The Chicago Bears are sitting in a prime spot with both the No. 1 and No. 9 picks in the 2024 NFL draft.
With rumors of them being interested in selecting a quarterback with the first pick, it’ll likely be Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. There are pros and cons to both quarterbacks. Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner, has been considered a generation talent. Maye, on the other hand, is looked at as the most NFL-ready quarterback and has all the traits of a franchise quarterback.
Between Williams and Maye, who would be the better pick for Chicago? We examine the pros and cons of each prospect:
Caleb Williams
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) during the pregame warmup before playing the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Sept. 23, 2023.
PFF Position Ranking: 1
PFF Season Grade: 90.3
NFL Comparision: Kyler Murray/Russell Wilson
Caleb Williams came off of a fantastic 2022 season, where he was the Heisman Trophy winner. Though his numbers dropped in 2023, his stock continued to rise, and he is now considered the consensus top pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
Pros: Williams is a playmaker. He has great vision and patience, elite arm talent, and can make any throw on the football field. Williams’ ability to throw the ball on the run and get out of danger was exceptional in college, but it needs to translate to the NFL. Very few quarterbacks have been able to do it, but if he is truly a generational talent, he’ll get there.
Cons: Williams is 6-foot-1, 215 pounds. He is small for the position, but we have seen other quarterbacks be successful at the same size or smaller. Height isn’t the only concern, he is an aggressive passer with below-average footwork. Williams is going to be asked to step in Day 1, when he can benefit similar to Patrick Mahomes and sit a season while polishing up his flaws. There’s still no questioning his talent, but those concerns could be what holds him back from being a generational talent.
Where he fits in Chicago: Williams would undoubtedly be the first pick, if he is going to the Bears. If Williams comes to Chicago, that would mean Justin Fields would be on the move. Without Fields, Williams would likely be the Day 1 starter. Though I have my concerns about him starting right away, we just saw how well C.J. Stroud did during his rookie season, coming into a worse situation than Williams would be.
Drake Maye
(Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)
PFF Position Ranking: 2
PFF Season Grade: 90.6
NFL Comparision: Justin Herbert
Drake Maye, similar to Williams, played better in 2022. That hasn’t impacted his draft stock, as Maye is looked at as the safer pick by some and the most NFL-ready quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft.
Pros: Maye is 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, which is perfect for the prototypical franchise quarterback. Maye has a very strong arm, with great accuracy, and the ability to get the ball out to his playmakers anywhere on the field. Whether he is in the pocket, under pressure, or on the move, Maye’s accuracy has stayed consistent over his two years as a starter.
Cons: Maye has a few flaws that can’t be ignored. There have been times when he has tried to play “hero ball” by throwing unneeded interceptions or holding waiting for a dead play to develop, and turning it into a sack. A key struggle, that can be fixed, is his pre-snap reads. With the right offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, once given full control, he should be fine — but in the wrong situation, that could prove to be disastrous.
Where he fits in Chicago: Maye is the most NFL-ready quarterback in the draft. He can be a Day 1 starter and flourish. With Maye being the second-ranked quarterback, the Bears could trade back to the second pick with the Commanders, get additional picks, and still grab their quarterback. Maye coming to Chicago, starting Day 1 and working with DJ Moore, and a rookie wide receiver in this draft, could be very special.
Other Options…
(Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports)
There are situations where the Bears decide to pass up on picking a quarterback with the first pick, trade down to the third pick with the Patriots and secure receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., or even keep Justin Fields and take a Day 2 quarterback and develop him into their new offense.
- Third Pick (NE): Jayden Daniels (NFL Comparison: Lamar Jackson/Tyrod Taylor)
Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels isn’t a consolation prize by any means. He has been compared to the likes of Lamar Jackson. The benefit of trading down with New England is still drafting an exciting young quarterback, with a big arm, the athleticism, and the ceiling of Jackson, and securing more draft picks. If Ryan Poles could secure the Patriots’ first-round pick in 2025, this is a valid option. They’d still have the ability to take a wide receiver with the ninth pick, and trade Fields for draft capital to fix defensive needs.
- Late First/Early Second Round (via trade): J.J. McCarthy (NFL Comparison: Kirk Cousins)
J.J. McCarthy is an interesting prospect. Chicago would have to trade into the late first or early second round to get him, but he can be a draft steal, especially if he falls into the second round. He had the ability in college to throw to his first read most of the time, but was very accurate on short-to-mid throws. There are questions about his deep ball and ability to read defenses, but that can be fixed. With McCarthy, he isn’t ready to play yet. He needs time, and Chicago might not have that for him, with the clock ticking on both Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles. The only benefit of taking McCarthy would be giving Fields one more chance to right the ship, adding more offensive weapons in the draft, and securing a backup plan for the future. If Chicago isn’t drafting one of the top quarterbacks, they can trade out of the first pick, still take a top wide receiver, get more draft capital for Day 2, and take McCarthy.
"fit" - Google News
January 24, 2024 at 11:34PM
https://ift.tt/li04fXs
Caleb Williams or Drake Maye: Who's the best fit for Bears in NFL draft? - Chicago Bears Wire
"fit" - Google News
https://ift.tt/egrYGVl
https://ift.tt/G52BiKV
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Caleb Williams or Drake Maye: Who's the best fit for Bears in NFL draft? - Chicago Bears Wire"
Post a Comment