Caleb Williams Sweepstakes: Front Runners To Land No. 1 Overall Pick
By Hunter Haas
Another year, another prospect hyped up as the best thing since sliced bread. Don’t get me wrong, USC quarterback Caleb Williams is worth all the hysteria. The former Oklahoma Sooner boasts a five-star pedigree and an effortless ability to create magic with the ball in his hand.
Caleb Williams Makes Himself A Household Name
Williams is a tad on the short side for an NFL signal-caller, but he possesses a wide frame and should have little concerns with durability. His arm talent is remarkable. Williams flings the pigskin all over the field, easily fitting tight windows and showing the arm strength to hit the deep ball when the game calls for it.
The way Williams moves around the pocket is a joy to watch. He showcases stellar footwork and always keeps his eyes downfield as he surveys the defense and evades pressure. When the Trojan superstar gets out of the pocket, that is where he is most dangerous.
Williams is not a blazer, but he is deceptively quick and very slippery in space. While he could exhibit more patience as the play unfolds, Williams proves equally capable of improvising with his legs as he is the right arm.
As far as production goes, Williams checks all of those boxes. The soon-to-be junior won USC’s seventh Heisman Trophy in program history in 2022. Flanked by his long-time mentor, Lincoln Riley, Williams carried the team to victory on several occasions. He battled through abysmal defensive efforts on the other side of the ball and always kept the Trojans in the ball game.
Many draft pundits stated that Caleb Williams would have been the first quarterback taken at the 2023 NFL Draft if he were eligible. Alas, per NCAA rules, the 21-year-old budding superstar must return to the college ranks for a third season. So, is Williams really worth all the hype?
Caleb Williams Sweepstakes: Front Runners To Land No. 1 Overall Pick
If you ask me? Absolutely. Are the Patrick Mahomes comparisons a bit excessive? Definitely. But does Williams possess the traits to be a franchise cornerstone on Sundays? Undoubtedly. With all of this in mind, the NFL world could witness tanking the likes of which we have never seen before.
Whether or not a team actively tries to lose games to secure Williams, there are a handful of teams who figure to be in the running for No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Using what we know right now, which franchise could find itself in a position to sit atop the draft board next April?