When Brock Purdy walked onto the stage as the very last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, barely anyone flinched. No big hype, no viral suit moment, just another name at the bottom of the ticker. Two years later, he’s walking away with $265 million—and suddenly, every rookie quarterback taken before him is now part of a cautionary tale. For Caleb Williams, picked No. 1 overall in 2024, it’s a stark reminder: talent alone doesn’t cut it if the system isn’t built to let it breathe.

It’s a tale of two quarterbacks—drafted from opposite ends of the NFL spectrum, now placed side by side in a growing debate. Brock Purdy, the final pick in the 2022 draft, just inked a massive five-year, $265 million contract with $181 million guaranteed. Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in 2024, is meanwhile battling criticism and controversy as fans and former players demand results instead of reasons.

FOX Sports radio host Jonas Knox weighed in during his May 18 episode, drawing a sharp contrast between Purdy’s environment in San Francisco and Williams’ struggles in Chicago. Knox pointed directly at the systems—praising Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly scheme and leadership while casting doubt on the Bears‘ ability to properly develop talent.

“They were right to have concerns and it ain’t like last year proved them wrong. In fact, it made their point for them,” Knox said. “What happened? Brock Purdy is a benefactor and a beneficiary of a good organization and a stable organization that can build around you and do it the right way.”

That comment echoed a sentiment voiced long before the draft—by Caleb Williams’ own father. According to American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback by Seth Wickersham, Carl Williams wasn’t shy about his doubts: “Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die.” For some, that quote sounded dramatic. But in light of Purdy’s rise and Williams’ current predicament, the elder Williams’ words feel eerily prescient.

To be clear, it’s not about talent. Caleb Williams has showcased plenty. Despite the chaos of the 2024 season—including the Bears firing head coach Matt Eberflus after Week 12—he broke the NFL rookie record for most pass attempts without an interception (354), and set the franchise rookie record with 351 completed passes. But unlike Purdy, he wasn’t surrounded by Pro Bowl-caliber talent like Brandon Aiyuk or Christian McCaffrey. The results? Just didn’t stack up.

Caleb Williams’ father was in favor of another franchise than the Bears

The tension started well before draft day. When Bears GM Ryan Poles told Carl Williams that Chicago would draft Caleb “no matter what,” the family considered their options—legal and otherwise. Carl reportedly preferred a different destination altogether: the Minnesota Vikings.

According to Knox, “They meet with Kevin O’Connell and they’re like, ‘Yeah, I hit it off great with him—we’d love to go to Minnesota.’” It wasn’t just personal preference—it reflected a broader trend. Many rookies, Knox suggested, share similar fears about walking into unstable franchises with no blueprint for quarterback development.

NBC’s Charean Williams added her own take, suggesting that beyond systems and coaching, the emotional weight of the franchise could have a profound effect. “He would have been a villainous figure, not a star,” she said of Caleb’s early days in Chicago.

As the 2025 season looms, Caleb Williams will need to block out the noise and dig deep. Because while Brock Purdy now stands as the poster child for system-driven success, Williams has to prove he can rewrite the script—without the help of a Super Bowl roster or a stable, proven franchise behind him.

This year isn’t just about making throws. It’s about surviving the system he was dropped into and trying to make magic anyway.