Caleb Williams-Jayden Daniels comparison: Did Bears choose wrong QB with No. 1 pick in 2024 NFL Draft?

The drastic difference in play in September begs the question — did the Bears make the wrong decision drafting Caleb Williams No. 1 overall instead of Jayden Daniels? 

Each passer is a mere four games into his NFL career. If this was a movie, it would be in the opening scene, and no one in their right mind would concretely judge a movie strictly on what transpires in the flick’s first five minutes. 

But first impressions often matter. That opening scene can have a lasting impact. It can set the stage for everything else. 

Sure, it’s early. So my answer to this blunt question is fluid. It has to be. 

Yet it wouldn’t have been too early to make a determination a season ago in this same scenario, when C.J. Stroud started with a quarterback rating of 100.6 with an 8.03 yards-per-attempt average in his first four contests compared to Bryce Young’s 77.0 rating and YPA of 5.21.

By the way, Daniels’ rating is currently 107.4. His YPA is 8.5. Williams’ passer rating is 72.0 and his yards-per-attempt is 5.6. 

For the record here, I firmly do not believe Williams will become Young 2.0. He’s much more naturally gifted as a thrower and improviser. But the production differences one month into their rookie campaigns are eerily similar. 

Let’s dig deeper here. Much deeper. Below, you’ll see an advanced statistic comparison between Williams and Daniels ahead of Week 5’s action. 

Caleb Williams

72.6 (27th)

8.5 (T8th)

32.7% (20th)

30.2 (30th)

Jayden Daniels

84.6 (1st)

6.4 (32nd)

30.9% (23rd)

20.9 (17th)

What stands out? The accuracy numbers. But it’s important to not view those as binary. The average depth of target matters. Those numbers together encapsulate a completely different offensive philosophy in Washington and Chicago. 

Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has prioritized easy, high-percentage throws for Daniels out of the gate. And he’s taken them. The Bears have done the…

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Author : Chris Trapasso

Publish date : 2024-10-03 13:57:25

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