A record-tying six quarterbacks were selected throughout the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. It had been 20-plus years (1983) since we last received six first-round signal-callers. A record-setting five quarterbacks were selected within the opening 10 picks. That's going to make the impending chase for the 2024 campaign's rookie passing yards leader particularly exciting.
DraftKings responded by updating the betting odds. Several exciting contenders are listed throughout, including all six first-round quarterbacks, and a handful of latter-round underdogs. The complete odds are as follows:
Caleb Williams (+100)
Jayden Daniels (+250)
J.J. McCarthy (+350)
Bo Nix (+800)
Drake Maye (+1600)
Spencer Rattler (+6000)
Michael Penix Jr. (+8000)
Michael Pratt (+10000)
THE FAVORITE AND MY PICK: Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams won't be restricted by training wheels. The Bears went out and acquired Keenan Allen and drafted Rome Odunze this offseason, pairing them with D.J. Moore to assemble what's quite possibly the best receiving trio in the league. Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett are additional passing-game outlets at tight end. The Bears are going to ask Williams to oversee an exciting aerial attack.
Chicago will field a significantly different-looking offense in 2024 after finishing 27th in passing last season. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron helped revive the career of Geno Smith in Seattle. Across the previous two seasons, Waldron's passing offense had an average median finish of 13th with Smith at the helm. The sky’s the limit for Williams this season, who could secure a top-10 finish in passing yards among all quarterbacks.
THE NO. 1 CONTENDER: Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels is inheriting a better-than-advertised supporting cast. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are a legit one-two pairing at wide receiver. Austin Ekeler was signed in free agency. When healthy, Ekeler is still one of the best backfield outlets. Furthermore, Daniels’ offensive coordinator is Kliff Kingsbury, a pass-happy play caller. In Kingsbury’s final season as the Arizona Cardinals' head coach in 2022, the team finished fourth in the league in passing attempts (664).
The one thing that could prevent Daniels from legitimately contending for the rookie passing yards title is his upside as a rusher. The Heisman-winning Daniels rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns at LSU last season—and 21 total rushing scores across his final two seasons. Kingsbury will take advantage of Daniels' athleticism, which will cap his passing yards total.
A WORTHY UNDERDOG: Bo Nix
The Broncos drafted Bo Nix at No. 12 overall with a sense of conviction. The draft capital invested in Nix makes him the immediate favorite to be their Week 1 starter ahead of Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. Sean Payton hand-picked Nix to be his franchise quarterback.
I also foresee the Broncos regularly playing catch-up throughout the campaign as a bottom-10 team in the league. The Broncos fielded a below-average rushing attack last season, although drafting Audric Estime could add another layer that was missing last year. Unless they begin playing with leads and start producing more via the ground game, Nix will attempt plenty of passes throughout his rookie campaign.
