‘Bears Made a Mistake’ — NFL Followers Argue That Chicago Ought to Have Drafted Jayden Daniels Over Caleb Williams at No. 1 General
Within the weeks and months main as much as the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears interviewed LSU signal-caller Jayden Daniels for simply quarter-hour.
Why the minuscule quantity of face time? With the draft’s prime decide at his disposal, it was virtually a forgone conclusion that Chicago’s normal supervisor Ryan Poles had his eyes solely on 2022 Heisman Trophy winner USC QB Caleb Williams. Nonetheless, did Poles and the Bears do sufficient homework?
What Led to the Bears Deciding on QB Caleb Williams?
On the one hand, you’ll be able to’t blame Poles. Some scouts in contrast Williams with Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ GOAT-to-be Patrick Mahomes, whereas Daniels was likened to Baltimore Ravens speedster Lamar Jackson. Whereas Jackson has the MVP {hardware}, Mahomes matches and raises with the Lombardis.
The Chiefs are a dynasty, whereas Baltimore hasn’t been to a Tremendous Bowl since 2012 — when Jackson was 15 years outdated. That every one being the case, in immediately’s NFL, you are taking Mahomes over Jackson as a result of regular-season successful percentages and particular person awards aren’t the grand prize.
Then again, any GM value his salt would and will do each ounce of due diligence potential. Even when your franchise is usually set on Participant A, you speak to Gamers B, C, and D on a number of events since you don’t know what you don’t know. Participant A could crush his interview, however the different choices could crush it even tougher.
One assembly with the presumptive Rookie of the 12 months? Apparently, Poles isn’t value his salt.
NFL X Is on Group Jayden
Throughout and after Daniels’ often-magical efficiency within the Washington Commanders’ playoff-clinching victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night time in Week 17, NFL X (previously referred to as Twitter) heaped reward upon Daniels whereas heaping, um, different stuff on Williams.
“Bears followers gonna have to listen to years of ‘You coulda had Jayden Daniels’ along with the ‘You coulda had Patrick Mahomes’ aren’t we,” one fan stated.
Bears followers gonna have to listen to years of “You coulda had Jayden Daniels” along with the “You coulda had Patrick Mahomes” aren’t we
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) December 30, 2024
“Jayden Daniels simply took a clumsy, laughing inventory, doormat franchise to the playoffs in YEAR 1. Did the Bears even critically take into account him at 1.1? If not, Ryan Poles ought to be fired yesterday,” one other stated.
Jayden Daniels simply took a clumsy, laughing inventory , doormat franchise to the playoffs in YEAR 1.
Did the Bears even critically take into account him at 1.1? If not, Ryan Poles ought to be fired yesterday.#Bears#Commanders
— Ryan (@r_mack) December 30, 2024
“[Jayden] daniels is million occasions higher then caleb Williams,” one other fan stated. “Taking a crew who like 3 video games the 12 months earlier than to the Playoffs in his FIRST 12 months. Bears made a mistake… They drafted the flawed QB”
Jaden daniels is million occasions higher then caleb williams
Taking a crew who gained like 3 video games the 12 months earlier than to the Playoffs in his FIRST 12 months..
Bears made a mistake
They drafted the flawed QB pic.twitter.com/WGVXHAAlLf
— OgnBurgh (@scottiloss) December 30, 2024
Some followers and pundits took a extra analytical view when evaluating the 2 rookie quarterbacks, pointing the finger not at Williams however relatively on the Bears’ wobbly infrastructure.
“False. This child has confirmed it this season for positive. Absolute baller. However the Bears points lie soooooooooooo a lot deeper than simply the QB place. They’re an unserious franchise, owned and operated by non-football individuals masquerading themselves as soccer individuals,” one analyst stated.
