It’s that time again. Dynasty rookie fever SZN is here! The NFL Draft will come and go before we know it and rookie drafts will start flying daily. Before you dive head first into our Draft Simulator and run 3,000 rookie drafts in preparation, please read up on this talented prospect class as I roll through my quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end positional primers. Motrin and Tylenol can’t quell this fever. The only medicine is more dynasty rookie mock drafts. Let’s dive into a few notable dynasty rookie draft picks to consider.
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers: QB | WR
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 NFL Draft Guide
- 2024 Draft Scouting Reports
2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice
J.J. McCarthy (Michigan)
Stats:
- 2023 (among FBS QBs, minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 10th
- Adjusted completion rate: 4th
- Yards per attempt: 11th
- Big-time throw rate: 26th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 3rd
- Deep throw rate: 101st
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Adjusted completion rate: 4th
- Pressured rate: 60th
- 2022 (among FBS QBs, minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 43rd
- Adjusted completion rate: 53rd
- Yards per attempt: 26th
- Big-time throw rate: 37th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 43rd
- Deep throw rate: 49th
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Adjusted completion rate: 60th
- Pressured rate: 22nd-lowest
Scouting Report:
- McCarthy is a playmaker from the pocket. He’s adept at buying time with his legs when it’s called for and isn’t scared to go off-script. While on the move, he keeps his eyes downfield as he surveys the field.
- McCarthy has a top-shelf pocket presence. He has quiet feet and will climb the pocket and hang tough in the face of pressure. McCarthy will roll out when it’s required and can fire bullets on the move. I won’t be surprised to see him utilized on the move with boots more in the NFL. He has the arm talent to change his arm angle when it’s needed and still fire rockets.
- McCarthy paces well through his reads, consistently getting to his second and third options. He has no problems letting a play develop and hitting a receiver with a second-window throw versus zone coverage.
- The former Wolverine has all the arm strength needed for the NFL. His film is littered with second-level darts to the boundary and into tight windows. His accuracy and ball placement need to improve some on deep tosses, especially on go balls on the boundary, but it’s nothing to see him hit a receiver in stride on a post downfield.
- He won’t be confused as a true dual-threat quarterback but he can add some value as a rusher. McCarthy is a linear runner who displays some open-field maneuverability with good bend and change of direction skills and a well-placed jab step. He’s no statue and could see a handful of designed runs weekly in the NFL.
Player Comp: Rich Gannon
Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
Stats:
- 2023 (among FBS QBs, minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 6th
- Adjusted completion rate: 39th
- Yards per attempt: 18th
- Big-time throw rate: 10th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 19th
- Deep throw rate: 38th
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Adjusted completion rate: 77th
- Pressured rate: 115th
- 2022 (among FBS QBs, minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 10th
- Adjusted completion rate: 46th
- Yards per attempt: 31st
- Big-time throw rate: 57th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 76th
- Deep throw rate: 69th
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Adjusted completion rate: 101st
- Pressured rate: 137th
Scouting Report:
- Penix has a good zip on the ball. He’s a max effort thrower and tosses the pigskin like a shot put. He can put some nice second-level and layered throws in a clean pocket on tape.
- He has pretty good ball placement but it can be inconsistent. He limits YAC opportunities for his wide receivers on some reps as he delivers a catchable ball but it’s not in stride with his receivers as they are left waiting on the ball.
- Penix feels a tick behind on plenty of plays. There are too many instances of him holding the ball on film and missing a receiver running open only to deliver the ball after a corner is closing in. He’s very much a see-it, throw-it quarterback at this juncture, as there aren’t enough instances of him throwing with anticipation. His receivers will be at the top of their stem and the ball should come out but he’ll hold it until they have cleared a corner.
- Too often, Penix locks on his first read. While there are a ton of plays where he gets the ball out quickly, those plays, in many instances, are scripted plays or wide receiver screens. When his first read is covered, Penix tends to force the ball to his receiver anyway. There’s plenty to be said for tossing it up and expecting his receivers to win 50/50 balls but this is more than that. He gets hyper-focused on his first reads and stares them down when the ball is snapped.
- Penix too often leaves yards on the field. He shies away from using the middle of the field. Many times, he won’t see a receiver streaking wide open on a slant or crosser until they cross his face.
- Penix has a decent pocket presence. He’ll roll out to avoid pressure but rarely will you see him hang in and climb the pocket. He has no issues hanging in versus pressure, though, and taking a big hit to deliver the ball to his receiver. Overall, he feels a tick slow to feel pressure or the pass rush.
Player Comp: Poor man’s Philip Rivers
Michael Pratt (Tulane)
Stats:
- 2023 (among FBS QBs, minimum 150 dropbacks)
- PFF passing grade: 52nd
- Adjusted completion rate: 44th
- Yards per attempt: 29th
- Big-time throw rate: 15th
- Deep passing (minimum 20 deep passing attempts)
- Adjusted completion rate: 36th
- Deep throw rate: 34th
- Pressured passing (minimum 50 pressured dropbacks)
- Adjusted completion rate: 14th
- Pressured rate: 88th
Scouting Report:
- Pratt is a pure pocket passer who ran some at Tulane, but he doesn’t have the dynamism in the open field for that to translate to the NFL. Pratt has an easy delivery that can get long at times.
- He has adequate arm strength to make every NFL throw but he’ll never be confused with having an elite cannon attached to his body. He can layer throws over defenders’ heads, but there aren’t a ton of wow throws on his resume. Pratt’s ball placement when working the middle of the field with crossers, etc., is better than when he’s chucking go balls on the perimeter. His ball placement and touch are adequate but not elite.
Player Comp: Matt Cassel
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