With a full season under their belts, the 2024 quarterback draft class has shown some bright spots, as well as some room for improvement, as we move through the first quarter of the 2025 NFL season. Now that we have some data, let’s take a look at the numbers and see where we would rank these signal callers and how much you’d trust them to steer your franchise. 

2024 Season Review

The 2024 NFL Draft saw a 4-headed monster of quarterback talent come out of the first round: Caleb Williams (CHI), Jayden Daniels (WAS), Drake Maye (NEP), and Bo Nix (DEN). 

For the sake of this deep dive, I am excluding Michael Penix (ATL) and J.J. McCarthy (MIN) as they have yet to reach 10 games total.

As one of the most hyped QB classes in recent memory, each of these quarterbacks led their respective teams as the starter for the majority of the season, a rarity in a league that has previously opted for the sit-and-wait approach. This has naturally raised questions among some fan bases over who has the better guy and who is set up for a brighter future.

Jayden Daniels

It’s hard to argue with a rookie season like the one Daniels put together. He led the bunch in overall efficiency, finishing with 4,459 total yards, 31 total touchdowns, and a 69% completion percentage, allowing him to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He also led the Commanders to their first playoff appearance since 2020 and their first conference championship game since 1991.

Out of the group, Daniels was the best overall passer, with only a 14.5% bad throw percentage and an average of 5.4 passing yards after catch per completion. 

The one area that made things interesting, and perhaps more impressive, is that Daniels was the 8th most blitzed quarterback in the league, and the 12th most pressured, meaning he was putting up substantial numbers despite a consistent pass rush. To combat some of that pressure, the Commanders relied on the RPO more than any team in the league, running it 112 times. Daniels, despite nearly reaching a 900-yard rushing season, only carried the ball on 24% of those RPOs. 

Caleb Williams

If you were paying attention before the draft, you knew that Bears fans were shouting from the rooftops that Williams was drafted to one of the best situations a rookie quarterback has ever had: elite receivers, a great pass-catching tight-end, and a stout defense. They weren’t completely delusional because everyone agreed that Eberflus wasn’t the right guy at Head Coach, but most of them failed to acknowledge one fatal flaw: they had no offensive line.

Williams was the most sacked quarterback in nearly 20 years, matching the total (68) of famously well-protected quarterback David Carr in 2005. Despite this, he actually put up strong numbers, especially for a rookie. He finished close behind Daniels in the base offensive production categories, racking up over 4,000 total yards with just six interceptions. His average depth of target was actually higher than Daniels’ at 7.9. 

Despite all that, Williams encountered some significant issues with passing efficiency. His bad throw percentage of 21.1% was the third-worst in the league, and his 62.5% completion percentage was the lowest of the four rookies we’re evaluating. 

Bo Nix

In what many viewed as a surprise, Bo Nix came out of the gates hot as Denver’s starter and actually gave Daniels a run for his money in the ORoY race, ultimately finishing 3rd behind him and Brock Bowers. Nix led this group of rookie QBs in passing yards (3,775) and total touchdowns (35), and matched Daniels in ADoT (7.3). He also finished with a 15.1% bad throw percentage, good enough for the top half of the league. 

One of the biggest proponents of Nix’s success was how well Denver’s offensive line played, allowing just 24 sacks. For comparison, Nix saw 148 blitzes, while Daniels saw 153, getting sacked nearly twice as much (24 to 48). 

The two biggest red flags that came to the surface when discussing Nix’s 2024 campaign were his 12 interceptions and his completed air yards per completion of 4.5 (32 of 36 in the league). Ultimately, this reveals one central point: Nix relied on shorter, safer routes rather than pushing the ball down the field, while still turning the ball over. 

Drake Maye

The only one of the bunch that didn’t start every game in 2024, Drake Maye had the most inconsistent start to his career, while still showing some flashes of success. He finished with nearly 2,700 total yards, 17 total touchdowns, and beat Williams and Nix in completion percentage with 66.6%.

He struggled with 10 interceptions and the lowest ADoT among the group (7.2), but much like Daniels and Williams, Maye was on the run far more than you’d like to see as a rookie. He was sacked 34 times, 10 more than Nix in 4 fewer games, and was pressured on nearly 20% of plays.

A major bright spot for Maye was the ability he demonstrated with his legs, averaging just under 8 yards per carry; however, he was hindered by poor coaching and a one-dimensional offensive playcalling, which resulted in him seeing only 37 RPOs and 48 play-action passes. 

