For the third time in four years, quarterbacks will dominate the discussion around the NFL draft.
The 2021 and 2023 classes saw passers occupy three of the first four picks, and that could be the case in the 2024 NFL draft beginning April 25 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App). The teams at the top -- Bears (No. 1), Commanders (No. 2) and Patriots (No. 3) -- are all hoping to channel Houston's success with C.J. Stroud last season, coveting the idea of a brilliant passer under a rookie contract. This is one of the deeper quarterback drafts in recent memory, with at least seven passers angling for Day 1 or Day 2 billing.
The NFL's new reality is quarterbacks, always highly scrutinized, are ultimately elevated come draft season. And they will play early: Eight rookie draft picks started a total of 60 games last season. The premium nature of the position and long-standing mythology around it ensures fans and draft observers will be watching closely to see where the quarterbacks land.
The NFL executives, scouts and coaches tasked with evaluating those players will be watching, too, after spending weeks and months determining how they believe each will fare at the next level. We turned to those insiders to give us a window into the construction of quarterback draft boards, offering their own player comparisons and a sense of where they believe each of the draft-worthy QBs could be selected. We then placed those quarterbacks in order and into tiers, reflecting the consensus of experts within the league on the abilities of each player.