Caleb Williams Silence Doubts; QB Trade Targets

Published Nov. 3, 2026 11:48 p.m. ET
In the latest Quarterback Notebook, the ongoing development of Caleb Williams has been highlighted amid notable performances in NFL quarterbacking last week. After being drafted first overall by the Chicago Bears in 2024, Williams faced scrutiny over his style of play, especially following a rocky rookie season. Critics were particularly concerned about his high sack count and perceived struggles in translating his game from college to the NFL. Moreover, doubts persisted about his abilities even after a stronger second season, aided significantly by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's strategies.

However, Williams has managed to overcome naysayers by drastically improving his performance metrics. Notably, he reduced his sack rate significantly and currently leads the NFL in completion percentage. His average time to throw stands at 3.24 seconds, the highest in the league, raising questions about his ability to process plays quickly. Critics argue that a long time-to-throw metric may indicate inefficiency in a quarterback's decision-making. Yet, Williams' demonstration of skill against the Seattle Seahawks—where he threw for over 200 yards and achieved over 70% completion—has paved the way to silencing lingering doubts.

In that game, he was efficient and showed versatility, able to improvise effectively when necessary. Notably, his performance—culminating in a perfect pass to Colston Loveland while evading defenders—illustrated both his pocket presence and ability to make plays under duress. On average, he maintained 3.29 seconds of time to throw during the game, even exceeding his season-long average. Evaluating his gameplay, it is clear that Williams has largely minimized instances where he holds the ball excessively.

Meanwhile, conversations around Aaron Rodgers have continued regarding his performance at age 42, showcasing vulnerabilities that defensive coordinators seem to exploit. Rodgers leads the league in dropbacks against man coverage, hinting at defensive strategies targeting his aging skill set. Observations point to a trend where defenses are confident in using tighter coverage against him, as they have not encountered significant repercussions thus far this season.

The NFL landscape also includes a look at Jayden Daniels, whose potential remains under the spotlight. Although he began with promise, concerns linger about his ability to remain consistent and healthy through the season, crucial for achieving his presumed top-10 quarterback ceiling. His increasing rate of scrambles raises questions about his longevity in the league. As the season unfolds, all eyes will remain on these quarterbacks as their respective narratives continue to evolve.