Pete Prisco of CBS Sports believes the Chicago Bears should make LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels the draft’s first pick, ahead of USC’s Caleb Williams.
Prisco explained that while Daniels may be slight in build, he possesses exceptional running and throwing abilities and has shown remarkable improvement throughout his career. He acknowledged criticism that Daniels leaves the pocket prematurely, but attributed it to his mobility. Prisco compared Daniels to Baltimore Ravens star and two-time Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson.
Despite the prevailing assumption that the Bears will draft Williams first overall, Prisco emphasized that some NFL coaches and scouts, including ESPN analysts Louis Riddick and Dan Orlovsky, have indicated they would choose Daniels over Williams.
In March, Ryan Leaf generated headlines by suggesting that the Bears should sit Williams throughout his debut pro season. Prisco, however, expressed his belief that Daniels “will be the best quarterback in this class” and criticized Williams for needing to “clean up a lot of stuff” and holding the ball too long.
While acknowledging concerns raised by some about Daniels leaving the pocket too soon, Prisco noted that teams during pre-draft interviews advised him to be more selective about the hits he takes during games.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles has publicly stated that he does not share concerns voiced by others regarding Williams’ personality, off-the-field interests, and dedication compared to Daniels’ supposed love of football.
On Wednesday afternoon, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that he would “be pretty surprised at this point if” the Washington Commanders don’t select Daniels with the second pick. This development suggests that the Bears may benefit from letting Daniels fall to No. 2, potentially receiving a valuable asset from the Commanders.
