The Chicago Bears maintain control of the #1 pick in the 2024 draft. It isn’t solidified yet, but their odds are good, with the Carolina Panthers looking like the worst team in the NFL. If this comes to pass, GM Ryan Poles will have his choice of any quarterback in the class. Most agree it is a two-man race between USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Each has different strengths and weaknesses, but their overall talent can’t be questioned. The obvious question is which of them will likely become the better player in the NFL.
Plenty of people have their opinions. Some think Williams has the edge thanks to his elite accuracy and improvisational skills. Few can pull a rabbit out of his hat when a play looks dead like him. Maye has the advantage of size and seems more comfortable in the pocket. His arm strength is also considered the best in the class. He might be the more worthwhile gamble. Top ESPN draft insiders Matt Miller and Jordan Reid discussed the topic in their recent joint column.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t much debate on who the Bears should pick.
“Miller: And we haven’t even gotten to USC’s Caleb Williams yet, widely seen not only as the No. 1 prospect in this class and also a generational prospect. He’s a franchise-changer. Look at what C.J. Stroud has done in his first season in Houston; Williams can be that and more for the Bears.
Reid: I think we’re all in agreement here. Williams is special and has the talent to eventually change the trajectory of a franchise. And while Chicago moved back this past spring when it had the No. 1 pick, there just isn’t a scenario where any trade offer would make me trade back this time.”
There are many things to like about him. His accuracy and ball placement are as good as it gets. Arm strength isn’t a concern. He’s also highly experienced, having started for three full seasons between Oklahoma and USC. The concerns center around two areas. Williams is only 6’0 tall, so he’s on the shorter side for a quarterback. He also has demonstrated a tendency to hold the ball too long in the pocket. While he can escape pressure in college, that won’t be nearly as easy in the NFL. Chicago already sees what that problem led to with Fields.
The truth is there is no such thing as a guarantee in the draft. Quarterbacks bust all the time. It’s about whether the Bears feel Caleb Williams has enough mental and physical strengths to win a Super Bowl. Miller and Reid seem to think so. They’ve covered several drafts over the years. Despite Maye supposedly closing the gap, they haven’t lost faith in Williams. Overthinking a pick is one of the biggest obstacles to successful drafting. The Bears shouldn’t overthink it.
