Featured Columnist IVNovember 8, 2024
Kara Durrette/Getty Pictures
The No. 1 choose within the 2024 NFL draft, Chicago’s Caleb Williams, will face the No. 3 general choice, New England’s Drake Maye, on Sunday in a conflict of highly-touted rookie quarterbacks.
And it is a matchup that Maye has been eagerly anticipating.
“Actually, with Caleb, I’ve seen him since highschool,” he told reporters. “We might go to the identical camps. We had been on the Elite 11 (camp) with one another. We acquired some faculty visits collectively. So, the entire thing, going by way of the method once more. We saved up with one another in faculty. We had been pals, and I loved watching him do his factor. Now I get an opportunity to compete. So, anytime you are going towards a rookie quarterback in the identical class, or any quarterback in your class usually, it is a little bit further. I am wanting ahead to going on the market and getting an opportunity to play the Bears.”
Each gamers have proven promise as rookies. Williams has thrown for 1,665 yards, 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in eight begins, finishing 61.4 p.c of his passes whereas main the Bears to a 4-4 document. He is additionally rushed for 221 yards.
Maye has thrown for 770 yards, six touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 4 begins and 5 whole appearances, finishing 65.6 p.c of his passes whereas main the Pats to a 1-3 document in his begins. He is additionally rushed for 209 yards and a landing.
New England Patriots @Patriots
On the buzzer 🚨@DrakeMaye2 | @dreeday32 pic.twitter.com/wjb5dGQ3O3
The stats do not leap off the web page—and neither has had the staff success of No. 2 general choose Jayden Daniels—however each have proven the flexibility to make powerful throws and prolong performs with their legs whereas holding their eyes downfield. Each have gone by way of some rising pains as nicely, as is anticipated for rookie quarterbacks, however the Bears and Patriots should be happy with their first-round choices so far.
