Devy Quarterbacks Re-Evaluated: Who's Risen, Who's Fallen?

A year later, Kevin revisits the top freshman quarterbacks from the 2024 class to track their progress, devy value shifts, and what it means for your rankings moving forward.

As devy managers, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of each incoming class — but it’s just as important to revisit our past evaluations and see how those prospects have actually performed. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at last year’s top freshman quarterbacks and re-evaluating where they stand now in terms of production, devy value, ADP trends, and long-term upside.

Drafting devy quarterbacks is one of the toughest challenges in the format — and it becomes even riskier when you’re betting on freshmen. The development curve, competition level, and volatility make these evaluations difficult to nail, and that’s exactly why looking back is so important. By comparing their ADP from last season to where it sits now, we can reset expectations, adjust ranks, and fine-tune our process moving forward.

Let’s dive in and see which quarterbacks from the 2024 freshman class are rising — and which ones are slipping out of the picture.

Florida QB DJ Lagway

2024 ADP: 2nd Round – QB1 (2027 class)
2025 ADP: 1st Round – QB1 (2027 class)

DJ Lagway has been one of the few freshman quarterbacks to not only maintain his value but actually gain ground since last season. He went 6-0 in games he started and finished as a true freshman and was named a Freshman All-American. Lagway threw for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 9 interceptions across 12 games, completing 60% of his passes. While the numbers aren’t flawless, he flashed plenty of traits that support his upside in the devy format.

He broke out immediately with a school-record 456 passing yards in his first career start and finished the season ranked among the best deep-ball passers in the country. Per PFF, his deep passing grade was a near-elite 95.8, and he completed over 52% of his deep throws with a massive 31.2-yard average depth of target — the best in the nation among returning Power Four quarterbacks. Lagway did this despite logging the fewest dropbacks (225) among all QBs in the top-tier of deep-ball production. That efficiency in a small sample shows just how potent his arm talent can be when things click.

Looking ahead, Lagway's supporting cast has some turnover. Florida lost key receivers but added a big piece in UCLA transfer J. Michael Sturdivant, and some promising young talent like Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III could step in early. Eugene Wilson is coming back after an injury and he copuld be the key to unlocking this Florida offense. The offensive line looks strong heading into 2025, returning four starters including All-American center Jake Slaughter and LT Austin Barber, which should help Lagway take the next step in his development.

From a devy perspective, it’s a big win that Lagway has risen in value while most QBs from his class have either plateaued or dipped. He’s still not a polished passer and will need to cut down on mistakes, but his traits, deep-ball efficiency, and trajectory all trend in the right direction. He’s a hold in devy unless someone’s willing to overpay — and in that case, you take the value. Drafting freshman QBs in devy is almost always a gamble, but Lagway’s showing he might be one of the rare early hits.

Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola

2024 ADP: 3rd Round – QB2 (2027 class)
2025 ADP: 3rd Round – QB3 (2027 class)

Raiola came into Nebraska last year as one of the most hyped freshman quarterbacks in recent memory. And early on, he looked the part. He helped Nebraska open the season 3-0, including a big win over Colorado that felt like a statement moment for both him and the program. The poise, arm strength, and leadership flashed right away — and for a few weeks, the buzz felt validated.

But the full season told a different story. Raiola ended the year with 2,819 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions — a solid but unspectacular stat line. His play fluctuated, and like most freshman QBs, he experienced some growing pains. Still, he managed to lead the Huskers to a bowl win, finishing the year as the starter with some positive momentum.

The numbers may not have popped, but his leadership and presence in the locker room never wavered. Reports from spring have been glowing — he’s trimmed weight, improved his footwork, and taken full command of the offense. New OC Dana Holgorsen has also made an early impact, working closely with Raiola to develop his understanding of protections, cadence, and pre-snap reads. There’s clearly been growth from where he was in Week 1 of last season.

From a devy standpoint, though, Raiola’s value has stalled out a bit. He was leapfrogged by Ohio State QB Julian Sayin in most formats, despite being the one who started and played the full year. That’s not necessarily fair, but it reflects how devy gamers often prioritize upside and flash over steady development. The truth is, this upcoming season is critical for Raiola’s long-term outlook. He’s got more weapons now, including portal additions like Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter, and a stronger offensive system in place — the excuses won’t be there.

If he takes the expected leap, he could climb back into the top tier of devy QBs. But if he stalls or struggles again, we’re likely looking at a drop in ADP heading into 2026. He’s currently a hold in devy formats, but the risk is higher than some might admit. Raiola still has the tools, but this year needs to be about results.

Ohio State QB Julian Sayin

2024 ADP: 5th Round – QB3 (2027 class)
2025 ADP: 3rd Round – QB2 (2027 class)

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