In a few years from now, what will we think about the 2024 quarterback class?

The 2020 QB class featured notable top prospects, and it's been a productive group with Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts all entrenched in starting roles.

Meanwhile, the 2021 crop looks overrated in hindsight. Among the first five signal-callers drafted, Trevor Lawrence is the only starter. The teams that drafted Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields and Mac Jones have already traded them.

Despite the early struggles for the top quarterback prospects from the 2021 class, they're all 25 years old or younger and can still bounce back if given the opportunity to start elsewhere.

Nonetheless, we know that a quarterback's first NFL landing spot can significantly help or delay their growth and development.

That being said, let's assess the success meter for the six first-round quarterbacks in this year's draft based on their current situations.

We'll give an initial career outlook verdict for each signal-caller: All-Pro/Pro Bowl starter, low-end starter/backup or bust.

Which quarterbacks are set up for success? Who may need a change of scenery to avoid a disappointing start to their career?

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears made the expected choice with the No. 1 pick. Justin Fields, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, should be a bit jealous of Caleb Williams' situation.

This offseason, the Bears acquired six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers. They also signed D'Andre Swift, one of the league's best pass-catching running backs, and tight end Gerald Everett. Then, they drafted Rome Odunze, Bleacher Report's No. 2 wideout in the 2024 class.

In addition to the incoming offensive playmakers and an offensive line that's mostly intact from the previous season, Chicago hired Shane Waldron to replace former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

As the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, Waldron helped Russell Wilson earn his last Pro Bowl nod in 2021 and assisted Geno Smith in his redemption story as 2022 Comeback Player of the Year.

Based on his resume, Waldron seems capable of putting Williams in a position to post Offensive Rookie of the Year numbers. If so, after an impressive first season, the USC product won't look back as the point guard of a loaded offense.

Success meter: Pro Bowl/All-Pro starter

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Similar to Caleb Williams in Chicago, Jayden Daniels will have an abundance of playmakers around him when he takes over the Washington Commanders offense.

The Commanders have wideouts Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson from previous draft classes. The front office signed running back Austin Ekeler, who has hauled in 440 passes for 3,884 yards and 30 touchdowns in seven seasons.

After Washington selected Daniels with the No. 2 pick, it added tight end Ben Sinnott, offensive tackle Brandon Coleman and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey.

B/R's scouts graded Sinnott and Coleman as fifth- and fourth-round players, respectively. The Commanders selected them in the second and third rounds.

While one can argue the team reached for Sinnott and Coleman, it at least added players who can aid Daniels' development.

Right now, the 23-year-old has the offensive playmakers around him to post solid passing numbers, but his durability may be the biggest question mark around his early career outlook.

Daniels must take fewer hits while he displays his dynamic playmaking ability on the run, though the Commanders should have a plan B in case the left side of their offensive line struggles to limit pocket pressure.

Washington may depend third-round rookie tackle Coleman, and guard Nick Allegretti—a sixth-year pro with only 13 career starts—to protect Daniels' blind side.

Of course, the LSU product can mitigate pass-protection issues as an electric ball-carrier, but the Commanders shouldn't rely on him to do it routinely because of a shaky offensive line.

Barring injury, Daniels should have a solid start to his career with the potential to blossom into a Pro Bowl or All-Pro player.

Success meter: Pro Bowl/All-Pro starter

Drake Maye, New England Patriots

This offseason, the New England Patriots traded quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars and drafted Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick.

Compared to fellow rookie signal-callers Jayden Daniels and Michael Penix Jr., Maye didn't have a star cast of playmakers at North Carolina. But the Patriots must do a better job of surrounding him with talent than they did with Jones under center.

Under former de facto general manager and head coach Bill Belichick, New England struggled to develop wide receivers, and that must change if the team wants to see the former Tar Heel play up to his full potential.

The Patriots selected wide receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, in last week's draft. They also added tackle Caedan Wallace and guard Layden Robinson with consecutive picks in the third and fourth rounds.

Polk and Baker can certainly make explosive plays in the passing game. In 2023, they both averaged more than 16 yards per catch.

However, one can fairly ask, will the Patriots be successful in developing their wide receivers, unlike in the recent past?

Also, New England's offensive line has a big question mark at left tackle. Wallace will have a shot to start in that spot. Also, Cole Strange, a 2022 first-rounder, and Sidy Sow gave up eight sacks combined as primary starting guards last year, per Pro Football Focus.

Moreover, the Patriots have a first-time full-time offensive play-caller in Alex Van Pelt.

Maye has a couple of intriguing rookie perimeter playmakers and a few decent complementary wideouts on the roster, but New England has too many question marks on that side of the ball that raise concerns about his ceiling.

