One of the biggest topics of the Giants' offseason has been the quarterback room.
The Giants are in a unique spot as it was only a year ago that they signed Daniel Jones to a multi-year contract extension. However, Jones suffered his second neck injury in the last few years along with a torn ACL, which played a part in the Giants winning just six games and landing the No. 6 pick in this year's draft.
"I think I said at the Combine that every patient is different, and you can't really predict if swelling is going to occur or if there's a setback," general manager Joe Schoen said about Jones being ready for training camp at the NFL Annual Meeting. "He's on the right track right now. Again, we just have to – it's day-by-day and week-by-week. You just don't know how he's going to react as we ramp it up and he starts to do more. Hopefully there's no setbacks."
The Giants have reiterated that, as long as he is healthy, Jones will be the starting quarterback in Week 1. But that does not mean they won't explore the draft with the possibility of adding another signal-caller if Schoen and coach Brian Daboll like a particular prospect.
"If they fall in love with a quarterback and believe that it's worth pick No. 6 and we're moving up, I certainly would support that," Giants president and chief executive officer John Mara said at the NFL Annual Meeting. "I let the general manager and the head coach build the roster. We have operated the same way for many years here. If they have a conviction about a player, I'm not going to get involved. I'll question them about it, make them defend their position, but the only time I'm going to get involved and exert any influence is if I think it's a conduct issue off the field. That's happened, not with this group, but in the past on very rare occasions. In terms of them evaluating the players, if they have a conviction about a player and want to draft one, want to get one in free agency, then all I want to make sure is that they're both on the same page."
The Giants ranked 30th in points and 29th in yards last season. The offense particularly struggled in the passing game, where Jones, Tyrod Taylor, and Tommy DeVito combined to rank 31st in passing yards and 28th in passing touchdowns.
The Giants have already put resources towards boosting the offense with their numerous investments along the line. With the No. 6 pick, they are also in a prime position to add one of the top three wide receiver prospects.
The quarterback room has already seen some change with the departure of Taylor and the arrival of Drew Lock. It remains to be seen if another player will be added to the room.
"I just think the quarterback position is I would say is the most important position," Schoen said last month. "A GM said it yesterday in our meetings. It's the most important position in sports. I wouldn't disagree because of the level of difficulty playing the position. Yeah, it's very important in the process. Again, it's an inexact science, and you try to do as much homework as you can to, again, eliminate the margin for error and make the best decision."
With that said, below is a look at the current state of the Giants' quarterbacks:
2023 GAME-BY-GAME STARTER
| Opp | Starting QB |
|---|---|
| DAL | Daniel Jones |
| @ARI | Daniel Jones |
| @SF | Daniel Jones |
| SEA | Daniel Jones |
| @MIA | Daniel Jones |
| @BUF | Tyrod Taylor |
| WAS | Tyrod Taylor |
| NYJ | Tyrod Taylor |
| @LV | Daniel Jones |
| @DAL | Tommy DeVito |
| @WAS | Tommy DeVito |
| NE | Tommy DeVito |
| GB | Tommy DeVito |
| @NO | Tommy DeVito |
| @PHI | Tommy DeVito |
| LAR | Tyrod Taylor |
| PHI | Tyrod Taylor |
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 20)
TE Jordan Murray - Practice Squad (November 20)
T Tyre Phillips - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
QB Tim Boyle - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Garret Greenfield - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Joshua Miles - Practice Squad Veteran (November 12)
P Matt Haack - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 12)
K Graham Gano - Activated from Injured Reserve (November 9)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
CB Art Green - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Practice Squad (November 6)
T Joshua Miles - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 6)
P Matt Haack - Practice Squad Veteran (November 6)
K Graham Gano - Designated for Return/Returned to Practice (November 6)
CB Nick McCloud - Waived, No Recall (November 5)
P Matt Haack - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (November 5)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (November 2)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (November 2)
K Greg Joseph - Reserve/Injured (November 2)
K Jude McAtamney - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 2)
T Marcellus Johnson - Practice Squad (October 30)
T Garret Greenfield - Practice Squad (October 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 30)
S Gervarrius Owens - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 29)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
CB Greg Stroman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
OLB Boogie Basham - Practice Squad Veteran (October 24)
DL Armon Watts - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 22)
OLB Boogie Basham - Waived, No Recall (October 22)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 19)
OT Chris Hubbard - Free Agent Signing (from SF Practice Squad) (October 18)
OT Andrew Thomas - Reserve/Injured (October 16)
DT Armon Watts - Practice Squad Veteran (October 15)
CB Duke Shelley - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 15)
P Matt Haack - Free Agent Signing (October 12)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Reserve/Injured (October 12)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
