I am going to get a lot of grief for this topic, as I know it’s already gotten old. I know that, yet here I am jumping back into the hornet’s nest.
Yet, there is still something important about taking tabs
on Caleb Williams, the 2024 #1 overall pick, and Jayden Daniels, the 2024 #2 overall pick, and their careers as they enter their Week 6 matchup.
Caleb Williams has entered Chicago with lofty expectations, viewed as the next in a line of “can’t miss, generational level talents.” To this point in his career, he has fallen short of that expectation. But his 2025 season, paired with highly sought-after HC Ben Johnson, has provided hope that Williams can emerge as an elite QB in the NFL.
Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels went scorched Earth his rookie season, earning Rookie of the Year honors in the process. He also led the floundering Commanders franchise to their first NFC Championship Game appearance in 33 years – a feat that earned him unrelenting praise in the media. His 2025 season has started rockier, though, as he has missed two games with injuries and not been as explosive as he was in 2024. Still, he has done enough to this point to suggest he is Washington’s long term answer at QB.
Who would you rather have as your Quarterback moving forward? Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels?
Let’s be honest – this question was everywhere last season and throughout the offseason. Much of it had to do with Daniels’ historic rookie season. A lot had to do with the Bears’ historic incompetence of developing top end talents at the QB position. But after last season, I think my answer would have leaned towards preferring Jayden Daniels. He had proven himself on big stages and elevated a downtrodden franchise, while Williams had a mostly uneven rookie year marred with bad sacks, inconsistent accuracy, and loss after loss.
But this is a new season, and we are beginning to see the potential of Caleb Williams become actualized.
There are two main reasons why I am sticking with Caleb Williams moving forward.
- Injuries:
- Jayden Daniels’ frame, play style, and frame give me a lot of concern. He had two occasions in college where he had injuries to his ankles and has now missed two games with a sprained knee. While that isn’t an extensive injury history, it’s the fact that he rushes the ball approximately 9 times per game and had a very lean frame that gives me concern. I suspect that lower body injuries will be a major part of his career moving forward if he does not get thicker in his lower half or reduce his rushing tendencies.
- Caleb Williams had proven to be durable throughout his career to this point, having played all 21 games of his professional career and all 37 games of his collegiate career once installed as the starter his Freshman year at Oklahoma. While Williams is still more than just a pocket passer and tends to be a runner, he takes fewer hits than Daniels and is built much stockier as well. I think Williams will be more durable and his game will translate to longer term success in the league.
- Trajectory/Potential:
- Jayden Daniels has either regressed or maintained similar stats from 2024 to 2025.
- Completion Percentage is down from 69% to 59%
- Passer Rating is down from 100.1 to 93.2
- QBR is down from 67.7 to 39.0
- On Target Throw Percentage is down from 78.2% to 50.5%
- Completed Air Yards per Attempt is holding from 3.7 to 3.6 despite his receivers drop percentage dropping from 4.3% to 2.1%
- Touchdown Pass Percentage is down from 5.2% to 4.1%
- He has completed 16/36 passes over 10 yards for 44%
- This is a lot of stats to say that Jayden Daniels has taken a real step back so far this season. It’s entirely possible that he gets back to his 2024 form with a lot of season left, but the early returns have shown some regression in his accuracy and ability to consistently connect with receivers downfield, as he has only completed 16/36 passes attempted 10+ yards beyond the LOS.
- Caleb Williams has taken a real step forward in 2025 compared to 2024.
- Completion Percentage is holding from 62.5% to 62.3%
- Passer Rating is up from 87.8 to 97.8
- QBR is up from 43.3 to 57.5
- On Target Throw Percentage is down from 72.4% to 68.8%
- Completed Air Yards per Attempt is up from 3.0 to 4.0
- Touchdown Pass Percentage is up from 3.6% to 6.2%
- He has completed 23/45 passes over 10 yards for 51%.
- While Williams still needs to clean up certain issues related to accuracy, he has made significant strides across the board, and is outpacing Daniels in many statistical categories. Considering he has been in his system for 4 games and this is Daniels’ second year in his, there is a lot of reason to believe that Caleb will continue to ascend.
- My last point regarding potential is that Caleb is still a full year younger than Daniels. While this might not seem significant, it means that Caleb still has more time to develop before he hits his prime, and given their current 2nd year trajectories, that is a good sign for Caleb’s future.
- Jayden Daniels has either regressed or maintained similar stats from 2024 to 2025.
That was a lot of stats to say that I think Caleb has a better chance to improve and grow while being a more durable player when compared to Jayden. Am I a homer? I don’t think I am, but you’re welcome to challenge my argument above. I would still keep Caleb Williams as my QB moving forward – but hey, ask me again next week after we play the Commanders.
Now it’s your turn! Who would you rather have moving forward? Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels? Sound off in the comments!
