Did quarterbacks Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy find better 'fits' than Caleb Williams?

For a piece published on Friday morning, ESPN's Matt Bowen listed his "16 favorite fits among prospects who will have an impact in year one" from the 2024 NFL Draft. 

While Bowen spotlighted Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Minnesota Vikings signal-caller J.J. McCarthy, his article showed little love for Caleb Williams even though the Chicago Bears made Wililams the draft's first pick. 

"New Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury should be able to get the best out of Daniels -- who can be schemed as a dual-threat player -- by maximizing his throwing traits and dynamic running ability," Bowen wrote. "I would expect a mix [of] 11 and 12 personnel in Washington, with spread elements from Kingsbury's background incorporated. That will showcase Daniels' field vision and anticipatory skills from the pocket."

It's now clear that those running the Commanders penciled Daniels' name in as the draft's second overall pick not long after they learned Chicago would be selecting Williams. Daniels has repeatedly insisted since even before the draft that any whispers claiming he could consider asking Washington not to take him were little more than meaningless noise. 

As for McCarthy, he reportedly said at Michigan's spring game that he "would 'love' to play for the Vikings." He ultimately fell to the 10th selection before Minnesota moved up a spot to get him.

"In (head coach) Kevin O'Connell's system, McCarthy will be set up to throw with consistent rhythm on defined concepts, especially to the middle of the field," Bowen explained. "He completed 75.3% of his passes on throws inside the numbers last season at Michigan, including 15 touchdowns and three interceptions. McCarthy can heat up his pass velocity to drive the ball, attacking tight windows off layered reads -- especially with play-action elements rolled in. No NFL team used play-action more than the Vikings in 2023 (30.6% of dropbacks)." 

Neither Daniels nor McCarthy is guaranteed to be a Week 1 starter this September. Washington could play veteran Marcus Mariota for a time and Minnesota figures to have Sam Darnold ready to go if O'Connell and company decide to let McCarthy develop as a backup. 

Williams has been named as the top QB on Chicago's depth chart and could thrive right out of the gates, though. 

"The Bears have the best infrastructure of the six teams that took a quarterback in the first round," Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman of The Athletic wrote for a different article published on Friday. "And Williams has every trait an NFL team needs from its passer, plus he’s joining three high-level receivers and an improving offensive line. He’s going to take risks, and that’s OK as long as he learns from the ones that backfire this year. The key for Chicago is to keep the QB’s confidence and accountability high." 

As of early Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Williams as the overall betting favorite at +175 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for the upcoming season. Such information – coupled with the opinions of Baumgardner and Dochterman – make it somewhat interesting that Bowen declined to mention Williams among his "excellent first-round" quarterbacks drafted on the night of April 25.