2024 NFL Draft: QB, WR Classes Could Be Historic

Next year's draft could be a record-breaking event for the quarterback and wide receiver classes.

If your favorite team will be looking for a potential franchise quarterback or star wide receiver in the early doing of the 2024 NFL Draft, it looks like they picked a great year.

Next year's draft class is loaded with blue-chip talent at both positions, which could lead to a record-breaking first day.

The record for most quarterbacks selected in the first round of the modern NFL draft era is six, a mark owned by the legendary class of 1983, which featured a trio of Hall of Famers (John Elway, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino).

The 2024 class has a long list of signal-callers who could warrant first-round consideration, starting with USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye, who appear to be top-five locks at the moment. 

North Carolina QB Drake Maye

Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

After that, the likes of Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Oregon's Bo Nix, Duke's Riley Leonard, Texas' Quinn Ewers, Washington State's Cameron Ward, and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. could all end up in the first-round conversation.

It's obviously impossible to say whether or not that group will produce three gold jackets like the 1983 class, but there's tons of promise that could set a new first-round mark for quarterbacks.

The first-round record for wide receivers was set back in 2004, when seven pass-catchers came off the board in the first 32 picks. Unlike the 1983 quarterback class, that group of receivers didn't move the needle much, outside of future first-ballot Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald.

Ohio State wide receivers Emeka Egbuka (2) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (18)

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 crop of receivers could beat that 2004 class in both quality and quantity, with a massive group of game-breaking talents. 

Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. is the top prize, but other potential first-round talents include Washington's Rome Odunze (and teammates Ja'Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan), LSU's Malik Nabers, Florida State's Keon Coleman, Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka, Oregon's Troy Franklin, North Carolina's Devontez Walker, South Carolina's Xavier Legette, and Texas tandem Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy.

There's still plenty of football to be played this season, and the pre-draft process will still have to play out, but it wouldn't be shocking to see both of those first-round records fall this year.