I am pretty sure that Caleb Williams won't be there for New England at #3, and that they'll have one of either Maye or Daniels (or both!) available there. But here's some scouting reports on all three guys.
Caleb Williams - 6-1", 218 lbs, 22 yrs old (Nov 1, 2001)
PFN
Strengths
- Has hyper-elite composite arm talent, with 90th-percentile arm strength and elasticity.
- Rips passes with laser-like velocity into the short, intermediate, and deep ranges.
- Can rifle throws into rapidly closing windows and effortlessly layer velocity and touch.
- Can torque his hips and generate elite velocity off-platform, even when rolling left.
- Has all-encompassing angle freedom and can elongate throwing windows with elasticity.
- Near-generational creator with incredible sense, spatial awareness, agility, and control.
- Effortless off-platform throwing ability makes him a constant danger as a passer.
- Instinctively finds mechanical congruence on release, which yields great areal accuracy.
- Senses pressure well and knows how to manage the pocket and set up optimal spacing.
- Sound decision maker on RPOs and a reliable, high-discretion conductor of the offense.
- Flashes ideal composure and poise with little fat on pocket depth and can climb lanes.
- Natural field processor who can adequately anticipate breaks on short hitches and curls.
- Off-script assassin with rare leverage processing and advantage ID as a moving passer.
- Has shown he can progress left to right and quickly shift forward from read to read.
- Fearless competitor who combines uncommon feel with competitiveness and resolve.
Weaknesses
- Has great frame density for his size but is around average stature for a QB.
- Is more smooth than explosive as an athlete and isn’t quite an elite pure run threat.
- Sometimes fails to anticipate windows over the middle, leaving opportunities untested.
- Occasionally experiences delays between his diagnosis and trigger on second reads.
- Hesitation, missed initial reads, and big-game hunting can invite unnecessary chaos.
- Falls to arm arrogance when pressured at times, aiming to force ill-advised passes.
- Adrenaline of high-pressure moments can cause lapses in situational awareness.
- Occasionally drifts too far back when faced with interior pressure, boxing himself in.
- Footwork can be a bit undisciplined, at times causing fluctuations in situational precision.
- Can experience lapses in ball security when attempting to create under pressure.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Williams grades out as a top-five prospect and a legitimate QB1 contender in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s a blue-chip QB talent, who along with North Carolina’s Drake Maye is very much worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. He could be a franchise-changing presence.
(snipped here because we don't want to quote entire articles)
PFF
STRENGTHS
Williams' arm talent is natural; it can’t be coached or replicated. He shows it with almost every throw. Many quarterback prospects are said to be able to “make every throw,” but it's an overused and often inaccurate assessment. For Williams, it's true. He can generate impressive velocity from multiple arm angles and platforms, and it never wavers. His film is littered with examples of that while he rolls left, right, backward, etc....
Williams' playmaking ability is his calling card. In this era of quarterbacks who can get out of the pocket and make plays out of structure, it’s tough to find anyone better. No signal-caller in college, and very few in the NFL, is better than Williams at making pass rushers miss while keeping his eyes downfield ready to attack. This is where the
Patrick Mahomes comparisons come into play. Mahomes is the best in the world at manipulating pockets to give himself space to either throw or take off and run, and Williams shows that ability on a near-down-to-down basis.
WEAKNESSES
That playmaking ability has its downsides, and far too often Williams relied on his out-of-structure ability to create positive plays for the USC offense. This “hero ball” mentality that he was forced to play in caused him to miss on some easy plays. Williams had 50 dropbacks with a time to throw of more than 6 seconds in 2023 — the most in college football.
Williams' constant need to play out of structure led to some bad habits and bad decisions.
SUMMARY
It's a challenge to find a more talented athlete and quarterback than Caleb Williams. It’s why he’s been touted as the No. 1 overall pick for years now. His arm talent and playing ability are unteachable. He is the poster child for the new-age quarterback who can scramble and make plays that don’t seem possible while also working within the pocket and picking apart defenses.
