NFL player C.J. Stroud. Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Former GM believes this 2024 QB can have a C.J. Stroud-like rookie year

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/16/24

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud set the bar awfully high in 2023 with arguably the greatest season by a rookie QB in NFL history.

While its unreasonable to expect that to become the norm for first-year signal-callers, if there’s one passer in the 2024 NFL Draft class that can match what Stroud accomplished, it’s USC’s Caleb Williams, according to former Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman.

During a recent interview with Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, Spielman expressed his extreme confidence that Williams will have a decorated rookie year in 2024.

“If he ends up in Chicago, I’m going to say (he has a) 95% or higher (chance to have a rookie season similar to Stroud’s),” Spielman said. “As he grows and learns, just like C.J. did — he had some ups and downs but eventually figured it out — but if they handle him the right way…he has more than enough ability, athletically he can make some throws, he is going to have almost right at 95% of what C.J. Stroud did.”

"There's no one more special than Caleb Williams in this year's Draft."@MoveTheSticks explains what makes @CALEBcsw his favorite prospect of 2024. (by @surface) pic.twitter.com/zp00bA4Y85
— NFL (@NFL) April 13, 2024

Williams, who most scouts have graded as a better prospect than Stroud was last year, threw for 8,170 yards, 72 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions with a 67.5 completion percentage in two seasons as the starter at USC. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2022.

Stroud threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63.9% of his passes. He led the NFL in passing yards per game (273.9) and finished fifth in passer rating (100.8), eighth in yards and tied for 13th in touchdowns.

Stroud’s rookie year ranked as one of the best in NFL history. Among all first-year passers, he threw the second-fewest interceptions and ranked second in passing yards per game, third in total passing yards and passer rating and sixth in touchdowns.

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