The argument about who should have been selected first overall in the 2024 NFL draft will not be resolved for a number of years, regardless of how well the Washington Commanders have performed in 2024 or how badly the Chicago Bears have performed.
But if we’re having that discussion again following the rookie campaigns of Jayden Daniels, the second overall pick, and Caleb Williams, the first overall pick… There isn’t much of a discussion.
On December 25, Todd McShay of The Ringer conducted a 2024 re-draft on “The McShay Show,” dropping Drake Maye to No. 2 to the Commanders, Daniels to No. 1 to the Bears, and Williams to No. 3 overall to the New England Patriots.
In reality, Williams, Daniels, and Maye were in order of draft order.
“After just about a full season in the NFL, I think Jayden Daniels feels like the right decision here,” McShay said, adding that he was unsure if he would have much greater success than Caleb Williams (in Chicago). “… I simply cannot argue with it. I believe that Daniels and Caleb were quite close going into the draft, and Jayden has simply outperformed him this year.
As rookies in 2024, Williams and Daniels have both started every game for their teams. The Bears are in last place in the NFC North with a 4-11 record. After defeating the Atlanta Falcons on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 17, the Commanders, who are 10-5 and in second place in the NFC East, can secure a postseason berth.
On December 25, Zach Selby of NFL.com wrote, “Washington’s situation is straightforward: defeat the Falcons on Sunday Night Football, and they’ll secure their first postseason appearance since 2020.” Additionally, it would be their first season with 11 wins since 1991.
NFL Draft Record-Tying Run on QBS in 2024
With its record-breaking run on quarterbacks and offensive players in general, the 2024 NFL draft will live on in history.
The 2024 draft tied the 1983 NFL edition for the most quarterbacks selected in the first round (6), established the record for the most straight offensive players selected to open the draft (14), and had the most offensive players selected in the first round (23) as well.
The six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks in the 2024 draft, with the Falcons selecting Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8, the Minnesota Vikings selecting J.J. McCarthy at No. 10, and the Denver Broncos selecting Bo Nix at No. 12.
McCarthy was selected by the Falcons at No. 8, Penix by the Tennessee Titans at No. 7, and Nix by the New York Giants at No. 6 in McShay’s re-draft.
In the head-to-head match, Daniels had a memorable moment.
When he faced Williams and the Bears in Week 8, Daniels had not only the highlight of his rookie campaign but also the highlight of the 2024 NFL season.
Despite having injured ribs, Daniels overcame a double-digit deficit to lead the Commanders to victory in Week 8 over the Bears, sending the Northwest Stadium crowd in Landover, Maryland, into a frenzy with a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from Daniels to Noah Brown as time ran out. This play will go down in franchise history for years to come.
An exhibit featuring the ball Brown caught, his gloves, and one of the end zone pylons was made by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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