Which First Overall Pick is Under More Pressure this Season?

When it comes to quarterbacks under the microscope this season, two names stand out more than most: Bryce Young and Caleb Williams. Both were drafted to save their respective franchises, both were #1 overall picks, and both now find themselves at a career-defining crossroads. And in a twist of fate, the two are directly linked. When the Panthers traded up to draft Bryce Young, they gave Chicago the draft pick they would later use to select Caleb Williams the following year. That connection ties their careers together, making this season a fascinating referendum on both quarterbacks and their franchises.

For Bryce Young, this season feels like his last chance to prove he belongs in the league. After being drafted first overall in 2023, he was benched during his rookie year and has struggled to show the consistency that teams expect from their franchise quarterback. Carolina has invested heavily in him, but patience in the NFL only stretches so far. If Young cannot establish himself as a reliable starter this season, he risks being labeled as another top pick who never panned out. In many ways, this is his prove-it year. Either he shows growth, confidence, and command of the offense, or the Panthers may be forced to look elsewhere next season.

Caleb Williams, on the other hand, carries the weight of the city of Chicago. Unlike Young, Williams isn’t fighting to save his job; he’s fighting to validate the hype. The Bears have surrounded him with talent, from star receivers to a solid backfield, and now they’ve paired him with a new head coach whose priority is to develop Williams and make this offense click. It’s the kind of situation young quarterbacks rarely inherit, and it leaves little room for excuses. If Williams struggles despite the resources around him, it won’t just reflect on him; it will only continue to fuel the narrative that Chicago’s long drought at quarterback continues.

In the end, both quarterbacks face immense pressure, but of different kinds. For Young, the pressure is existential. He has to prove he belongs, or his window as a starting quarterback could close. For Williams, the pressure is historic. He has the tools to succeed, and failing would mean adding his name to a long list of Bears quarterbacks who couldn’t deliver. Their careers will always be intertwined by that one blockbuster trade, and now, both enter this season with the spotlight brighter than ever.