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How Caleb Williams stacks up against recent No. 1 overall QBs

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

How Bears' Caleb Williams stacks up against most recent No. 1 overall QBs

By Zach Wadley | Last updated 10/17/24

Six games is a small sample size, but Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams — the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — has exceeded production in important categories compared with the most recent QBs taken with the first overall pick.

Williams hasn't played perfectly — no rookie can avoid the learning curve that comes with the jump from college to the NFL. But the 22-year-old budding star has led Chicago to a 4-2 record in the league's only division with all teams above .500. Plus, his steady improvement has provided hope for a franchise that has long sought a star at quarterback.

Including Williams, the last five quarterbacks drafted first overall started and played the first six games of their career that they were active. In mid-September 2023, Carolina benched No. 1 pick Bryce Young, but Trevor Lawrence (2021, Jaguars), Joe Burrow (2020, Bengals) and Kyler Murray (2019, Cardinals) remain starters for the teams that drafted them.

In key categories — completion percentage, TD passes and QB rating — Williams leads all of the aforementioned players after six games.

Thus far, Williams has completed 130-of-199 passes (65.3%) for 1,317 yards. He has thrown for nine TDs, including four in a Week 6 win over Jacksonville in London, and tossed five interceptions. Four of his picks came in back-to-back games in Weeks 2 and 3.

“6 games in, I think you can say it: The Bears solved their 75 year drought.”@ColinCowherd on Caleb Williams' ascension pic.twitter.com/y6RiPs0JJ3
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) October 16, 2024

Williams has been sacked 20 times — a facet of the game highly analyzed because of Chicago's offensive line struggles over the years — and fumbled three times.

His above-average QBR of 88.7 has dramatically improved in his past three games.

Williams is on an upward trajectory despite instances of sloppy play. All situations are different, but here's how Williams' numbers stack up against the four aforementioned QBs through their first six games.

COMPLETIONS: Fifth (130) | First: Burrow (160)

ATTEMPTS: Fifth (199) | First: Burrow (246)

COMPLETION PERCENTAGE: First (65.3) | Next: Burrow (65.04)

TOUCHDOWN PASSES: First (Nine) | Next: Murray, Lawrence, Young (seven)

INTERCEPTIONS: Second (five) | First: Lawrence (eight)

SACKED: Fourth (20) | First: Burrow (24)

QB RATING: First (88.7) | Next: Murray (87.6)

Rookie quarterbacks take a beating. Four of the five players listed were sacked at least 20 times in their first six games. Rookies also throw interceptions. All five had four or more through six games, with Lawrence's eight being the worst of the bunch.

Chicago has called on Williams to throw less than the other four quarterbacks. He hasn't thrown 200 passes, but he has been more efficient with the throws he's made compared to his fellow No. 1 picks.

Most importantly though, Williams has engineered wins. There's glitz and glamor that come with the No. 1 pick, but it also typically means starting for a bad team.

Williams is in a much better spot than the other four were. Murray managed two wins in his first six games, but Burrow, Lawrence and Young only had one.

The Bears must feel optimistic about Williams. The franchise has surrounded him with playmakers, including rookie WR Roman Odunze, veteran wideouts Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore and running back D'Andre Swift, and he's shown his ability to lead a team.

With 20 sacks, Williams ranks second in the league, a cause for concern, but there are 11 games left. Perhaps it's something that could improve as the season goes on.

For now, Williams is living up to the hype and the expectations. Chicago may have finally found its man at QB.

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