The top of the draft Thursday night was dominated by quarterbacks, and while Caleb Williams going No. 1 to the Chicago Bears was no surprise, there was some suspense about who would go second to the Washington Commanders.
Washington chose LSU's Jayden Daniels while North Carolina's Drake Maye went third to the New England Patriots.
Recent history suggests those QBs will not be brought along gradually. Of the 23 quarterbacks drafted in the top five in the previous 15 years, 17 of them started in Week 1, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Nineteen of them started at least 10 games in their rookie seasons.
Here is a look at the quarterbacks who were picked in the first round, what their rookie projections are and which pro QB is the best comparison. This file will be updated throughout the night.
No. 1: Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Clay's 2024 projections: 3,388 passing yards, 20 passing TDs, 13 interceptions, 269 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs.
Intel: Williams' elite improvisational talent, arm strength and ability to pick defenses apart from within the pocket set him apart from the rest of the 2024 class. He has the foot speed to evade pass-rushers in tight spaces and the strength to break tackles. His ability to extend plays, adjust his arm angle and make accurate off-platform throws puts great stress on defenses on each snap. Williams is also a patient pocket passer who gets through his progressions given time and space. He presses and tries to make too much happen on some plays but has rare playmaking instincts; he can get away with some questionable decisions. -- Steve Muench
Fit: Williams' skill set would allow him to be a great fit in any offense, but the Bears' setup in particular stands out with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's love for the deep ball. Waldron will scheme up deep shots to DJ Moore, and Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett are all physical enough to beat man coverage on underneath routes for Williams. And if all else fails, Williams will be free to use his legs in the Chicago system; he scored 27 rushing touchdowns over the past three seasons. In short, the fit is superb. -- Matt Miller
Rookie starter? Yes. Williams has effectively been QB1 in Chicago since the day Justin Fields was traded to Pittsburgh on March 18. The Bears need a quarterback whose play will elevate the players around him. The bar is low, but the Bears have never had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards and/or 30 touchdowns in a season. Williams should be expected to reach those thresholds early in his NFL career while being tasked with putting the Bears on a playoff trajectory. -- Courtney Cronin
Matt Miller's pro comp: Aaron Rodgers
Key stat: He had 16 completions of at least 20 yards when on the move in 2023, the most in FBS, and his completion percentage on passes thrown 20+ yards was 53%, the third-best in FBS.
No. 2: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Clay's 2024 projections: 3,447 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 578 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs
Intel: He gets the ball out quickly when he likes the pre-snap look. He gets through his progressions given time and flashes great anticipation throwing over the middle. His completion percentage has steadily improved over the past four seasons, and he's accurate on tape. Daniels also extends plays, and he's one of the most dangerous runners in the class regardless of position. He's quick, has good contact balance and shows pull-away speed. -- Steve Muench
Fit: The Commanders had 21 interceptions last season and traded Sam Howell to Seattle in March, leaving a big hole at QB. Daniels has the mobility, accuracy and decision-making to thrive in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's scheme. His ability outside of structure will place less stress on a Washington offensive line that allowed 65 sacks last season, tied for the second-most in the NFL. And he'll fit well with wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. -- Jordan Reid
Rookie starter? Yes. Or, rather, heck yes. The real question will be whether he starts from Day 1 or not, but considering Washington is not in a must-win year it can afford to start a rookie quarterback right away. The Commanders have a new owner, general manager and coach and have a long-term plan to turn around the organization. Washington signed Marcus Mariota as a backup in free agency and general manager Adam Peters said they were fine with letting him start if a rookie wasn't ready. But part of the appeal for Daniels is that his ability to escape pressure because of his speed and quickness allows him to make an impact earlier than most rookie quarterbacks. -- John Keim
Matt Miller's pro comp: Lamar Jackson
Key stat: He is the only player in FBS history with 12,000 career passing yards and 3,000 career rushing yards.
No. 3: Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Clay's 2024 projections: 3,361 yards, 16 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 330 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs
Intel: Maye extends plays, locates receivers late, adjusts his arm angle when necessary and makes impressive off-platform throws. He's tough and willing to take a hit to make a play, and he routinely makes plays under duress. Maye can thread the needle and lead receivers to yards after the catch when his footwork is sound, and he throws with a strong base from within the pocket. He's a threat to scramble for first downs, too, and pick up yards on designed quarterback runs. -- Steve Muench
Fit: With Mac Jones traded, the Patriots had to find a quarterback to build around. We don't know exactly what Alex Van Pelt's offense will look like in New England, but the best-case scenario is that Maye sits behind veteran Jacoby Brissett for at least part of the 2024 season and keeps developing. Maye's arm strength, pocket toughness, mobility and poise are all excellent traits that can fit into any NFL offense, and with deep threats like Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn on the roster, his arm talent will shine in Foxboro Stadium. -- Miller
Rookie starter? Not necessarily right away. The Patriots signed veteran Jacoby Brissett to a one-year deal in the offseason to provide leadership, mentorship, and a "bridge" option so any rookie wouldn't be rushed on to the field. -- Mike Reiss
Matt Miller's pro comp: Justin Herbert
Key stat: His 9,076 total yards in the last two seasons were the second-most in the FBS.