The Washington Commanders are thankful for quarterback Jayden Daniels. That’s obvious, whether it’s the team, his teammates, or fans, Daniels is the most popular man in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Washington). However, news revealed on Thursday should make Washington even more thankful for Daniels.
According to a new book by Seth Wickersham, “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,” Caleb Williams reportedly did not want to go to the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.
An excerpt from the story, via ESPN.
Quarterback Caleb Williams was so concerned about being picked by the Chicago Bears in 2024 that he and his family weighed circumventing the entire NFL draft, consulting with lawyers to figure out a way around the league’s collective bargaining agreement while considering signing with the United Football League, details from a forthcoming book reveal.
“Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die,” Carl Williams, Caleb’s father, said.
If you’ll recall, the great debate ahead of the 2024 NFL draft was whether the Bears would take Williams or Jayden Daniels. Chicago was reportedly locked in on Williams and told him so from the start. He eventually changed his stance.
He had no choice.
Washington selected Daniels with the second overall pick. It couldn’t have gone any better for the Commanders. Daniels had a historic rookie season, helping improve Washington from four wins to 12 and leading the Commanders to their best season in 33 years. Daniels put his team on his back at different points last season, including the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Williams struggled, leading to the dismissal of Chicago’s offensive coordinator early in the season and the head coach later in the year. Things went off the rails for Williams and the Bears in Week 8, when Daniels’ Hail Mary shocked the Bears and sent Chicago into a tailspin.
Williams now has former Lions OC Ben Johnson as his head coach. That’s good for him. But do you think Washington GM Adam Peters has any second thoughts about his decision to draft Daniels? The Commanders reportedly always had Daniels at No. 1 on their board. Not only is Daniels phenomenal on the field, but he’s equally as impressive in the locker room and off the field, too.
You can understand Williams’ hesitance to play for Chicago. The Bears’ quarterback history is dreadful. But have you followed Washington’s quarterback history? It’s equally as terrible, especially over the past 30 or more years. Have we heard from anyone close to Daniels expressing hesitance about playing for Washington?
Former NFL player and current analyst Ross Tucker posted the following message on X:
Bingo. It’s not that Williams had any hesitation playing for the Bears, knowing their history. It’s that Williams and/or his father told a writer AFTER the fact. If you were Williams or anyone in his close inner circle, you should hope this never got out. The Bears are feeling good after a strong offseason, first by hiring Johnson, and then rebuilding the offensive line and adding more weapons.
In this day and age, social media can be a rough place for anyone, especially athletes. What happens if Williams gets off to a slow start and displays his sometimes questionable body language? Fans will remember this story.
If Williams fulfills his vast potential, this story will go away.
Do you think Washington or its fans are concerned about Daniels?
The Commanders are thankful every day that the Bears chose Williams, allowing Daniels to fall into their laps.
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