2025 Season Review

As we work our way through the first quarter of the 2025 season, we’ve seen a different story unfold than the one that ended 2024, with the first set of adjustments this squad is making. While injuries had unfortunately derailed the start of the year for Daniels, the other three are starting to settle into leading their respective offenses.

Jayden Daniels

After a stellar rookie campaign, Daniels has cooled slightly through the first two games of 2025, battling a knee injury sustained in his Week 2 contest against Green Bay. His efficiency dipped to 59.7% completion with just 433 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, though he’s still turnover-free, one of the most encouraging signs for Washington. His rushing production (85 yards on 18 carries) continues to add value, but defenses seem more prepared, forcing him into more contested throws. This will also be a wait-and-see metric as he recovers from the injury.

The advanced numbers tell the story: Daniels’ average depth of target remains steady at 7.3, but his poor throw percentage jumped to 18.8%, a sign he’s pressing a bit more under pressure. He’s still being blitzed at a high clip (17 times in just two games), and while the Commanders’ offense hasn’t been as explosive, his ability to protect the football while navigating pressure remains his defining trait.

Ultimately, we will be in a holding pattern to really judge him until he is 100% healthy. 

Caleb Williams

The Bears asked for a sophomore leap from Williams, and the early returns are mixed but promising. Through four games under new Head Coach Ben Johnson, he’s posted 927 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions. His completion rate has nudged up to 62.3%, and his average depth of target (8.2) is the highest in this group, reflecting Chicago’s trust in his downfield arm. He’s also added 110 rushing yards and a touchdown, showing more comfort using his legs as a weapon.

But the same problem persists: protection. Williams has already been pressured on 20.9% of dropbacks and sacked 7 times. His poor throw percentage (21.9%) is still alarmingly high, the worst among the four.

It seems as if the raw talent is starting to translate, but until the offensive line stabilizes, Williams’ ceiling will continue to be capped.

Bo Nix

Nix has looked like the same steady hand he was in 2024, starting 2025 with 861 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and a 65.7% completion rate across four games. His interception count (4) is creeping up, ahead of last year’s pace. On the ground, he’s chipped in 78 yards and a rushing touchdown, but he’s averaging a full 1.6 yards per carry less, which is cause for concern.

His advanced profile paints him as the “safe” option of the class: lowest aDOT (6.6) and lowest CAY per completion (3.7), but also one of the best at avoiding pressure (only 3 sacks on an 18.7% pressure rate). His poor throw percentage (18.9%) sits middle-of-the-pack, a reminder that while he’s not a high-ceiling passer, he limits catastrophic mistakes. Denver is getting stability, but not necessarily explosiveness.

Drake Maye

Maye is off to the hottest start of the bunch in 2025. In four games, he’s thrown for 988 yards and 7 touchdowns with a fantastic 74% completion rate — easily the best mark among these sophomores. He’s added 98 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, giving New England a true dual-threat element, even though his YPC has come down from the insane 7.8 in 2024. Despite being sacked 13 times, he’s avoided significant errors, throwing just 2 interceptions and losing 1 fumble.

The advanced numbers highlight his growth: his poor throw percentage (14.2%) is the lowest of the group, down significantly from his rookie year. He’s getting efficient air yards per completion (5.8) and showing command of New England’s offense. 

The biggest hindrance to Maye’s continued growth is the pressure he’s facing regularly. His pressure rate remains high (20.5%), and while Maye is clearly more comfortable handling it, he’s been sacked 3rd most in the league (13) and nearly twice as much as the rest of this group. 

Final Thoughts

Looking ahead, the 2024 quarterback class appears poised to define the league for years to come, but their trajectories will vary. 

Jayden Daniels provides the highest long-term floor thanks to his dual-threat ability and mistake-free approach. However, sustaining that success will require better protection, continued growth as a passer, and the ability to remain healthy. 

Drake Maye appears to be on track to blossom into a true franchise star, with his Year 2 accuracy leap and improved poise under pressure already paying dividends. Still, his consistent exposure to pressure leaves him open to a “boom or bust” possibility. 

Caleb Williams remains the wild card. The arm talent and playmaking are undeniable, but unless Chicago fixes its offensive line, and Ben Johnson continues to work his offensive magic, his ceiling will remain theoretical. 

Meanwhile, Bo Nix projects as a steady, reliable starter who can keep Denver competitive, though his conservative style may cap his upside compared to the rest of the group. He will also need to control his propensity for turnovers, or else he may fall into the trap of becoming a burden rather than “the guy”.