False. This child has confirmed it this season for positive. Absolute baller. However the Bears points lie sooooooooooo a lot deeper than simply the QB place. They’re an unserious franchise, owned and operated by non-football individuals masquerading themselves as soccer individuals. https://t.co/PmMTVE4kOZ
— Mikey “Beardown” Cuz (@BeardownCuz) December 30, 2024
“Lots of Jayden’s targets have been going to the primary learn,” one other analyst identified. “Caleb’s been requested to fairly persistently make full subject reads and deal with a veteran degree offense. Which was horrible teaching by the Bears. However I nonetheless suppose Daniels seems worse than Caleb in Bears state of affairs.”
Lots of Jayden’s targets have been going to the primary learn
Caleb’s been requested to fairly persistently make full subject reads and deal with a veteran degree offense.
Which was horrible teaching by the Bears. However I nonetheless suppose Daniels seems worse than Caleb in Bears state of affairs
— Rishab 🐻⬇️ (@RishabSikri) December 30, 2024
No matter how Chicago bought up to now, they’re at this level, which begs the query: Will they remorse selecting Williams relatively than buying and selling down a spot (or 4) and grabbing Daniels (or Bo Nix, or Drake Maye, or Michael Penix Jr.) and having some additional picks of their again pocket?
That’s merely unanswerable. For now.
The Case for Jayden Daniels
However there may be one query we can reply immediately: Is the 2024 model of Daniels that a lot better than Williams?
Primarily based on wins and losses, that’s an unequivocal sure, because the Commanders and their 11 victories are headed to the postseason for the primary time since 2020, whereas the Bears would possibly end the 12 months using an 11-game dropping streak.
Primarily based on stats, Daniels additionally will get the nod, as the one main statistical class through which Williams tops Daniels is interceptions thrown (9 for Daniels, six for Williams).
Huge edge: Daniels.
However right here’s the factor: We don’t know what sort of quarterback Williams really is.
The Case for Caleb Williams
Coming into the season, it was believed that, with a large receiver room that includes DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze, Williams was entering into one of the crucial advantageous conditions an NFL rookie quarterback had ever loved.
However few took under consideration the standard — or lack thereof — of Chicago’s offensive line.
Save for a change at heart — Coleman Shelton changed Cody Whitehair — Chicago’s 2024 opening day offensive line was an identical to that of 2023’s … and the 2023 line (Whitehair, Darnell Wright, Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, and Nate Davis) wasn’t one for the ages. In reality, it was extensively considered a bottom-10 unit within the NFL.
Even with Moore, Allen, and Odunze in tow, there’s solely a lot a quarterback can do behind a below-average line, no matter whether or not they’re a rookie or a nine-year vet. Williams is simply 9 sacks away from setting the NFL report for many sacks in a season.
Then, there’s the play calling.
Daniels’ recreation plans are dialed up by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who boasts one of many slickest offensive minds within the recreation. Williams, then again, was hamstrung with Shane Waldron till the previous Seattle Seahawks OC was let go on Nov. 12.
For what it’s value, Waldron’s Seattle troops didn’t give their former recreation planner a ringing endorsement.
Too Early To Inform
Heading into his rookie 12 months with a high-end offensive line and an progressive play-caller, Daniels was set for achievement. (Positive, he didn’t have any toys like Moore and Allen, however Terry McLaurin, Zach Ertz, and Austin Ekeler are fairly darn good cross catchers.)
Williams, for his half, had a below-average retread offensive coordinator and a piecemeal offensive line, so the D.C. native was in a state of affairs that was way more problematic than it appeared upon first blush.
Chicago is nearly undoubtedly available in the market for a brand new head coach — Detroit Lions offensive wiz Ben Johnson is among the many prime candidates — and any new coach will undoubtedly herald his personal workers; on this case, the workers will embody any person (or a number of somebodies) whose job it’s to repair each the Bears’ offensive line and their offensive playbook.
Till that occurs — till each quarterbacks have the identical instruments of their respective packing containers — we gained’t know if Williams measures as much as Daniels.
Let’s see if Poles will get this teaching rent proper. Let’s see if the GM is value his salt. Or let’s see if he merely selected the flawed quarterback and broke the Bears past restore.
