LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — In the months and weeks leading up the 2024 NFL Draft, a consensus formed surrounding the top prospects and the top two selections, which were owned by a pair of struggling franchises in the Bears and Commanders.
The belief was that USC quarterback Caleb Williams was the clear-cut top prospect in the draft class and that LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels was the second-best prospect.
Of course, the job of Bears general manager Ryan Poles and his front office was to conduct their own evaluation and cement their own belief in how to best use the No. 1 overall selection.
On March 27, one week after Williams performed at USC’s pro day, Poles was joined by assistant general manager Ian Cunningham and head coach Matt Eberflus at LSU’s pro day to get another up-close look at Daniels. It offered the opportunity to confirm what they'd seen on tape from the 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning Daniels and what they had gathered during a formal meeting several weeks earlier at the NFL Combine. Poles also saw Daniels and the Tigers play in-person in 2023 on the scouting trail.
In their detailed evaluation process, the Bears ultimately identified Williams as their clear choice for the No. 1 pick, believing he was the most talented prospect. The Bears were drawn to Daniels’ dual-threat ability and liked a lot about him, but they were also concerned about his durability. After the Bears selected Williams, the Commanders took Daniels at No. 2 overall.
When the Bears (4-2) and Commanders (5-2) square off Sunday at Northwest Stadium just outside Washington D.C., it will bring together two teams that have hope for the future in the form of their young quarterbacks.
“No question, he is a talent, a big talent,” Eberflus said of Daniels on Monday. “You can see that in (his first seven starts). He’s got a real good future ahead of him. You can certainly see how he reads the field, how he sees, his vision, his anticipation, his accuracy, his ability to escape when he needs to, his ability to do the QB runs if they ask him to do that, athleticism. He’s a big talent.”
Williams, 22, has thrown for 1,317 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions in his first six starts and has helped guide the Bears to a three-game winning streak. Daniels, 23, has thrown for 1,410 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions in seven games as the Commanders have started strong.
Daniels left the Commanders' 40-7 win over the Panthers on Sunday with a rib injury. His availability for Sunday remains in question as he's considered week-to-week, the Commanders said. Veteran backup quarterback Marcus Mariota – coincidentally also a No. 2 overall pick who was selected in 2015 – will be Washington’s starter if Daniels can't play.
The Bears will take the practice field Wednesday uncertain of whether it will be Daniels or Mariota starting. But they certainly know what Daniels can bring to the game if he's healthy enough to play Sunday.
“This kid provides a lot of challenges,” Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “You saw what he did even just last week with his legs and things like that. I think their offensive scheme is firing on all cylinders right now. They’ve got really good skill, good O-line, three good backs, really. He’s doing a good job of facilitating all of that.”
The Bears-Commanders game will also feature an intriguing chess match on the sidelines. Eberflus, his team's defensive play-caller, will square off with Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, whom the Bears interviewed this past offseason.
The Bears instead elected to hire Shane Waldron as their new offensive coordinator, while Kingsbury joined new Commanders head coach Dan Quinn's staff. Both teams quickly went to work developing their young quarterbacks and have had success early this season.
Williams and Daniels each have the goal of leading their team to the playoffs, and they could end up in a head-to-head battle to be named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Bears and Commanders each last reached the playoffs in 2020, when both teams lost in the wild-card round.
From afar, the Bears have seen Daniels' continued growth, and they recognize the talent they saw in the pre-draft scouting process. At the same time, Williams has also showcased his talent and continued his ascent by improving each week.
Like Daniels, Williams has showcased himself as a potential star in the making.
“I would just say he’s improving,” Eberflus said. “You can really see the improvement throughout the course of the weeks.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.