Caleb Williams Sweepstakes: Front Runners To Land No. 1 Overall Pick

Sep 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) reacts after a game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) reacts after a game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Jan 1, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scores a touchdown during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scores a touchdown during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Broncos

Sticking in the AFC West, the Denver Broncos are a team no one is mentioning as a contender for Caleb Williams. Full disclosure, I expect head coach Sean Payton to right the ship and ‘fix’ Russell Wilson — for lack of a better term. Still, the possibility exists that Wilson is cooked.

If the Broncos cannot get things rolling in 2023, the team will rack up losses in the stacked AFC. All we have to do is look back to last month to see Denver’s pick land in the top five. Repeating this outcome would be the death knell to Wilson’s career in Mile High.

Williams with Payton is a scary thought for the 31 other teams in the league. The USC superstar is an adept improviser with adequate arm strength. He is extremely coachable, and after spending multiple seasons under Lincoln Riley’s tutelage, the verbiage in Payton’s offense will be easy to understand.

The Broncos employ an impressive catalog of offensive weaponry. Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton have shown the ability to lead the wide receiver room, but both need to improve their consistency. One way to do that is with an upgrade at quarterback. The duo has never had an above-average starter throwing their way.

Ideally, Wilson will become that for Denver. If it is just more of the same from 2022, Williams squarely enters the discussion in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Broncos own their own pick and will have the opportunity to select the Trojan signal-caller if the team fails to rally around Wilson.