The 2024 NFL draft shaped up to be one of the best quarterback classes in years. That is why the Chicago Bears were so fortunate to land the #1 overall pick via the blockbuster trade with the Carolina Panthers. They had their pick of anybody they wanted. In the end, we all know the outcome. They opted to take Caleb Williams. For the next several months, they would come under fire several times for that decision. Not necessarily because Williams was bad. It was more because his two primary counterparts, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, thrived.
Daniels had one of the great rookie seasons for a quarterback in NFL history, willing the Washington Commanders to an NFC Championship appearance. Maye followed a solid rookie year by finishing second in MVP voting and getting the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl. Those two were establishing themselves as the cream of the crop from that class despite Williams’ steady improvement. It is incredible to see how swiftly the narrative has shifted over the past several months.
Never more so than on opening night.
Maye’s meltdown in Seattle has left the door open for Caleb Williams.
Questions about Maye began to surface during the Patriots’ playoff run last year. While they kept finding ways to win, he was not playing well. It all came crashing down in the Super Bowl, where he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Opening night on Wednesday marked his chance for redemption while also quieting the discussion about his true ability. He did neither. Maye squandered a 10-0 lead in the second with three brutal interceptions, allowing the Seahawks to rally for a 13-10 victory.
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It was a performance that furthered a growing narrative that Maye is only good when he’s faced mediocre-to-bad opponents. Much of his success last season came from a cupcake schedule and being able to lean on a strong defense. Couple this with Daniels’ injury woes in Washington, and suddenly the door is wide open for somebody else to seize the narrative. Caleb Williams made magic last season for the Bears, often saving some of his best performances for top competition. Entering his second year with Ben Johnson, he is primed to show everybody why he was the #1 pick for a reason.
Williams has improved more than anybody in his class.
Daniels regressed from his rookie year. Maye improved in his second season before backsliding late. Bo Nix has been a perfect pilot for Sean Payton’s system in Denver. Yet Williams made bigger strides than anybody last season. He cut his sack total from 68 to 24, showing remarkable improvement at avoiding pressure. He executes much better from the pocket and demonstrated a firmer grasp of pre-snap reads. The only criticism people have clung to is his poor 58.1 completion percentage.
If he can get that back to a solid level while maintaining his momentum from last season, Williams is poised to establish himself as one of the NFL’s best. Daniels and Maye had their shots to leave any doubt. Both failed. This feels like the perfect moment for Williams to seize the crown. There is no better way to do that than by succeeding where they failed. Win the Super Bowl. Easy to say, of course. Way harder to do. One thing is clear. Maye has lost his grip on the narrative.
None is better positioned to seize it than Williams.
