Fans around the country have become familiar with players like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Quinn Ewers, Jordan Travis and Bo Nix. But, surveying this upcoming class of quarterbacks for the 2024 draft class gives reason to think that a handful of other players at the position will find themselves squarely in the conversation for a first-round pick in April 2024.

Starting off with some of the lesser talked about quarterbacks, but those with buzz in scouting circles, this piece will highlight players that should receive plenty of attention during the pre-draft process.

Riley Leonard – Duke: The quarterback who was leading Duke to an undefeated record, until a week 4 matchup against Notre Dame, should be squarely in the mix to be a first-round quarterback, given his athleticism and football intelligence. Although Leonard suffered a high ankle sprain in the closing minutes of the Notre Dame loss, he has displayed tremendous poise and playmaking ability at Duke. Not only does he possess a strong command of the Duke offense, but Leonard has flashed enticing skills as a runner, especially on scrambles. His vision once he gets to the second level is impressive as a runner, and Leonard is also physical and unafraid of contact Leonard has displayed toughness and resilience, as well as precision but could stand to improve on working through his progressions. All the tools are there for Leonard to cement himself as one of the top signal callers in the draft, especially if his return from injury is buoyed by a few big wins for Duke in 2023. NFL Comp: A bigger, stronger Russell Wilson

Cam Ward – Washington State: Not only does Cam Ward possess strong traits as a mobile quarterback, but his ability to spin the ball also makes him an intriguing prospect. After starting out at Incarnate Word, the Washington State quarterback has been lighting up scoreboards and ranks among the country’s best quarterbacks in terms of production. The accuracy that Ward displays on both short and intermediate throws makes his skillset enticing, especially while considering how dangerous he is as a runner. While he’s not the biggest prospect, he has a compact frame that should hold up at the next level. His offense at Washington State allows for a lot of underneath throws, and he has benefited from talent at wide receiver, but is unafraid to take deep shots and has shown to be accurate with his throws down field. He’s patient with his reads but can be quick to pull and run at times. Ward has some work to do if he is to contend for a first-round draft slot, but his start to 2023 has been promising for his draft stock. NFL Comp: A stockier Kyler Murray with less juice as a runner.

Jayden Daniels – LSU: Throughout his career, Daniels has produced. Having transferred from Arizona State to LSU, Daniels improved his stock as a passer by becoming more complete as a quarterback and also putting some needed weight onto his frame. Daniels has always been dangerous as a runner, and last year lead the country in rushing yards on scrambles, and is smart when it comes to deciding when to tuck and run. While he has put up significant numbers as a passer, there is still something to be desired in terms of his ability to fully process the field and go through his reads consistently. His accuracy is one of his strengths, and is unafraid to take deep shots, but he could stand to become more consistent on some of the easier and more intermediate throws. Throughout his career, Daniels has also proven to be clutch and has displayed the ability to lead comebacks late. His frame is one of the biggest concerns as a pro prospect, but there’s enough in his game to warrant second-round consideration. NFL Comp: A souped up Teddy Bridgewater

Tyler Van Dyke – Miami: After bursting onto the scene as a true freshman at Miami in 2021, Tyler Van Dyke has seen his stock fluctuate considerably. Through five games so far in 2023, both Miami and Van Dyke have exceeded expectations after the team struggled in 2022, when Van Dyke battled injuries and inconsistencies as a passer. Van Dyke has been a big reason that Miami ranks in the top-ten in the nation for yards per play in 2023, leading a balanced offensive attack that has featured a few splash plays. As a passer, Van Dyke has ideal size for the position and the arm strength to connect on deeper throws; though, the current offensive scheme in Miami relies heavily on quick passes and generating yards after the catch. Also mobile in the pocket, Van Dyke can extend plays and does a solid job keeping his eyes downfield while waiting for routes to develop. There are likely to be concerns over his durability heading into the draft, as the third-degree AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder he suffered in 2022 clearly impacted his throws during that season, and Van Dyke has also had to learn three new offenses in his four years at Miami. More likely a day-two prospect, Van Dyke would benefit from landing on a team that has a starter entrenched so that he can develop and ideally run the same offense for more than one year at a time. NFL Comp: Ryan Tannehill