OLB Benton Whitley - Practice Squad (October 8)
G Cade Mays - Signed to CAR Active Roster from NYG Practice Squad (October 8)
ILB Matthew Adams - Activated from Injured Reserve (October 5)
OLB Benton Whitley - Waived, No Recall (October 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
LB Matthew Adams - Returned to Practice (October 2)
WR Kearis Jackson - Practice Squad (October 1)
CB Greg Stroman - Practice Squad Veteran (October 1)
TE Joel Wilson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
DB Alex Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE Lawrence Cager - Terminated (Injury Settlement) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
CB Duke Shelley - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 25)
LB Ty Summers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 25)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 24)
TE Joel Wilson - Practice Squad (September 24)
TE Lawrence Cager - Practice Squad; Injured (September 24)
CB Art Green - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Patrick Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (September 17)
K Greg Joseph - Free Agent Signing from DET Practice Squad (September 17)
K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (September 17)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (September 14)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
WR Chase Cota - Waived, Injury Settlement (September 13)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (September 10)
G Cade Mays - Practice Squad Exception (September 10)
OT Marcellus Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 10)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Free Agent Signing (September 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Practice Squad Veteran (September 9)
LB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad; Injured (September 9)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Carter Coughlin - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad Veteran (September 6)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 6)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 5)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 4)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 3)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 2)
WR Miles Boykin - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
CB Adoree' Jackson - Free Agent Signing (August 31)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 31)
S Gervarrius Owens - Practice Squad (August 30)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (August 29)
C Austin Schlottmann - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
DB Duke Shelley - Practice Squad Veteran (August 29)
DE Elijah Garcia - Practice Squad (August 29)
DB Art Green - Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Curtis Bolton - Free Agent Signing (August 28)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 28)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, OT Joshua Miles, LB Ty Summers - Practice Squad Veteran (August 28)
LB K.J. Cloyd, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller, DL Casey Rogers - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Anthony Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from GB (August 28)
S Gervarrius Owens - Waived, No Recall (August 28)
LB Matthew Adams - Reserve/Injured - Designated for Return (August 27)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Reserve/Injured; Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
LB Darrian Beavers, LB K.J. Cloyd, LB Tomon Fox, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, C Jimmy Morrissey, DT Casey Rogers, TE Jack Stoll - Waived (August 27)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, DB Tre Herndon, WR Isaiah Hodgins, DB Darnay Holmes, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, DB David Long, OT Joshua Miles, OT Matt Nelson, WR Allen Robinson - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 27)
DB Mario Goodrich, G Jalen Mayfield, DE Ovie Oghoufo - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
RB Joshua Kelley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Breon Borders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Jonathan Sutherland - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
DT Timmy Horne - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
WR Ayir Asante, DT Kyler Baugh, DB Christian Holmes, DB Clayton Isbell, WR John Jiles, LB Trey Kiser, RB Lorenzo Lingard, T Marcus McKethan - Waived, No Recall (August 25)
DB Clayton Isbell - Free Agent Signing (August 20)
WR Dennis Houston - Waived/Injured (August 20)
DT Kyler Baugh - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
LB Trey Kiser - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
DL Ryder Anderson - Waived/Injured (August 19)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Injured (August 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
TE Tyree Jackson - Waived/Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 16)
RB Joshua Kelley - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Raheem Layne - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Jonathan Sutherland - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
DL Jordan Phillips - Traded to Dallas Cowboys (August 15)
S Jalen Mills - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Failed Physical (August 15)
DB Elijah Riley - Reserve/Injured (August 15)
RB Lorenzo Lingard - Free Agent Signing (August 12)
RB Jacob Saylors - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
OT Evan Neal - Passed Physical (August 11)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 11)
CB Christian Holmes - Claimed off Waivers from WAS (August 5)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived/Injured (August 5)
CB Mario Goodrich - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (July 31)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury (July 31)
