Bears, Commmanders looking for top draft picks to make immediate impact

Now that we’re a few weeks past the 2024 NFL draft, some of those highly-touted rookie quarterbacks are working with their teams. 'Freshmen' minicamp begins the learning curve. 

This is supposedly one of the best quarterback classes in recent memory, with a number of teams immediately handing the keys to the newbies.

Here's a look at some of the top stories surrounding the top rookies around the league . . . 

They're Williams' Bears

The Chicago Bears had the first pick in the recently-concluded draft. It wasn’t a surprise they went with Southern Cal’s Caleb Williams. It wasn’t a surprise, either, that the Bears named Williams as their quarterback to start the season. 

Chicago didn’t even look at other quarterbacks. There were a number of Bear rookies working out at minicamp, with Williams the most impressive. 

The team gave Williams some basics of their offense after the draft, and he went to work right away with his private position coach. Arriving at rookie minicamp with a good understanding of the offense, this has allowed the team to move through the drills quicker. 

Coach Matt Eberflus is not going to take things easy on his new quarterback, as the team is eying marked improvement after a 7-10 season in 2023. The Bears are expecting Williams to do more ahead of training camp, which will be his first chance to operate with his entire team.

Chicago is taken to be break-even (8.5 victories) in '24, according to NFL regular-season wins.

They're Daniels' Commanders

Jayden Daniels of Louisiana State University was the second pick, figuring to start right away with the Washington Commanders. He had his first workout with the team, a simple one-hour practice. 

It didn’t long take to impress the coaches and other members of the organization. A woeful 4-13 last season, Washington selected many offensive players in this past draft. This was the first chance to get many of those players together in a workout. 

Finding a suitable quarterback has been a concern since before the franchise changed its nickname. Washington has used eight starters at the position in the last four years, and the hope now is that Daniels grabs the job and runs with it. 

He won the Heisman Trophy a year ago with the Tigers, demonstrating he can make plays with his legs as well as his arm. Washington is expected to utilize those strengths, implementing a  'Daniels offense' with new coach Dan Quinn.

Expect that Daniels is the starter in the opening week of the season. 

Washington hasn’t won a playoff game since 2005.

Maye and Nix

Drake Maye of North Carolina and Oregon's Bo Nix were two other quarterbacks that went early in the draft, but neither is guaranteed to start with their new teams . . . at least not now.

Maye, taken third by the New England Patriots, is expected to be given every chance by new coach Jerod Mayo. However, after his first performance at minicamp, there’s some work to do. 

It’s a new era in Foxboro, as the Patriots, 4-13 last season, begin without Bill Belichick after his 24-year (2000-2023) run. Having struggled at quarterback since Tom Brady left town, New England is confident Maye is the answer.

Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos made Nix, at No. 12, one of the more surprising selections during the early portion of the draft. Denver exiled Russell Wilson after a failed experiment, looking at Nix after an 8-9 season. 

Denver hasn’t won a postseason game since Super Bowl 50, closing in on a decade ago.

If you’re a fan/believer, the team is a 100-1 (+10000) proposition to lift the next trophy in New Orleans, as per Super Bowl LIX odds.

Denver and coach Sean Payton also brought in Division II (Colorado School of Mines) record- setter John Matocha to challenge Nix at the position. Payton was happy with the performance of Nix during an initial practice, but this may be an ongoing competition during the course of camp.

Denver did identify Nix right away as the quarterback they wanted. An anemic offense averaged just 13.9 points per game last season, matching the Carolina Panthers in the futility department.

Who will we be watching, rooting for and betting on in the upcoming NFL season? With rookie quarterbacks and some new coaches around the league, this will be a top story for months to come.