Williams is not a perfect prospect, though, and the concerns about his reliance on out-of-structure plays are valid.
Drake Maye - 6'5", 220 lbs, 21 yrs old (Aug 30, 2002)
PFN
Strengths
- Tall, prototypical, well-built QB with superb mobility and quantifiably elite arm talent.
- Generates high-level velocity with effortless ease and a crisp, snappy release.
- Can push the ball outside the numbers and past tight coverage with very little strain.
- Has extremely fluid hip torque and legitimate 360-degree arm elasticity off-platform.
- Possesses extremely underrated quick twitch, lateral burst, and evasive ability.
- Has impressive control and alignment with his shoulders, both in and out of structure.
- Has the corrective mobility and foot quickness to stabilize his base ahead of throws.
- Displays consistent anticipation both when reacting to breaks and reading zones.
- Can work left to right on progressions and consistently leads his eyes with his feet.
- Boasts rare leverage awareness both as a pocket navigator and a downfield passer.
- Weaponizes his high-level anticipation and field vision with active eye manipulation.
- Has a willingness to take calculated risks but can also take what the defense gives him.
- Greatly improved his pocket discipline and navigation feel as a space operator in 2023.
- Has exceptional accuracy and situational placement to all levels to negate contact.
- Competitive toughness and poise show up both as a pocket operator and a runner.
Weaknesses
- Still has room to roll his base through passes more often and avoid narrowing rotation.
- Sometimes crosses his feet, exiting phase when pocket navigating, sourcing instability.
- Though footwork pacing and sequencing improved in 2023, base width can be streaky.
- Tall, narrow base sometimes forces him to widen late in reps when time is scarce.
- Still learning how to more consistently layer velocity with touch on bucket throws.
- Will attempt to force throws with his arm strength at times when pressed to make plays.
- Situational precision is more volatile when working out-of-structure, increasing risk.
- Is prone to occasional ill-advised throws when forced out of the pocket by pressure.
- Occasionally hesitates and misses opportunities with delays on his trigger.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Drake Maye is my QB1 in the 2024 NFL Draft, and a top-three prospect along with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Caleb Williams. It’s close between him and Williams for QB1, but Maye arguably has the best balance of physical talent and operational utility.
(snipped)
PFF
STRENGTHS
Maye possesses an elite arm that allows him to get the ball to his desired target despite not being in the best throwing position. Arm strength isn’t all about how far one can throw the ball, as the velocity that they throw with is just as important. Maye has that velocity that allows him to fit the ball into tight windows....
Maye is not just a sneaky good athlete, he’s a great athlete. When the play breaks down, he can still succeed, but he doesn’t rely on it. That playmaking ability can be very chaotic at times, leading to plays you don’t normally see on a football field.
WEAKNESSES
There’s a downside to that chaotic playmaking ability that shows up all too often. Maye makes too many poor decisions in those chaotic times that lead to turnover-worthy plays that can easily be avoided. He needs to find that fine line while not getting rid of that playmaking mindset.
Consistent accuracy is also a slight problem. His 75.1% adjusted completion percentage ranked only 25th best in the FBS. Throws can sail on him at times due to poor footwork. While he has shown the ability to be accurate on off-platform throws, his consistency on the easy throws is an issue. There are too many examples of him missing simple throws from the pocket.
SUMMARY
Overall, there’s a lot to really like about Drake Maye’s game. He’s shown an ability to process plays at a high level from the pocket while also being able to make plays outside of the pocket. He’s a prototypical new-age quarterback who isn’t reliant on one set of skills. He has the toolbox that every NFL franchise is looking for.