OL Greg Van Roten - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
CB Aaron Robinson - Waived, Failed Physical (July 30)
DB Breon Borders - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
QB Nathan Rourke - Waived, No Recall (July 28)
TE Theo Johnson - Passed Physical (July 28)
OT Evan Neal - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
DB Jalen Mills - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
TE Theo Johnson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 16)
RB Jacob Saylors - Free Agent Signing (June 18)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Injured (June 18)
CB Tre Herndon - Free Agent Signing (June 12)
TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Retired (June 10)
S Tyler Nubin - Selection List Signing (May 31)
DB Elijah Riley - Free Agent Signing (May 30)
RB Gary Brightwell - Waived, Injured (May 30)
TE Theo Johnson - Selection List Signing (May 22)
LB Darius Muasau - Selection List Signing (May 15)
CB Dru Phillips - Selection List Signing (May 14)
DL Elijah Chatman - Free Agent Signing (May 13)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Waived (May 13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Selection List Signing (May 10)
WR Malik Nabers - Selection List Signing (May 10)
K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (May 10)
WR Ayir Asante, WR John Jiles, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, G Jake Kubas, DE Ovie Oghoufo, DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing (May 10)
RB Deon Jackson - Waived, Injured (May 10)
WR Allen Robinson - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
QB Nathan Rourke - Claimed off waivers from New England (May 7)
DB David Long - Free Agent Signing (May 1)
Giants select LB Darius Muasau with No. 183 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. with No. 166 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select TE Theo Johnson with No. 107 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select CB Dru Phillips with No. 70 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select S Tyler Nubin with No. 47 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select WR Malik Nabers with No. 6 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
DB Nick McCloud - Restricted Free Agent Signing (April 15)
LB Matthew Adams - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 12)
DL Jordan Phillips - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 11)
WR Miles Boykin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
S/LB Isaiah Simmons - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 5)
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing (April 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
CB Darnay Holmes - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OT Matt Nelson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OL Austin Schlottmann - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
TE Chris Manhertz - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
TE Jack Stoll - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 15)
OL Jon Runyan - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
RB Devin Singletary - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
QB Drew Lock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
DB Jalen Mills - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR/PR Gunner Olszewski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Carter Coughlin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OLB Brian Burns - Acquired via trade with Carolina Panthers (March 13)
LB Benton Whitley - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
G Mark Glowinski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
LB Tomon Fox - Reserve/Future Signing (January 10)
DL Ryder Anderson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
WR Dennis Houston - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
RB Deon Jackson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
G Jalen Mayfield - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Joshua Miles - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
THE NEWCOMER
Drew Lock
Previous Team: Seattle Seahawks
Career: 28 G (23 GS), 5,283 passing yards, 59.7 completion percentage, 28 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 79.5 passer rating; 77 rush attempts for 299 yards (3.9 avg.) and 5 touchdowns
A second-round pick (No. 42 overall) in the 2019 NFL Draft, Lock signed with the Giants at the start of free agency last month. The 27-year-old spent the last two years with the Seattle Seahawks where he played in four games with two starts, all of which came this past season. In his first start, Lock completed over 70 percent of his passes for 269 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a road loss against the 49ers. The following week, he threw for 208 yards and the game-winning touchdown with less than 30 seconds to go in a Monday night win over the Eagles.
Lock was sent to the Seahawks as part of the trade that landed Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos. Prior to arriving in Seattle, Lock spent his first three seasons in Denver where he played 24 games with 21 starts and threw for 4,470 yards, 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He became the first rookie in the Super Bowl era to pass for 300 yards and three touchdowns in his first career road start.
Schoen made it clear that Lock was brought in to serve as the backup.
"I'm glad we've got Drew," Schoen said last month. "Again, a young player, he has a lot of physical tools. He was brought in as the backup. He was told that. I know Dabs addressed that. Yeah, he's going to come in and be a backup quarterback, him and Tommy (DeVito), and when Daniel gets back healthy, support those guys. If for some reason DJ can't go, those guys will battle it out."
