The Ringer dropped their 2024 Quarterback Rankings today, and Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams got some flowers from the popular national shop. Williams checked in at No. 20 on the rankings, the highest of any rookie quarterback by far and higher than some notable veterans.
The Ringer’s rankings are done by Steven Ruiz, who first evaluates every quarterback on six attributes: timing, accuracy, creativity, arm talent, decision making, and pocket presence. Accuracy and decision-making each account for 25 percent of the grade; arm talent is another 20 percent; and creativity, pocket presence, and timing make up 10 percent apiece.
By no surprise, Patrick Mahomes claimed the top spot in the rankings with a 97.4 QB Grade.
Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP, and, as Ruiz summarized, the new prototype for NFL quarterbacking, so it’s no surprise there.
Williams checks in at No. 20 with an 81.4 QB Grade from Ruiz, summarized as “a flashy young quarterback with a substantial skill set.” He earned an NBA 2K-esque ability badge, “Trick Shot Artist,” for his awe-inducing off-platform throws. Mahomes shares the same label, and I imagine that won’t be the last ability badge these two will share in the future.
High Praise for Caleb Williams
Here’s what Ruiz had to say about Williams in his deep dive:
“Caleb Williams still has a ways to go in his development, but his talent and instinctual feel for the sport could be enough to make him a more-than-functional starter during his rookie season. His talent is undeniable. He’s got every pitch in his repertoire. He can throw an overpowering fastball … with accuracy, a looping curve over the second level of the defense … with accuracy, and a slider from a funky arm angle … with accuracy. The splashy throws stand out, but the foundational trait that makes Williams a special prospect is his ability to place the ball where he wants, no matter how hard he’s throwing it or how quickly he’s moving.
Throwing ability is just one piece of the puzzle, of course. Williams will have to improve his decision-making—check-downs are OK, Caleb—and get accustomed to an NFL pocket before we can call him more than just a prospect.”
That’s an impressive and highly accurate depiction of where Williams stands ahead of Week 1. Ruiz noted that if Williams “keeps both his average time to throw and his sack rate below the league average, he will be a top-15 quarterback in these rankings by season’s end.”
Williams’ best grade came in the arm-talent department, ranking ninth among graded quarterbacks. He was ranked ahead of quarterbacks like Anthony Richardson, Baker Mayfield, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, and Daniel Jones but just behind Derek Carr, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jalen Hurts. Fellow rookie quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix were ranked 28th and 32nd, respectively.
Ruiz’s one-sentence summary of each quarterback was pretty spot-on, and some of them were delivered with some heat! Here are some of my favorites:
Daniel Jones: “A dual-threat quarterback who’s not particularly good at passing or running.”
Jalen Hurts: “Good football player, average quarterback.”
Tua Tagovailoa: “The NFL’s most efficient passer … for the first two seconds of a play.”
Jared Goff: “A top-10 quarterback … if you don’t ask him to move his feet.”
Aaron Rodgers: “A fading memory of an elite quarterback.”
…
You can check out Ruiz’s full QB Rankings here: