Caleb Williams 2024 NFL Draft Overview
Editor’s note: This article was first published on February 3rd, 2024 on lastwordonsports.com/nfl. It ran prior to the NFL Combine.
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 215
School: University of Southern California
Over the past two years, Caleb Williams has been at the forefront of NFL Draft discussions. After his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2022, he solidified a stranglehold on the “projected number one pick” discussion. The NFL Draft hype surrounding Williams was lofty throughout the 2023 season. However, after mediocre results from a team and individual standpoint, draft experts have been forced to drill into the measurables and truly project Williams’s potential based on established standards. On one hand, his playmaking ability, at times, resembles the off-schedule improvisation skills that are synonymous with Patrick Mahomes. This comparison is the primary reason that Williams rose in popularity to begin with. He certainly possesses the athletic skills and arm talent to perform at the highest level. That being said, tons of guys have athletic ability and arm talent but flame out in the NFL.
The ability to process and make decisions quickly, work hard and lead by example, and remain cool under intense scrutiny are all critical factors for Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks. In a high-pressure market like Los Angeles, Williams faced the type of scrutiny in his final year of college football that he would see in an NFL market. However, Lincoln Riley quarterbacks have seen mixed results at the professional level. Williams’s behavior regarding team ownership and his breakdowns after USC’s season began to trend downhill should also be considered when evaluating how he will fair leading an NFL franchise.
2024 NFL Draft: Caleb Williams Scouting Report
Strengths
- Arm strength – has the ability to make any throw, including off-platform;
- Improvisation skills;
- Athleticism;
- Accuracy, particularly on the deep ball;
- Ability to perform under defensive pressure
Weaknesses
- Accuracy;
- Offensive system in college is significantly more simplistic than any pro-system;
- Footwork is not great, but his playmaking ability has made up for it thus far;
- Prone to turnovers with lackadaisical carrying of the football;
- Little experience under center.
NFL Comparison: Trey Lance
Projection: Top-five pick
Best Fits: Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears
Bottom Line on Caleb Williams
The hype around Williams is almost unprecedented. Some have said he is the best pro prospect since Peyton Manning. The expectations that are building around Williams are almost impossible to achieve. He is the best quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft Class by a slim margin. However, even as a number one pick, there are no guarantees. He has a higher bust rate simply due to the outside world’s uninformed expectations.
Williams has every tool in his bag. He is physically ready to start in the NFL right now. However, NFL players need more than physical skillsets, especially at quarterback. Johnny Manziel recently admitted in a Netflix documentary that he watched zero film while playing for the Cleveland Browns. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, who also played for Lincoln Riley in college, had a clause in his contract mandating the amount of time he must study film because he has shown a lack of interest. Williams’ off-the-field comments and behavior should give scouts reason to question whether he wants to be a championship-winning football player or just use the NFL as an avenue to a lavish lifestyle.
