Williams and Daniels are expected to be the highest drafted QBs in the upcoming draft.

Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels (via IMAGO)

The NFL Draft is just one week away, signaling a new beginning for 257 players who will hear their names called by the Commissioner and begin the next chapter of their lives. The spotlight is especially intense for two big names expected to go first and second overall: Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. Both players face higher expectations than most in this draft class.

The two quarterbacks have been dubbed to be generational talents. Soon, Caleb Williams will be the next franchise quarterback for the Chicago Bears whereas Jayden Daniels will be the beacon of hope for the Washington Commanders.

As it has been noticed in the past, just because a player gets drafted at the No. 1 spot does not mean he will have the best career when compared to others behind him. Similarly, even though Williams will be picked at No. 1, it does not mean Daniels is less talented than him.

Draft analysts have predicted that Daniels is likely to have a better professional career than Williams. ESPN’s Matt Miller has dubbed Daniels as being the “draft’s best deep-ball thrower” owing to his stellar 99.6 QBR while targeting vertical routes. Add his mobility and ability to run the ball, he is the real deal.

Jayden Daniels is the most pro-ready quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft

Dan Orlovsky concurs the former NFL quarterback thinks that the 2023 Heisman awardee‘s game will translate well in the professional league as opposed to Williams.

I think the best quarterback in the draft is Jayden Daniels, the most talented is Caleb Williams.

Dan Orlovsky stated via ESPN’s Get Up

The reason behind his statement is due to the fact that Daniels has been known to make better decisions under pressure, and the quality of his throws and plays are better than Williams in many situations.
Jayden Daniels (via IMAGO)
Based off of their numbers and college performances, Merrill Hoge, former NFL running back, also anticipates Jayden Daniels to have a better pro career than the prospective-first pick in the NFL Draft. Hoge based his opinion off of Daniels’ skill set. He believes Caleb Williams tends to rely too much on making plays that go beyond the playbook, a quality that leads players to have a successful career in college but does not work in the NFL.

The biggest example of that would be Johnny Manziel. The man gained notoriety for making plays that were not a part of the playbook, be it rushing or passing. Manziel’s game was successful at the collegiate level, but when he attempted to do the same in the NFL, he failed.

In addition to this, Hoge is skeptical of Williams’ pocket presence and mental resilience, a subject that has been put into question by other analysts as well. Owing to these reasons, he views Daniels to be a more pro-ready quarterback.

If this is indeed the case, then why is Daniels not predicted to be the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft? After all, the Bears who have the first pick are impatient and want a QB who can have an immediate impact. Here are the reasons for Williams being the undisputed first pick in the draft.

Where does Caleb Williams have the edge over Jayden Daniels?

Caleb Williams has dominated from his first collegiate game in the NCAA. In the fall of 2021, when the Oklahoma Sooners were down 28-7 against the Texas Longhorns in the iconic Red River rivalry matchup, the team decided to put the-then freshman Williams in. Nobody knew how the game would go, all hope was virtually lost for the Sooners. However, he managed to keep his calm and play-by-play led the team to a remarkable 55-48 comeback win.

After transferring to USC, Williams further solidified the narrative about his playmaking. He finds a way to get the ball into the right hands, even if it means going beyond the playbook. His ability to improvise and quickly adapt within a split second is his biggest strength. He has further shown consistency in terms of his completion percentage, in 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively, his percentages were 64.5, 66.6, and 68.6 respectively.

Combine that with arm strength and mobility, as stated in his scouting report, allows him to make throws from the most unconventional angles, making him seem like a Madden MyPlayer-created athlete at times. He manages to complete throws that the majority of the QBs in college and the NFL would not dare to attempt. Out of 1,099 attempted passes in his career, Williams has recorded just 14 interceptions, which is better than most NFL quarterbacks.

Caleb Williams boasts a heightened sense of spatial awareness and the ability to run the ball when needed puts him in a category of his own. It comes as no surprise that Williams’ game has been compared to that of Patrick Mahomes because he is gutsy and makes the most ridiculous throws when required. It is not a big deal to make ridiculous throws as a quarterback, but if a player can make those throws while not compromising upon the accuracy of the ball, that is when he can be called special.

The cherry on top will be his leadership abilities and notable presence, which can bring a locker room together. It is no doubt that Williams has been dubbed as one of the most exciting quarterback prospects that fans have seen in recent times.

Just the raw talent won’t be the deciding factor for Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels

Most certainly, Caleb Williams is more talented, but in order for him to really succeed in the NFL, he cannot be overly reliant upon his strengths. This is because teams in the NFL will be quick to pick up on those cues and within no time, defenses will formulate ways to shut the QB down.
Caleb Williams (via IMAGO)
If Williams expects to make phenomenal throws week-in and week-out as he did in college in the NFL, then he will end up hurting himself because the fundamental passes form the essence of a successful offense in the league. Williams will have to understand that he may not put up highlight-worthy throws every night, but if he does the basics right, then he will help his team win in the long run.

Jayden Daniels relies mostly on the fundamentals and that is why he is expected to have a better pro career as of now. However, the true potential can be seen only once fans see both quarterbacks in action!