Bold prediction has Caleb Williams becoming best QB from loaded 2024 draft class

The 2024 draft class produced six first-round quarterbacks, with Williams going No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears, followed by Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. Two seasons later, several have already built impressive résumés, making the debate over which quarterback will ultimately emerge as the best of the group one of the more fascinating storylines in the NFL.

During a recent episode of "First Things First," Wright assigned Williams a 45% chance of eventually becoming the best quarterback from the 2024 class, narrowly edging Maye at 40%. Daniels received 13%, while Nix checked in at just 2%.

"I think Caleb has maybe the strongest arm in the league," Wright said. "Certainly a top three arm strength."

Maye has already reached a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, while Daniels led Washington to a conference championship game. Williams hasn't advanced as far, but his performance during Chicago's 2025 postseason run appears to have strengthened Wright's belief in the Bears quarterback.

"I also do value that I thought Caleb played some of his best ball in the playoffs," Wright said.

Caleb Williams still has room for improvement

Still, Williams' second season wasn't perfect. There were stretches when his accuracy and consistency needed improvement, and those are areas Ben Johnson has emphasized during Williams' development. But the spectacular moments became more frequent, and more importantly, Williams repeatedly delivered when Chicago needed him most.

He finished the 2025 regular season with 3,942 passing yards, falling just 58 yards short of becoming the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears history. Chicago went 11-6, won the NFC North and earned the No. 2 seed before defeating the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round and eventually falling to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the divisional round.

Williams' ability to create when a play breaks down remains one of the traits separating him from most quarterbacks in the league, and Wright believes his physical gifts give him an advantage over the rest of his draft class.

"I think [Williams] is a better runner, I think he has a stronger arm," Wright said while comparing Williams with Maye.

Wright acknowledged that Maye actually finished with more rushing yards last season, but he still views Williams as the more dangerous player when he leaves the pocket.

The Bears didn't draft Williams No. 1 overall because they believed he'd merely become a good starting quarterback. Insteadly, he was the pick because of his rare combination of arm talent, mobility and improvisational ability that made him one of the most celebrated quarterback prospects in recent memory.

Caleb Williams set up for success in Year 2 with Ben Johnson

Williams enters his second season with Johnson in an offense that should be capable of getting even more out of him. Rome Odunze returns as one of Chicago's primary weapons, Luther Burden III is positioned for a much larger role after an exciting rookie season, and Colston Loveland gives Williams a potential superstar at tight end.

Chicago's offensive line should also remain one of the team's strengths, with Darnell Wright now locked up long-term and the interior of the line still giving Williams a sense of security despite Drew Dalman's shocking retirement.

Remember: Williams entered the NFL as the No. 1 pick because evaluators believed his ceiling was higher than any other quarterback in the class. Two seasons later, Wright isn't ready to abandon that evaluation simply because some of Williams' peers experienced more immediate postseason success.

Sure, Maye has a legitimate argument. Daniels does, too. Nix has already proven he's capable of winning games in the NFL. This could ultimately become one of those quarterback classes that gets debated for the next decade.

But Williams has already taken a massive step from the chaos of his rookie season to winning the NFC North and a playoff game in Year 2.

If another leap is coming in Year 3, there may not be much of a debate left to have.