Jayden Daniels - 6'3", 185 lbs, 23 yrs old (Dec 18, 2000)
PFN
Strengths
- Manipulates second and third-level defenders
- Spot zone coverage annihilator
- Great quick game feel
- Intermediate rhythm throws are automatic
- Creativity to escape pressure
- Lack of panic under pressure
- Disciplined feet create throwing hallways vs. pressure
- Quick release
- Explosive lateral mover with good vision
- Big-play threat every time he carries the football. Electric runner
Weaknesses
- Moderate velocity
- Absolutely no contact balance
- Inconsistent release sporadically leads to horrendous wobblers
- Has “on” and “off” days regarding ball placement
- Post-snap coverage rotations can catch him by surprise
- Takes far too many unnecessary hits
Current Draft Projection and Summary
There’s a lot to like about Daniels. He’s a naturally accurate passer to all three levels of the field with more than enough velocity to place passes into NFL windows....It shouldn’t be surprising if he shows off his dynamic ability early on in his NFL career. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
(snipped)
The Draft Network
Strengths:
- Athleticism/mobility
- Accurate throwing on the run
- Elusive runner/game-changing runner in the open field
- Leadership qualities
Concerns:
- Passing concepts that work the middle of the field
- Consistently operating from within pocket
Film Analysis:
Jayden Daniels fits the original thought of a dual-threat quarterback whose running ability sets up opportunities for him to throw the football.
As a passer, Daniels appears to be most comfortable on the move, where the play moves the launch point. On these designed play calls, Daniels shows off his natural athleticism by being able to easily get out of the pocket and find the open receiver in half-field read concepts. When Daniels feels that a receiver isn't open, he will take the option to tuck the football and pick up significant yardage with his legs—whether that is escaping through the middle of the pocket or escaping on the perimeter. In the pocket, Daniels looks most comfortable when he has one or two reads in a play, showing that he has the arm strength to hit opposite hash comebacks and quick curl/hitch routes to receivers.
In 2023, the element of Daniels’ game that advanced the most was his deep ball accuracy. Throughout the entire season, he showed to be able to consistently hit receivers in stride 30-40 yards down the field, making LSU’s offense one of the most explosive in college football.
On QB-run-designed plays, Daniels is dominant. Daniels can control the tempo of the game with his legs on QB power, QB counter, and QB draw plays. As a runner in the open field, Daniels is elusive and can make defenders miss in one-on-one situations. If left unaccounted for, Daniels has the speed to create a 50-plus-yard gain with his legs. Daniels’ slight frame and natural athleticism make it difficult for defenders to tackle him and he appears to always pick up extra yardage after contact.
- - - - - - -
Summary (BJ talking now):
Caleb Williams is the total package. He can make every and any throw, whether in the pocket or off platform. He brings elite physical tools to the position and has put up eye-popping numbers. The ultimate playmaker, and can make any play with his arm or with his feet. But he relies too much on off platform deliveries, sometimes needlessly. And there are questions about his personal maturity (founded? unfounded? I don't know...there are just questions). Probably the highest ceiling in this QB class.
Drake Maye is everything you'd want in a QB. Prototypical size (both height and weight). But isn't just a big guy back there. He's a world-class athlete as well. Outstanding arm strength and can make all the throws. Needs to improve footwork, but unlike Mac Jones, has the arm strength to deliver any ball even off platform. Has a high ceiling as a big-time NFL player. I like that he's only 21 years of age. More projectability.
Jayden Daniels is more of a wild card. Elite running ability, and has a highly accurate arm, especially on deep balls. Brings a bit of Lamar Jackson to the table, but is much skinnier (Daniels is 6'3", 185, while Lamar is 6'2", 215), and there are legit concerns about how long he will last in the NFL given his style of play. But the talent is there and probably will electrify an NFL team's offense right from the jump.
Any of these guys has a way, way, way higher ceiling than Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe does. Will that ceiling be realized? Who knows. Lots can go wrong with any of them. But they all have far more talent than anyone playing QB for the Patriots right now. I'd happily roll the dice with the #3 pick on any of the three. Just the energy they'd bring to the organization, giving the team and fans hope for a big-time future at the position would be worth something all by itself.
