The 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft concluded on April 27. As expected, the Chicago Bears selected University of Southern California (USC) quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. Quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye were drafted with the second and third picks, respectively, marking only the fourth time the top three picks were quarterbacks since the 1971 NFL Draft.
Below is a breakdown of each player and what they bring to their respective teams.
1. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)
It was widely accepted for some time that the Bears would select Williams, a 6-foot-1, 214-pound quarterback with elite arm strength and above average speed, with the first overall pick in the draft. Chicago traded Justin Fields, their starting quarterback last year and the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March to make room for Williams.
Ranked as the best prospect in the draft by multiple outlets, including ESPN and CBS Sports, Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 after throwing for 4,537 yards and recording 42 passing touchdowns compared to just five interceptions in 14 games. He played two fewer games in 2023, but posted similar per-game averages and had an even better passing efficiency rating, 170.1 compared to 168.5 in 2022.
2. Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)
The Washington Commanders selected dynamic quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels, who played two seasons at Louisiana State University (LSU) and three at Arizona State, is a big (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and mobile quarterback who had a career year at LSU in 2023, throwing for 3,812 yards, rushing for 1,134 yards, and scoring a combined 50 passing and rushing touchdowns.
Daniels won the Heisman in 2023 and became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history to exceed 12,000 career passing and 3,000 rushing yards. Like Chicago, Washington traded its starting quarterback from last season - Sam Howell - prior to the draft.
"[Washington is] a great situation for a rookie," said CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco, adding that he would have selected Daniels over Williams with the first pick. "The team has a new owner, coach and now quarterback. They can grow together. He will be the best QB in this draft class."
3. Drake Maye (New England Patriots)
The New England Patriots also desperately needed a quarterback. They haven't had a reliable option under center since Tom Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. They used their first pick, third overall, on 6-foot-5, 220-pound University of North Carolina (UNC) quarterback Drake Maye.
Ranked by ESPN as the sixth-best prospect in the draft, Maye spent three seasons at UNC and was ACC Player of the Year in 2022. He finished last season with 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.