Bears’ Caleb Williams still chasing Drake Maye for 2024 supremacy

Being selected in the same NFL draft class will forever have your careers intertwined, especially at the quarterback position. In the same draft the Chicago Bears selected Caleb Williams at No.1, players like Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix all heard their name called in the first round.

Entering year three, all four players are looking to full enter the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks. For Williams, he is still chasing Maye in that regard. On a poll of 20 NFL executives/coaches, Maye got 12 votes for best QB on a rookie contract compared to Williams’ five, via Jeff Howe of the Athletic.

“Maye and Williams revealed their true potential last season, as each of their franchises found coaching upgrades,” Howe wrote. “Maye finished second in the MVP voting and led the Patriots to a surprising Super Bowl appearance, while Williams led the league with six fourth-quarter comebacks and the Bears’ first playoff victory since the 2010 season.”

“As evidenced by the vote, Maye is further along in his development, but the Williams backers believed another jump is on the horizon,” he continued.

Maye may have already staked his claim as one of the league’s best after finishing as MVP runner-up in 2025. After leading his New England Patriots to the Super Bowl, he’s trying to ensure they stay atop the AFC.

Williams is trying to help get the Bears to similar heights. If he goes on a deep playoff run in 2026, perhaps the poll tells a completely different story in 2027.

Bears’ Caleb Williams entering pivotal season

Williams pairing with head coach Ben Johnson proved to be a clear success in their 2025 debut. The quarterback set a new Bears record with 3,942 passing yards as Chicago finished sixth in total offense, averaging 369.2 yards per game.

In 2026, Johnson will look for Williams to up his completion percentage (58.1 in 2025) while finding overall consistency. The quarterback has proven no deficit is unbeatable in the fourth. But if he and the Bears offense find their footing early, they won’t have to rely on a late comeback.

The franchise has put all their eggs in Williams’ basket. They will go as far as he does. If Chicago has the quarterback they think they do, the Bears won’t have concerns at the position for the foreseeable future.

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