finished his Gamecocks career with a 37-20 TD-to-INT ratio and he’s currently trending towards being selected on the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft.
We get so fixated on hitting home runs in this industry that we sometimes forget about singles and doubles. While lacking the athleticism and upside of others at the position, Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt might be one of the safest options available in the back half of 2024 rookie drafts.
Pratt doesn’t have the strongest arm but it’s good enough. He isn’t the most athletic but he wins in other ways. Pratt may be destined for backup duties in the NFL but his current average draft position (ADP) suggests he’ll be drafted in the late-third or early-fourth round of rookie drafts. There’s almost no risk involved at that price in drafting a potential spot starter, at worst.
2024 NFL Draft Scouting Reports: Quarterbacks
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