The Chicago Bears selected quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. While Williams didn’t have a breakout rookie season, he showed enough promise that has many believing he could be the franchise quarterback Chicago has been begging for.
But there are also some who believe the Bears should’ve drafted Jayden Daniels, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Washington Commanders. In fact, Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Flick has Chicago drafting Daniels first overall in his 2024 re-draft, citing Williams’ inconsistency and Daniels’ impressive performance.
Williams battled staff inconsistency in his first year in Chicago, but in a Ben Johnson-led offense, he should have every chance to change the narrative about the top of the 2024 quarterback class. However, there’s no denying Daniels, who won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award and was the best first-year passer. Daniels dazzled with 3,568 passing yards and 891 rushing yards, totaling 31 touchdowns while leading the Commanders to the NFC title game.
There’s no denying Daniels had a rare rookie season where he found the right situation and was put in a position to succeed. The same can’t be said for Williams, who dealt with two head coaches, three offensive coordinators and the worst offensive line in the league. There’s no reason to believe that Daniels would’ve fared much better than Williams in that same situation. And it’s far too early to say the Bears made the wrong pick after just one year, especially now that Williams will have a chance to work with one of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds in Ben Johnson.
As for Chicago’s second top-10 pick, they stuck with wide receiver at ninth overall — but it wasn’t Rome Odunze. Instead, the Bears get the top choice of wideout in Malik Nabers, who in this re-draft scenario is reunited with his college quarterback in the NFL.
Nabers ranked second among rookies with 109 catches for 1,204 yards and tied for fourth with seven touchdown receptions despite suboptimal quarterback play in New York. Odunze had a fair season in an underwhelming offense, and Chicago should be excited about what his future holds—but Nabers, who finished fifth in rookie of the year voting, is a superior player.
Odunze had a solid rookie season (54 receptions, 734 yards, three touchdowns), but he was also the third wideout behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen in a rocky Bears offense. Meanwhile, Nabers was the Giants’ top receiver and was a focal point in Brian Daboll’s offense. Would Nabers have had the same opportunity — and targets — to shine as bright in Chicago as New York?
NFL re-drafts are nothing new in today’s world, and it does seem a tad premature to start re-drafting after a single season. One good or bad season doesn’t make a career. When all is said and done, the Bears could very well have gotten the best quarterback and receiver in that 2024 draft. But only time will tell.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Chicago Bears pass on Caleb Williams in 2024 NFL re-draft