THE RETURNEES
Daniel Jones
Career: 60 G (59 GS), 12,512 passing yards, 64.3 completion percentage, 62 touchdowns, 40 interceptions, 85.2 passer rating; 332 rush attempts for 1,914 yards (5.8 avg.) and 13 touchdowns
Jones suffered a neck injury in Week 5, forcing him to miss the next three games. After returning for the Week 9 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Jones suffered a torn ACL in the first half and missed the remainder of the season. He finished the year with just 909 passing yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions along with 40 carries for 206 yards (5.2 avg.) and an additional touchdown. He was sacked 30 times in his six games.
The 26-year-old's best season came in 2022 when he earned a 9-6-1 record and led the Giants to the franchise's first postseason win since Super Bowl XLVI. Jones completed just over 67 percent of his passes that season for 3,205 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding a franchise quarterback record 708 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. His 1.1 interception percentage not only led the league but also set a new Giants record.
"We had the perfect storm this year," Mara said last month. "Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. Guys got hurt. The wrong guys got hurt too early. Let's face it, for a while we couldn't block anybody, and Daniel was getting hit all the time. I still have every confidence in the world in Daniel. Let's put a better team around him. Hopefully he'll get healthy, and I think the real Daniel Jones is the one that played in 2022, particularly down the stretch there in the playoffs."
Tommy DeVito
Career: 9 G (6 GS), 1,101 passing yards, 64.0 completion percentage, 8 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 89.2 passer rating; 36 rush attempts for 195 yards (5.4 avg.) and 1 touchdown
After beginning the season on the practice squad, DeVito helped lead the Giants to three consecutive victories in the second half of the season after Jones and Tyrod Taylor were placed on injured reserve. During the winning streak, DeVito was twice voted Rookie of the Week in addition to being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Giants to a comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. In that game, he completed 17 of 21 passes (81%), including 10 of 11 (91%) in the second half, for 158 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while adding 71 yards on the ground. He became the second undrafted rookie in the common-draft era (since 1967) with an 80+ completion percentage (minimum 15 attempts) in a game.
He became the first Giants rookie quarterback to win three consecutive starts since Phil Simms won four in a row in 1979. Additionally, he became the first undrafted rookie since 1967 with a 100+ passer rating in three straight starts.
THE DEPARTURES
Tyrod Taylor
Career: 92 G (58 GS), 12,135 passing yards, 61.7 completion percentage, 65 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 88.3 passer rating; 404 rush attempts for 2,268 yards (5.6 avg.) and 19 touchdowns
After spending the last two seasons with the Giants, Taylor signed a two-year contract with the New York Jets last month. The veteran quarterback appeared in three games back in 2022, but played in 11 games with five starts this past season. Taylor led the Giants to a 2-3 record in those starts while completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 1,341 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, good for a passer rating of 89.1. He also added 38 carries for 197 yards (5.2 avg.).
After Jones got hurt in Week 5, Taylor started the next three games before suffering a rib injury that landed him on injured reserve. He went on to start the final two games of the season as well, throwing for 616 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against the Rams and Eagles while adding 78 yards on the ground.
Jacob Eason
Career: 2 G, 84 passing yards, 50.0 completion percentage, 0 TD, 2 INT, 39.2 passer rating
Eason, who is currently a free agent, spent time on the Giants' practice squad this past season. He was signed to the active roster for the regular-season finale, but did not appear in a game with the Giants.
THE PROSPECTS
The top five quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class, according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks:
- Caleb Williams, USC
- Jayden Daniels, LSU
- Drake Maye, North Carolina
- J. McCarthy, Michigan
- Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Keep an eye on: Bo Nix, Oregon
"This QB crop features several intriguing prospects with franchise-player potential. Williams is the crown jewel of the class as an athletic gunslinger with elite playmaking skills. Although his 2023 season was somewhat of a letdown after the high of his 2022 Heisman run, the USC standout has All-Pro-caliber talent. Daniels' slender frame might give some teams pause, but interested suitors will be smitten with his dynamic playmaking potential. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner dazzles on the perimeter as a dual-threat quarterback with elite talents as a runner and passer. Maye is coming off a disappointing final campaign in Chapel Hill, but he commands plenty of attention in scouting circles due to his prototypical dimensions and exceptional arm talent. As an athletic dropback passer with natural playmaking skills, the 6-foot-4 3/8, 223-pounder possesses the raw attributes most NFL coordinators covet at the position. McCarthy is climbing the charts as a winning quarterback (SEE: 27-1 record as a starter at Michigan) with intriguing traits. Though there is understandable concern about J.J.'s limited reps as a pure pocket passer for the run-first Wolverines, scouts rave about his athleticism, arm talent and intangibles. Penix Jr. is the most natural deep-ball thrower in the draft, routinely dropping dimes to receivers on vertical routes. While an extensive injury history will make some evaluators nervous, the Washington star's big-play potential could entice teams employing a "bombs away" attack to take a chance on the veteran passer."
