It’s been a crazy three weeks in the NFL for the top two overall picks, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. Two ultra-talented quarterbacks who have defied all odds and are striving to become the franchise quarterbacks for two organizations desperate to find an answer at QB.
Williams had his best game as a pro on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, throwing for a Chicago Bears’ rookie record 363 yards, along with two touchdowns. Despite two interceptions and a fumble at the end of the game, Williams has looked more comfortable in the pocket and is showing his decisiveness on the field. With the Bears facing heavy criticism for their offensive struggles, Williams seems to be the least of the team’s concerns.
Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels delivered one of the most remarkable performances by a rookie quarterback in NFL history on Monday night, shredding the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense. He set a new rookie record with a 91.3% completion rate, and his dual-threat ability has drawn significant attention—and rightfully so.
As Daniels shines and the Bears continue to struggle offensively, some NFL analysts and fans are questioning whether Chicago made the right choice in drafting Williams over Daniels.
The Bears Shouldn’t Regret Choosing Caleb Williams Over Jayden Daniels
Comparison Is the Thief of Joy
Jayden Daniels absolutely deserves all the recognition he’s getting. His rise has been remarkable, from being booed by his teammates at Arizona State to winning the Heisman and being drafted second overall. However, comparing him to Caleb Williams just three weeks into their rookie seasons is premature.
Both quarterbacks are in vastly different situations right now. Daniels has the luxury of playing with a team that knows how to run the ball. The Washington Commanders are fifth in the league, averaging 153.7 yards a game vs the Bears, who are 31st, averaging just 72.7 yards a game.
The Commanders also seem to have a solid game plan for Daniels, while the Bears have yet to establish the right offensive approach for Williams. Yes, it’s clear Daniels has had the better opening stretch thus far. But that doesn’t mean Williams was the wrong choice.
Bears fans should be happy to see a quarterback throw for over 300 yards, even if he had to throw the ball over 50 times. Despite Williams’ mistakes, his performance has steadily improved with each game. It’s unrealistic to expect him to instantly perform at an All-Pro level, especially given the poor play-calling and an abysmal offensive line.
NFL Analyst Backs Up Caleb Williams
NFL Analyst and Super Bowl XLI Champion Jeff Saturday recently backed up Caleb Williams, stating Jayden Daniels would have also struggled if the roles were reversed.
“Has Jayden Daniels outplayed Caleb Williams? Absolutely. But if the situation was reversed, I don’t know that Jayden Daniels would be elevating to the level he is in the Chicago Bears organization.”
It’s a valid assumption, but again, there might be a chance things would still work out for Daniels in Chicago. Take this scenario: what if the Commanders had the first overall pick instead of the Bears? Most would agree there would be a 99% chance Washington would have drafted Williams, especially with Kliff Kingsbury, who was hired as their offensive coordinator and coached Williams at USC.
What we do know is that Daniels, in a limited sample size, has shown he has the potential to be a franchise quarterback in Washington. As for Williams, only time will tell. He’s had flashes of brilliance but has also shown some areas for improvement. What’s clear is that, with the right coaching, Williams has the talent to develop into a great NFL quarterback.
Despite throwing 2 INTs, Caleb Williams was top 10 in lowest turnover worthy throw percentage in Week 3 at 1.6%.
Call it unlucky if you want. But Caleb’s “decision making concerns” are widely exaggerated. #Bears pic.twitter.com/TdyO8Ynzxz
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) September 24, 2024
NFL Rookie Quarterback Seasons Don’t Necessarily Determine Their Careers
Let’s look at two quarterbacks who went first and second overall in the NFL Draft: Peyton Manning and Robert Griffin III. Manning’s career started terribly, notably achieving the record for most interceptions in a rookie season (28). On the other hand, Griffin earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, Pro Bowl honors, and took the Redskins to the playoffs. Fast forward, and Manning is now a Hall of Famer, while Griffin’s career declined due to injuries.
To be clear, this isn’t a comparison between Manning and Griffin with Williams and Daniels; it’s simply highlighting that judging an NFL rookie quarterback based on a small sample size is premature.
In the world of NFL what-ifs, one thing is certain: both Williams and Daniels have the potential to become elite quarterbacks. It will be exciting to see how they progress throughout their rookie seasons.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
