Dan Orlovsky ranks Jayden Daniels over Caleb Williams, states case No. 1 pick in 2024 NFL Draft

Three of the 2024 NFL Draft‘s top quarterbacks have opted out of throwing at this year’s scouting combine but ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes the answer to which one should be first off the board lies in their tape. On Thursday’s Get Up, the former Alabama star made his case for Jayden Daniels as the No. 1 overall pick over Caleb Williams.

Both players are Heisman Trophy winners, but according to Orlovsky, Daniels is the better overall passer, and therefore, the smarter choice. He also compared Daniels and Williams to Bryce Young and CJ Stroud from last year’s draft.

“… I want to build this criteria, what do you think is transferable to the NFL?” Orlovsky began. “No. 1, who has the best ball placement versus man coverage? When you watch the tape, what guy sees man coverage and throws it the best versus tight, that’s Jayden Daniels.”

“No. 2, it’s not who creates the most explosive plays, what does it look like when they throw down the field?” he added. “… Caleb had a lot of wide-open guys downfield because he would create so much. Jayden Daniels is the best at that… Who is the calmest in the pocket? Jayden Daniels is the best at that.”

Dan Orlovsky: ‘Jayden’s the best passer’ in 2024 NFL Draft

This season at LSU, Daniels broke out with 3,812 passing yards and 40 touchdowns along with 1,134 rushing yards and 10 more scores on the ground. He had more yards, more touchdowns, fewer sacks and fewer interceptions than Williams this year.

“When you watch the young man throw, the throwing motion is CJ Stroud-like,” Orlovsky said. “It’s repeatable, it’s consistent. Some of the throws he makes versus tight coverage, the other two, Caleb and Drake Maye, they just don’t make. Those guys are tremendously talented but I go back to last year, I thought Bryce was the best player or playmaker, but who was the best passer? That was CJ. Jayden’s the best passer.”

Orlovksy may think Daniels is the best choice for the team selecting first in this year’s draft, whichever team that might be, but others prefer Williams. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt recently ranked not only Williams ahead of Daniels but Drake Maye as well. Like Williams, Maye had an excellent 2022 season, throwing for 4,321 yards and rushing for 698 yards with 45 total touchdowns before dropping off slightly in 2023.