Success meter: Low-end starter/Backup

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. is the only first-round quarterback who's not a viable contender for the starting job with his team, which clouds his pathway to a productive career.

In fact, Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot wouldn't mind if the 23-year-old served as a backup for four or five years.

Penix has the ability to be a solid starter, but he landed in one of the worst possible situations for a quick career start.

In free agency, the Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal ($100 million in guarantees). Then they surprisingly drafted Penix with the No. 8 overall pick.

Cousins will turn 36 in August, and he's coming off a torn Achilles, but he didn't have a history of missing games because of injuries before 2023.

Also, based on the veteran QB's new big-money contract, Atlanta clearly expects him to play multiple seasons.

The Green Bay Packers had a similar situation with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. But the latter came into the league at 21 years old, sat for three years and became a full-time starter in his age-25 term.

Penix will turn 24 in May. If he sits for three-plus years, he'll be much closer to 30 than Love in his first year as the primary starter.

Also, remember, the Packers didn't sign Rodgers to a big-money multiyear deal a month before drafting Love.

If Cousins stays healthy through most of his deal and continues to play at a Pro Bowl level, the Washington product will become an afterthought.

While it's too early to call Penix a bust, his early career outlook has no clear pathway or timeline for playing time. He's in a situation that will make it difficult for him to showcase his throwing talent.

Success meter: Bust

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

J.J. McCarthy waited a little longer than some people expected to hear his name called in the first round.

That said, the 21-year-old is in a situation that's just as good, if not better, than Caleb Williams' setup in Chicago.

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah told reporters the team won't "rush (McCarthy's) development," which makes sense with experienced veteran quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens on the roster.

While McCarthy may not start right away, he should see the field early in his career. The Vikings don't have a ton of money invested in any of their quarterbacks, and Jaren Hall is the only player at the position (other than McCarthy) under contract with the team beyond the 2024 campaign.

Once McCarthy takes the field, he'll likely have All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, assuming the Vikings sign him to an extension, budding wideout Jordan Addison and two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson.

Minnesota has kept most of its offensive line intact from the previous season. Christian Darrisaw and 2021 Pro Bowler Brian O'Neill are shaping up as quality bookend tackles for pass protection.

Most importantly, McCarthy will work with head coach Kevin O'Connell, who's a high-level play-caller.

Despite losing Kirk Cousins in Week 9, the Vikings still finished in the top five in passing yards and passing touchdowns, with backup quarterbacks Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens and then-rookie Hall all starting at least two games.

Regardless of what you think about McCarthy as a prospect, Minnesota has the offensive personnel and play-caller to set up a rookie quarterback for immediate success.

Success meter: Pro Bowl/All-Pro starter

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

After five teams drafted a quarterback, the Denver Broncos made their move with Bo Nix.

B/R scouts gave the 24-year-old a third-round draft grade, but with five QBs going in the top 10 and the Las Vegas Raiders possibly eyeing a signal-caller one spot behind them, the Broncos couldn't risk passing on Nix in hopes he would be available at pick No. 76.

While one can make a strong case that Denver reached for Nix, it has potential personnel issues within its pass-catching group that can impact his early development.

The Broncos must iron out differences with starting wide receiver Courtland Sutton or perhaps trade him. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, he's skipped voluntary workouts in hopes of working out a new deal with the team.

Moreover, wideout Tim Patrick hasn't played in a game since the 2021 campaign because of back-to-back season-ending injuries.

If Nix beats out Jarrett Stidham for the starting job, he may have to rely on fourth-round rookie wideout and Oregon teammate Troy Franklin, along with Josh Reynolds and Marvin Mims Jr.

Nix has a strong rapport with Franklin, who hauled in 81 passes for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, but Reynolds has finished just one of his seven seasons with more than 40 receptions. As a rookie, Mims showed flashes but only caught 22 passes for 377 yards and a touchdown.

Because of injuries, Greg Dulcich wasn't able to establish a role in head coach Sean Payton's offense last year. Fellow tight end Adam Trautman didn't have a prominent role in Payton's New Orleans Saints offenses between 2020 and 2021.

If the Broncos don't retain Sutton, Nix would have a mediocre pass-catching group and may need to lean on the ground attack more than the other top signal-callers in the class.

Fortunately for Nix, Payton's passing offenses ranked 11th or higher in touchdowns between 2018 and 2021 and last season. He's one of the league's best play-callers, so the rookie QB may be able to do more with less.

Nix could be a capable game manager with underwhelming passing numbers, but that won't be enough to solidify himself as a promising quarterback with Pro Bowl/All-Pro potential.

Success meter: Low-end starter/Backup

College football statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Player contract details courtesy of Spotrac.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.