Former USC star Caleb Williams was not only the No. 1 overall pick but also one of the most hyped-up players of the 2024 class, winning both the AP College Football Player of the Year and the Heisman in 2022.
Drake Maye, a former North Carolina star, was the third overall pick and was highly regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the class as well.
While both rookies have been making their marks on the field, a former Super Bowl-winning head coach has made his choice clear between the two.
Jon Gruden Makes His Pick Between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye
The former Las Vegas Raiders head coach recently secured a new job with Barstool Sports on a multi-year contract; during one of Gruden’s first appearances on the media outlet’s social media account, he was asked a burning question.
Gruden was asked who he liked more, the No.1 overall pick or the No. 3 overall pick, and the ex-Raiders head coach’s answer was unexpected.
Gruden replied, “Drake Maye is going to be a superstar; Drake Maye will be everything you’re looking for. 5 Star. Badass. He’s a horse, man.”
“Coach who do you like more? Drake Maye or Caleb Williams?” –@stoolpresidente
“Drake Maye. Drake Maye is gonna be a superstar” –@BarstoolGruden pic.twitter.com/41iuzKvK2u
— Viva La Stool (@VivaLaStool) November 15, 2024
Not only the former USC star, Gruden believes Maye is an even better quarterback than Jayden Daniels, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
This verdict comes after Williams’ loss to the Jayden Daniels-led Washington Commanders in an 18-15 showdown, followed by a disappointing 19-3 blowout loss against Maye’s New England Patriots.
Following the Maye vs. Williams showdown, a former Patriot Ted Johnson also weighed in on the quarterback battle between the two rookies:
“You got to see who you would want after this game? It looks like, I think to most of us, that you’d want a Drake Maye,” said Johnson, who played in New England from 1995-2004 (and was a part of three Super Bowl wins).
“Probably a lot of it is just his overall disposition,” Johnson said of Maye. “Just the way he handles things, the way he talks about his teammates, the way he addresses the media, his body language on the sideline is just…you can get down with that if you’re a teammate of Drake Maye’s.
“You look on the other sideline, you see Caleb Williams kind of ‘bitter-beer-faced‘ and mopey, just a totally different vibe.”
The Bears are now sitting at an overall record of 4-5 and will be facing the Green Bay Packers this Sunday night.