Honestly, the 2024 NFL season felt like a fever dream for anyone trying to track the 2024 NFL starting quarterbacks. You had everything from a historic rookie class to a carousel of veteran backups that seemed to spin faster every Sunday. If you blinked, you probably missed a depth chart shift.
It wasn't just about the big names like Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. It was about the sheer chaos. We saw a record-setting six quarterbacks taken in the first 12 picks of the draft. Then we saw those same rookies struggle, surge, and in some cases, end up on the training table before their careers even really started.
The Rookie Rollercoaster and the Class of 2024
Everyone wanted to talk about Caleb Williams. He was the "generational" savior for the Chicago Bears. But the reality of being one of the 2024 NFL starting quarterbacks hit hard and fast. For the first two weeks of the season, the rookie starters—Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix—combined for exactly zero passing touchdowns. Zero. On nearly 200 attempts.
That’s a brutal way to start.
But then things flipped. Jayden Daniels didn't just get better; he became a human highlight reel for the Washington Commanders. By the end of the year, he was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He finished with over 3,500 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, but it was his legs that really broke defenses.
How the top rookies stacked up:
- Jayden Daniels (Commanders): Turned a struggling franchise into a playoff contender. He finished with a 100.1 passer rating.
- Bo Nix (Broncos): He was efficient. Sean Payton found his guy. Nix started all 17 games, throwing 29 touchdowns against 12 picks.
- Caleb Williams (Bears): A bit more of a struggle. He threw 110 "bad passes" according to advanced metrics, the most in the league. Still, the talent is there.
- Drake Maye (Patriots): He waited until Week 6 to take over for Jacoby Brissett. Once he did, he showed why he was a top-three pick, even leading the Pats in rushing yards in several games.
The MVP Race and the Elite Tier
While the kids were finding their footing, the old guard—and the guys in their prime—were putting up absurd numbers. Lamar Jackson was basically a cheat code for the Baltimore Ravens. 41 passing touchdowns. Only 4 interceptions. He nearly had another 1,000-yard rushing season too.
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Then there's Josh Allen. The man is a unicorn. He led the Bills to a 13-4 record and snagged the AP MVP award. He’s the reason Buffalo stays relevant year after year, especially with his 12 rushing touchdowns.
Joe Burrow also reminded everyone why he's "Joe Cool." Despite a Bengals defense that couldn't stop a nosebleed for half the year, Burrow led the NFL with 4,918 passing yards. He tossed 43 touchdowns. He was clinical. If Cincinnati had a better defense, we’d be talking about him as the undisputed best in the world.
Injuries: The Brutal Reality of the 17-Game Grind
You can't talk about the 2024 NFL starting quarterbacks without mentioning the carnage. Only 14 quarterbacks managed to start all 17 games. That is a staggering number. It means more than half the league had to rely on a backup at some point.
The Jets were a mess. Aaron Rodgers was back, but the "dream" season ended in a 5-12 nightmare. Then you had the Vikings losing J.J. McCarthy to a preseason meniscus tear. Sam Darnold stepped in and actually played out of his mind, throwing for over 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns. Talk about a career revival.
Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa both dealt with significant time away from the field. Love’s knee injury early on looked scary, but he came back to lead the Packers into the postseason. Tua's situation was, as always, more concerning given his concussion history, though he still managed a 101.4 passer rating when he was on the field.
The Veterans Who Swapped Jerseys
Some moves worked. Some... didn't.
Kirk Cousins went to Atlanta. He was supposed to be the final piece. He played well enough, but the shadow of Michael Penix Jr. was always there. Eventually, the "Penix Era" started in Week 12 of 2025, but the transition began with the 2024 season's dynamics.
Baker Mayfield stayed in Tampa and proved 2023 wasn't a fluke. 41 touchdowns. Over 4,500 yards. He’s found a home. On the flip side, Russell Wilson’s stint in Pittsburgh was a weird one, eventually leading to him landing with the Giants for the 2025 stretch.
What We Learned About the Position
The league is changing. The "pocket passer" isn't dead—Burrow and Goff (who had a career year in Detroit with a 72.4% completion rate) proved that. But the dual-threat QB is now the standard. If you can't move, you're a sitting duck.
Look at the sack numbers. Geno Smith took 50 sacks. Deshaun Watson (before he got hurt) and Caleb Williams were constantly under fire. The offensive line play across the league is struggling to keep up with elite edge rushers, making a quarterback's ability to create out of structure more valuable than ever.
Actionable Insights for the Next Season
If you're tracking these players for fantasy or just to be the smartest person at the bar, keep these three things in mind:
- Rookie Progression isn't Linear: Don't write off Caleb Williams because of his "bad ball" percentage. Look at the jump Jayden Daniels made in just four weeks. Context matters.
- Health is a Skill (Sort of): Availability is the best ability. Teams like the Lions and Bills succeeded because Goff and Allen stayed on the field.
- The Scheme is King: Jared Goff is a Pro Bowler because Ben Johnson’s system fits him like a glove. Sam Darnold succeeded because Kevin O'Connell is a wizard. Watch the coaching changes more than the jersey changes.
The 2024 season proved that the quarterback position is more volatile than ever. Whether it's a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers trying to find the fountain of youth or a 22-year-old Bo Nix trying to learn a playbook, the margin for error is non-existent.