The football world, widely projecting Caleb Williams as the No. 1 pick for the 2024 NFL Draft, was surprised by Dan Orlovsky’s contrary view.
The ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback is betting on LSU’s Jayden Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, even over North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Orlovsky does not assent to the prevailing projection of Caleb Williams as the top pick by the Chicago Bears.
According to him, the focus should be shifted to other top quarterbacks deserving attention.
“I have not thought that Caleb Williams was a lock at No. 1 because I thought Drake Maye would be the guy. I was wrong in that. Jayden Daniels should be the guy,” Orlovsky recently proclaimed on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
Dan Orlovsky isn't afraid to go out on a limb by himself, which he did this morning on Get Up on the top pick in the NFL Draft.
"Jayden Daniels should be the guy. If I were the Chicago Bears right now I would take Jayden Daniels out of LSU." pic.twitter.com/UZnWoW0hov
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 29, 2024
He suggests that the Chicago Bears should be eyeing Daniels, whose stock has been surging on draft boards.
“If I were the Chicago Bears right now I would take Jayden Daniels out of LSU. That is not a knock on Caleb Williams. That is a plus in Jayden Daniels.”
Clearly, the most appealing for Orlovsky is Jayden Daniels of LSU. Moving from Arizona State to the Tigers, the dynamic quarterback has surged in recent months, grabbing the spotlight after an extraordinary season.
Always deemed an elite athlete, Daniels now shows he is a top-rank passer too. Orlovsky attributes this to Daniels’ exemplary performance in three specific areas.
Firstly, he describes Daniels as the best thrower against man coverage, with incredible ball placement skills.
Secondly, he vouches for Daniels’ downfield throwing ability. The third attribute is Daniels’ patience and peace within pocket playing.
First, he said that Daniels is the “best thrower, the best guy against man coverage, ball placement-wise.” Second, Orlovsky claims that the LSU product “throws the ball best downfield. Third, the ESPN analyst says that Daniels has the best “patience and peace within the pocket.”
Williams’ projection as the No.1 pick has held firm for months, but the NFL Scouting Combine this week could flip the script.
Player evaluations at NFL Scouting Combine this week could cause seismic shifts in predictions.
The status quo could face upheaval, depending on the performance of these top contenders.
