Courtney Cronin
John Keim
John Keim
ESPN Workers Author
John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Submit. He began masking the crew in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored 4 books. You can even hearken 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 general; one decide later, Washington took Jayden Daniels of LSU.
Every QB has lived as much as his crew’s expectations to date. And in the event that they proceed their promising trajectories, the pair may very well be competing for particular person and crew honors within the years to come back. But it surely begins with one award this season: the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Yr.
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, based on 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 probability the storyline of the frontrunners for the award dealing with one another may very well be spoiled, nevertheless, as Daniels is questionable with a rib harm. However the award shall be for a season, not one recreation.
ESPN Bears reporter Courtney Cronin and Commanders reporter John Keim dimension 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 whole 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 a 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 may win OROY: After 4 video games, he was already being talked about as a potential 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 recreation — it hasn’t topped 20 factors per recreation for a season since 2017. Daniels’ accuracy helps the go recreation, and the specter of him working helps others within the run recreation.
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 of a powerful contender to win the division.
“He is the chief of our crew,” veteran tight finish Zach Ertz stated. “He is an outstanding participant and goes to be an amazing participant for a very long time.”
Why he would possibly fall brief: Daniels’ sturdiness within the second half shall be examined. He is been hit 79 occasions this season, sixth most amongst quarterbacks.
At 210 kilos, Daniels is slight — will accidents sluggish him in any respect down the stretch? Extra seemingly, Williams would possibly 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 recreation (24.7).
Past the stats: If Williams throws for 300 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to the Commanders, he’ll turn into the fifth quarterback within the Tremendous Bowl period to have three such video games in his first seven begins.
Why he may 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 whole lot 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 general decide is three passing touchdowns away from setting a rookie franchise document (12) and would eclipse Mitchell Trubisky’s Bears rookie passing document (2,193 yards) by averaging 219.5 yards per recreation.
And whereas he is raised the bar for a once-dormant passing assault, Williams has additionally proven that he could be 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?” extensive receiver Keenan Allen stated. “Are you going to cease the quarterback or cease the blokes working the routes? It is laborious to do each.”
Why he might fall brief: Group success may affect a participant’s odds for successful Offensive Rookie of the Yr. Stroud gained it final 12 months by main the Houston Texans to the postseason. The Bears might want to maintain 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 in the end decide whether or not the Bears are a playoff crew, and their path to getting there would require loads from their rookie quarterback. — Cronin
