2024 NFL Mock Draft: A Surprise QB in the Top 5?

This year's loaded QB class could land some surprise names early in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Luke Easterling | Oct 9, 2023

2024 NFL Mock Draft: A Surprise QB in the Top 5? /

The 2024 NFL Draft conversation is already dominated by top quarterback prospects like USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye, but who else could join them in the top five?

In the latest 2024 NFL mock draft from The Draft Network, it's Quinn Ewers from Texas who makes a massive leap into the top-five conversation, coming off the board at No. 4 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Ewers has some intriguing traits, but he's been inconsistent at best during his time as the starter in Austin. Especially considering how deep this year's crop of top quarterback prospects is expected to be, it's hard to imagine him coming off the board so far ahead of some of the other top names in the group.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. — Washington's Michael Penix Jr. once again leads the nation in passing :: Nick King/Lansing State Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK

Speaking of those other guys, two other quarterbacks join Williams (No. 1 overall, Chicago Bears), Maye (No. 3 overall, Arizona Cardinals) and Ewers in this first-round projection, as we see both Michigan's J.J. McCarthy (No. 13 overall, Atlanta Falcons) and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. (No. 16 overall, Minnesota Vikings) among the top 32 selections.

Even with five signal-callers in the first round, that leaves the likes of Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Duke's Riley Leonard, Oregon's Bo Nix, Washington State's Cameron Ward and others still on the board for Day 2.

Joining those three quarterbacks in the top five are Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 2 overall, Chicago Bears) and Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu (No. 5 overall, New York Giants).

To check out the full first-round mock draft at The Draft Network, click here.

Published Oct 9, 2023

LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more. Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com