The week of 2024 Senior Bowl practices is behind us, and it’s time to rank the QBs at the event. Which prospects distinguished themselves, and which NFL Draft prospects left questions to be answered? Here’s how Spencer Rattler, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and others stack up.
Senior Bowl QB Rankings
1) Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
If we’re assessing Senior Bowl QB performance under the dual-sided criteria of keeping the offense on schedule and operating with consistency, while also elevating the unit with one’s natural talent, then there are very few arguments to make against Spencer Rattler as the top QB at the event.
Rattler did throw an interception on the first day, but even there, he showed right away that he wasn’t afraid to take chances.
The ensuing two days brought a barrage of high-velocity throws placed to receiver leverage at various levels, but Rattler also processed well, took what was given, and used his athleticism to create when needed.
Just as important as Rattler’s play was his demeanor. Watching him work in the huddle, Rattler had good command and was vocal in conducting the offense. He’s undoubtedly a riser after Mobile — the only question is how far. Seeing his natural talent and growth, it’s not out of the question that he could be a priority target early on Day 2.
2) Michael Penix Jr., Washington
Michael Penix Jr. wasn’t immune to misses during his first action at the Senior Bowl. Precision at the short and intermediate levels continues to be a looming concern, but Penix built up from each day to the next and left evaluators with a showing that emphasized his early-round ability on Thursday — underpinned by three red zone touchdowns.
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As he grew more comfortable in the new system, Penix started to work more efficiently on his reads and even used his athleticism to create outside the pocket, extending throwing windows for himself. And in a group of strong arms, Penix’s was one of the strongest, generating drive velocity with nothing more than a wrist flick.
3) Michael Pratt, Tulane
Michael Pratt performed at a level that was expected of him in Mobile. That’s more of a compliment than anything else. Pratt didn’t separate himself from the pack, and his physical tools put a cap on his ceiling. But he was steady, commanded respect early, and flashed the high-end situational precision that makes him so intriguing.
Pratt was a touch less consistent with his placement on Day 3. But overall, hitting targets with accuracy came as a routine exercise for Pratt. And in 1-on-1s, he had some of the best touch of the QB group, layering passes into tight vertical buckets with reliability.
4) Bo Nix, Oregon
Bo Nix ended his Senior Bowl week with a good Thursday showing, displaying the easy velocity, mobility, and smooth distribution ability that made him so productive at Oregon. But Nix’s inability to catch on quickly in a new environment and the precipitous consequences that discomfort brought may scare some evaluators.
Early on in the week, it was clear that Nix wasn’t fully comfortable yet. His consistency waned past the short game, and mechanically, unstable footwork and release points led to misses high and low. It can’t go unnoticed that Nix ended on a high note, but for a fringe first-round prospect, he left some wanting more.
5) Carter Bradley, South Alabama
There’s a big gap between No. 5 and No. 6 on this list. In fact, Pratt, Nix, and Carter Bradley were all clustered together closely throughout the week. Bradley’s less consistent accuracy dropped him to No. 5, but he still did more than enough to earn the interest of evaluators as a mid-to-late round option.
At 6’3″, 218 pounds, Bradley has the prototypical build that many teams covet in the backup role, and his live arm was a highlight among the QBs at Mobile. More than once, he was able to push passes outside the numbers and hit tight windows, and he also flashed the ability to adjust his arm angle under pressure.
6) Joe Milton, Tennessee
There’s bound to be at least one general manager-head coach combination that’ll be eager to take a chance on Joe Milton’s physical tools. And at the Senior Bowl, the 6’5″, 235-pound passer at least proved the merit of that part of his profile. He has a cannon for an arm, and he’s reasonably athletic. But operationally, Milton still leaves more to be desired.
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Milton operated well enough in the short range, on screens, swings, and quick rhythm passes — much like he did at Tennessee. But when Milton was pressed to make reads and execute higher-difficulty throws, his consistency waned. His lack of field vision led to an easy interception for an LB on Day 3, and his limited touch yielded several high misses.
7) Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
Events like the Senior Bowl aren’t simply valuable for the opportunity to evaluate but also for the opportunity to compare and contrast in real-time. For some prospects, it’s a benefit. For Sam Hartman, however, it had the opposite effect.
Hartman should earn an opportunity as a late-round pick or PFA, but in Mobile, his poor arm strength was glaring when juxtaposed with the other QBs. He bailed his offense out at times with veteran instincts, but he struggled to drive throws consistently and grounded multiple intermediate passes.
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