Dane Brugler's latest QB rankings:
- 1. Caleb Williams (#1 overall among all prospects)
- 2. Drake Maye (#4 overall)
- 3. Jayden Daniels (#8)
- 4. JJ McCarthy (#21)
- 5. Bo Nix (#44)
- 6. Michael Penix Jr. (#52)
- 7. Spencer Rattler (#72)
Relevant:
Drake Maye summary:
A two-year starter at North Carolina, Maye thrived in Phil Longo’s Air Raid offense in 2022 and Chip Lindsey’s more balanced attack in 2023 (head coach Mack Brown also hired Clyde Christensen, who coached Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and several other NFL quarterbacks, as an offensive analyst in 2023). Despite only two years as the Tar Heels’ starter, they were the two most productive seasons by a quarterback in North Carolina history — Maye’s 5,019 yards of total offense in 2022 set the school record and his 4,057 yards of total offense in 2023 was the second-most (he was the only FBS quarterback to accumulate over 9,000 yards of total offense over the last two seasons). With his arm strength and pacing, Maye put the full inventory of throws on tape and operates with timing from the pocket to attack the defense’s leverage. He is a quick-reaction athlete to make plays off-schedule as a scrambler and can rip throws from different platforms. His arm can get juiced-up at times, disrupting his ball placement, and his progression reads are still a work in progress, especially when he feels pressed to make a play (39-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio in the first half compared to 24-to-12 in the second half). Overall, Maye needs to cut down on the reckless decisions, but he is a well-put-together passer with the on-field command, athletic instincts and arm talent to create solutions for the problems that NFL defenses present. With his physical gifts and smarts, he is cut from the same cloth as Justin Herbert and has a similar ceiling as an NFL player.
Jayden Daniels summary:
A two-year starter at LSU, Daniels was a dual-threat quarterback in former offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s spread, read-based offense (minimal play-action). Previously stuck in a deteriorating situation at Arizona State, he transferred to Baton Rouge, received consistent coaching and thrived with the Tigers, including a prolific and decorated 2023 season (became the first player in college football history with 12,000 -plus passing yards and 3,000-plus rushing yards in a career). As a passer, Daniels plays with poise and balanced feet, and he uncoils with a rapid release and the arm talent to layer throws to all three levels, doing his best work on deep outside throws (slot fades, posts, etc.). His processing skills are ascending but still have plenty of room for improvement, especially once he is pressured (he is more likely to scramble than create second-chance throws once moved from his spot). While not overly creative as a passer or runner, his athletic instincts produce explosive runs and are part of what makes him dangerous. Overall, Daniels is a smooth point guard from the pocket when his eyes stay on schedule, and his dazzling run skills make him a problem for defenses. This isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, but NFL scouts say he forces opponents to defend him like Lamar Jackson.
JJ McCarthy summary:
A two-year starter at Michigan, McCarthy was the point guard of former head coach Jim Harbaugh’s pro-style spread offense that relied on a power-run attack and shifts/motions to create favorable matchups in the passing game. After compiling a 36-2 record in high school with a state title, he led the Wolverines to a 27-1 record as a starter (school-record .964 winning percentage), including the 2023 national championship. Though McCarthy needs to add more bulk to his frame, he is a good-sized athlete who can operate from the pocket with balance, negotiate pressure and create plays with his mobility when needed. He is a loose passer, quick to process what the defense gives him and delivers with velocity and accuracy from various platforms (school -record 67.6 percent career completion percentage). However, his decision-making is still developing, and he must prove he can get further into his progressions. NFL teams describe him as a “winner” and love the way he is wired (Harbaugh calls him the “Ice Man” for the way he stays cool under pressure). Overall, McCarthy’s evaluation feels incomplete, which creates even more projection than normal, but his passing skills, pocket athleticism and mental makeup are all ascending and create optimism for his NFL future. Although bumps along the way should be expected, he has the package of tools to become an NFL starter early in his career.
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