Among several developing stories in the offseason, the competition between Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams is the most fascinating. Two rookie quarterbacks and two former Heisman Trophy winners were picked one after the other in the 2024 NFL draft.
The Chicago Bears took Williams first overall, while the Washington Commanders chose Daniels. Both players went into teams in transition, with several new faces added to the roster, including the coaching staff.
The Bears got rid of Justin Fields, but head coach Matt Eberflus survived the sacking. General manager Ryan Poles signed veteran receiver Keenan Allen for one year, and took Rome Odunze as 9th overall, adding competition for returning DJ Moore and tight end Dalton Schultz. Furthermore, they snagged Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift, who had more than 200 carries, 1049 yards, and 5 touchdowns for the Philadelphia Eagles.
As for the Commanders, the first thing the new owners did was replace the head coach. Dan Quinn took charge with a new set of staff and instantly targeted a new quarterback after trading Sam Howell away. The Commanders already boast a young offense consisting of receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson; signed experienced running back Austin Ekeler; and tight end Zach Ertz in the offseason. Moreover, they added Luke McCaffrey in the draft for extra depth.
Judging by the strength and business done by the two teams, analysts favor both having improved campaigns compared to last year, when the Bears had 7 wins and the Commanders had only 4.
ESPN’s Kimberley Martin kept Jayden Daniels ahead of Caleb Williams, but at the same time, she wants people to give the 22-year-old time to adjust.
[I would like to] temper expectations a little bit for the Chicago Bears. I think he is a rookie QB. Both of these guys are rookie QBs, [but] this is a franchise that has not yet shown that it can develop a quarterback the right way. A lot of people thought Matt Eberflus wouldn’t survive this offseason. It’s a talented roster, but give the kid a minute.Kimberley Martin said on ESPN’s Get Up
#Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels is better positioned to succeed than #Bears rookie Caleb Williams, says ESPN NFL Reporter Kimberly Martin 😳👀
(H/T:@GetUpESPN) pic.twitter.com/aoQIKTuuF8
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) July 18, 2024Kimberley Martin’s colleague backs Jayden Daniels to have a similar rookie year as CJ Stroud
While Martin wants fans to give the two players some time before judging their progress, her colleague outright chose who will have a better rookie season. Booger McFarland was one of the special guest voices on the show and did not hold back from calling Daniels the better player over Williams.
McFarland reminded everyone that it was a repeat of the 2023 season when two new rookie quarterbacks entered the NFL at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions through the draft. The Texans took CJ Stroud, while the Panthers opted for Bryce Young. Both players had vastly opposite seasons, as Stroud played post-season football while Young only managed to win 2 games.
Don’t be surprised if, midway through the season, we’re having a conversation that is very similar to what he had last year. Meaning, the No. 2 pick, Jayden Daniels, looks better than the No. 1 pick, Caleb Williams.Booger McFarland asserted
"Don't be surprised if midway through the season, we're having a conversation [that] … the No. 2 pick, Jayden Daniels, looks better than the No. 1 pick, Caleb Williams."
—@ESPNBooger 👀 pic.twitter.com/8sUVtt78ts
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 18, 2024Even though it’s a farfetched comparison, one can assume the reason behind McFarland backing Daniels. It’s obvious he would support a player from his alma mater because both played for the LSU Tigers in college.
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