Can Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams and Bo Nix really lead their teams to the playoffs?

Ralph Vacchiano

NFL Reporter

When a team turns to a rookie quarterback, it’s almost always a sign that the franchise is starting over. It’s about building toward a better future, usually at the expense of the present.

Just don’t tell that to the Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears and even the Denver Broncos this year.

All three teams could be on their way to upending that conventional wisdom this season. They all have winning records five games in, despite having rookie starters. And all three at least have a shot to make a playoff run.

Their paths have been vastly different, of course. In Washington, Jayden Daniels has been electric for the Commanders (4-1) — arguably the biggest reason why they sit atop the NFC East. In Chicago, Caleb Williams has been up and down, but he has clearly energized the Bears (3-2). And in Denver … well, the Broncos (3-2) are winning despite Bo Nix, thanks mostly to a smothering defense. (Drake Maye makes his first NFL start this weekend for the Patriots, who don’t appear to have much of a path to the playoffs.)

But it doesn’t matter how you get there — it’s just about getting there. And it doesn’t happen often with rookie quarterbacks. In the Super Bowl era, only 14 teams that had a rookie start at least 10 games at quarterback during the regular season have made it to the playoffs. Only three have done it since 2013: Dallas’ Dak Prescott (2016), New England’s Mac Jones (2021) and Houston’s C.J. Stroud (2023).

And three haven’t done it in the same season since 2012, when Russell Wilson (Seattle), Andrew Luck (Indianapolis) and Robert Griffin III (Washington) all helped their teams to the postseason.

Can Daniels, Williams and/or Nix add to that list? Here’s a look at their paths and their chances:

Washington Commanders/Jayden Daniels

There is no doubt that Daniels has been the NFL’s best rookie through the first five games. He’s also been one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. He…

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Publish date : 2024-10-11 17:15:54

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