Schoen talked about what he believes is important when scouting quarterbacks in the draft.
"I think you have to prioritize it all," the general manager said last month. "It's not, okay, if this guy fails at corner, we can move him to nickel or he's at least our third tackle or our third nickel rusher. The margin for error is – the fail factor is you are either a backup that bounces around or you're out of the league. It's one thing to do the work in the fall and see a guy play, but I think the other half is equally as important, being around the player. How smart are they? Can they process information? Can they handle the market that we're in? There's a lot of unknowns. How are they going to face adversity? How are they going to react? It's not just what you see on the film. That's obviously important, but I think the other part is equally as important, specifically at that position."
NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks revealed his final position rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft.
EDGE DEFENDERS
1. Laiatu Latu, UCLA
2. Dallas Turner, Alabama
3. Jared Verse, Florida State
4. Chop Robinson, Penn State
5. Bralen Trice, Washington
Keep an eye on: Chris Braswell, Alabama
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Byron Murphy II, Texas
2. Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois
3. Kris Jenkins, Michigan
4. Darius Robinson, Missouri
5. Brandon Dorlus, Oregon
Keep an eye on: Leonard Taylor III, Miami
LINEBACKERS
1. Payton Wilson, N.C. State
2. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
3. Junior Colson, Michigan
4. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
5. Cedric Gray, North Carolina
Keep an eye on: Marist Liufau, Notre Dame
CORNERBACKS
1. Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
2. Terrion Arnold, Alabama
3. Nate Wiggins, Clemson
4. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
5. Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
Keep an eye on: Renardo Green, Florida State
NICKELBACKS
1. Cooper DeJean, Iowa
2. Mike Sainristil, Michigan
3. Max Melton, Rutgers
4. Kamari Lassiter, Georgia
5. Daequan Hardy, Penn State
Keep an eye on: Jarrian Jones, Florida State
SAFETIES
1. Tyler Nubin, Minnesota
2. Javon Bullard, Georgia
3. Calen Bullock, USC
4. Kamren Kinchens, Miami
5. Tykee Smith, Georgia
Keep an eye on: Cole Bishop, Utah
QUARTERBACKS
1. Caleb Williams, USC
2. Jayden Daniels, LSU
3. Drake Maye, North Carolina
4. Michael Penix Jr., Washington
5. J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
Keep an eye on: Bo Nix, Oregon
RUNNING BACKS
1. Jonathon Brooks, Texas
2. Trey Benson, Florida State
3. Jaylen Wright, Tennessee
4. Blake Corum, Michigan
5. Will Shipley, Clemson
Keep an eye on: Bucky Irving, Oregon
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
2. Rome Odunze, Washington
3. Malik Nabers, LSU
4. Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
5. Keon Coleman, Florida State
Keep an eye on: Troy Franklin, Oregon
SLOT RECEIVERS
1. Ladd McConkey, Georgia
2. Ricky Pearsall, Florida
3. Roman Wilson, Michigan
4. Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
5. Malik Washington, Virginia
Keep an eye on: Jacob Cowing, Arizona
TIGHT ENDS
1. Brock Bowers, Georgia
2. Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas
3. Cade Stover, Ohio State
4. Theo Johnson, Penn State
5. AJ Barner, Michigan
Keep an eye on: Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Joe Alt, Notre Dame
2. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State
3. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
4. JC Latham, Alabama
5. Amarius Mims, Georgia
Keep an eye on: Troy Fautanu, Washington
INTERIOR BLOCKERS
1. Graham Barton, Duke
2. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
3. Christian Haynes, Connecticut
4. Cooper Beebe, Kansas State
5. Zak Zinter, Michigan
Keep an eye on: Javion Cohen, Miami
