Courtney Cronin
John Keim
John Keim
ESPN Employees Author
John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Put up. He began overlaying the staff in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored 4 books. You too can take heed to him on ‘The John Keim Report’, which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and observe him on Twitter @john_keim
ASHBURN, Va. — Each the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders drafted the quarterback they wished final spring: Chicago chosen USC’s Caleb Williams first total; one choose later, Washington took Jayden Daniels of LSU.
Every QB has lived as much as his staff’s expectations to this point. And in the event that they proceed their promising trajectories, the pair could possibly be competing for particular person and staff honors within the years to come back. But it surely begins with one award this season: the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the 12 months.
When the Commanders (5-2) host the Bears (4-2) on Sunday (4:25 p.m., ET, CBS) at Northwest Stadium, Daniels will enter the sport because the odds-on favourite to win the award at -120, in response to ESPN BET. Williams is subsequent at +105, adopted by the New York Giants’ Malik Nabers (+2200) and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. (+2500).
There’s a likelihood the storyline of the frontrunners for the award going through one another could possibly be spoiled, nevertheless, as Daniels is questionable with a rib damage. However the award might be for a season, not one sport.
ESPN Bears reporter Courtney Cronin and Commanders reporter John Keim measurement up the OROY possibilities for Williams and Daniels.
Jayden Daniels, Commanders
Stats: Daniels has thrown for 1,410 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions and trails the Buffalo Payments’ Josh Allen (77.6) and the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (74.3) in complete QBR at 73.9. Daniels has run for 372 yards and 4 touchdowns. He leads the NFL in completion share at 75.6.
Past the stats: With 90 passing yards and 28 speeding yards, Daniels would be part of former Washington star Robert Griffin III as the one gamers in NFL historical past with 1,500 passing yards and 400 speeding yards of their first eight profession video games. Daniels already set two data: the best completion share after 4 video games with 82.1% and the primary to finish at the least 85% of his passes in consecutive video games.
Why he might win OROY: After 4 video games, he was already being talked about as a doable MVP candidate and was named Rookie of the Month for September. There are a number of causes for Washington’s offensive resurgence — coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and his workers amongst them. But it surely all begins with Daniels.
Washington averages 30.1 factors per sport — it hasn’t topped 20 factors per sport for a season since 2017. Daniels’ accuracy helps the go sport, and the specter of him working helps others within the run sport.
Contemplate, too, that Daniels joined a franchise that hasn’t had a successful season since 2016 and gained solely 4 video games final 12 months — and has a brand new teaching workers and overhauled roster. But, after solely seven video games, the Commanders are thought-about a robust contender to win the division.
“He is the chief of our staff,” veteran tight finish Zach Ertz mentioned. “He is an outstanding participant and goes to be a terrific participant for a very long time.”
Why he may fall brief: Daniels’ sturdiness within the second half might be examined. He is been hit 79 occasions this season, sixth most amongst quarterbacks.
At 210 kilos, Daniels is slight — will accidents gradual him in any respect down the stretch? Extra probably, Williams may emerge with the expertise round him. He has a QBR of 75.3 in his final three video games, in comparison with 46.5 for the season, and he advantages from a stronger protection that yields extra alternatives. — Keim
Caleb Williams, Bears
Stats: Williams has thrown for 1,317 yards, 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His 65.3% completion share and 88.7 passer score each rank twentieth amongst beginning quarterbacks, whereas his 46.4 Whole QBR is twenty sixth. After a bumpy 1-2 begin, Williams has thrown six touchdowns and only one interception in his final two video games for an offense that ranks twelfth in factors per sport (24.7).
Past the stats: If Williams throws for 300 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to the Commanders, he’ll grow to be the fifth quarterback within the Tremendous Bowl period to have three such video games in his first seven begins.
Why he might win OROY: Williams had a passer score above 100 in every of his final three video games whereas finishing 74.1% of his passes since Week 4, and he’s the catalyst for an offense with a number of potential.
Chicago’s offense has begun to take off by racking up 35 factors in back-to-back wins over the Carolina Panthers and Jaguars. The No. 1 total choose is three passing touchdowns away from setting a rookie franchise file (12) and would eclipse Mitchell Trubisky’s Bears rookie passing file (2,193 yards) by averaging 219.5 yards per sport.
And whereas he is raised the bar for a once-dormant passing assault, Williams has additionally proven that he generally is a risk to create exterior of construction with 110 speeding yards (7.3 yards/run) in his final three video games.
“I imply, who’re defenses going to cease?” broad receiver Keenan Allen mentioned. “Are you going to cease the quarterback or cease the blokes working the routes? It is onerous to do each.”
Why he might fall brief: Group success might affect a participant’s odds for successful Offensive Rookie of the 12 months. Stroud gained it final 12 months by main the Houston Texans to the postseason. The Bears might want to hold successful in a stacked NFC North, the place all 4 groups have successful data and the three defenses that Williams will face two occasions every from Weeks 11-18 rank contained in the top-10 in EPA/play.
That stretch will finally decide whether or not the Bears are a playoff staff, and their path to getting there would require quite a bit from their rookie quarterback. — Cronin
