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?
Arizona Cardinals
Would the Cardinals actually part ways with Kyler Murray next offseason in favor of drafting Caleb Williams? Even with the dead cap attached to Murray, it will not be a surprise if the new regime elects to trade the star quarterback and restart with Williams.
A trade for Murray would be a headache to pull off, and it would require the exciting signal-caller to return to the field in 2023 at full health. Teams investing so heavily — both monetarily and with draft capital — will want to see Murray at the peak of his powers before striking a deal.
As fun as Murray is, his durability and work ethic have been constant question marks during his time in Arizona. Without the sentiment attached, new general manager Monti Ossenfort could reasonably decide to take a player that fits his culture better.
Williams is a rare prospect coming out of college. Coached by Murray’s former head coach, Lincoln Riley, the two passers resemble each other on tape. The key difference is Williams’ frame and proven leadership quality. This is not meant as a character assassination on Murray, I don’t know the guy, but where there is smoke, oftentimes there is fire.
The Cardinals made the shroud move to trade Josh Rosen only one year after taking him in the first round. His replacement was Kyler Murray. If Arizona lands the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, history might repeat itself. Who knows, maybe Murray heads to Miami as Rosen did?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers’ quarterback situation is much more cut-and-dry than the Cardinals. Tom Brady hung up his jersey and rode off into the sunset this offseason, leaving Tampa Bay without a franchise cornerstone behind center.
The front office drafted Kyle Trask in the second round in 2021, and former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield now dons the Pewter jerseys. Even the biggest Trask/Mayfield fans would admit this is not an ideal scenario for an NFL franchise.
The bright side? Neither quarterback is going to win many football games in 2023. After getting a taste of being a contender with Brady in tow, the Bucs should be willing to suffer a down year in hopes of landing the next signal-caller of the future.
Caleb Williams would arrive in Tampa with an impressive offensive line (when healthy) and some exciting, albeit older, targets in the passing game. Mike Evans is approaching the end of his prime, and Chris Godwin is not too far behind. Nonetheless, the duo would help ease Williams into the league. If the Bucs are bad enough to select No. 1, the choice is a no-brainer.
Las Vegas Raiders
Here is where the list starts to get interesting. The Raiders inked veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a three-year deal this offseason. Shortly thereafter, the franchise learned that the oft-injured signal-caller needed another surgery, as his foot failed to heal properly.
Early reports say Garoppolo will be back in time for Week 1, but even if he is, does this roster win more than five or six games in 2023? One look at their schedule, and it becomes difficult to find more wins than that, regardless of who is starting behind center.
A roster that won 10 games and earned a playoff berth is largely unrecognizable at this point. The new regime, spearheaded by Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels, allowed talented players to walk in order to get “their guys” instead. I admire the commitment to their culture, but at what cost?
It will require a disastrous 2023 season for the Raiders to be in a position to take Caleb Williams. Unfortunately for the Silver and Black fandom, a cataclysmic disaster is on the horizon. But do not fret, because a prize is waiting on the other side of the storm.
Williams going to Vegas would help the fan base get over the instability it has suffered over the past decade. He immediately becomes the most talented quarterback in recent memory for the Raiders… perhaps ever. Davante Adams may not be the top receiver in the NFL for long, but Williams would extend the All-Pro wideout’s career.
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.
Los Angeles Rams
If the NFL truly has a script, then Caleb Williams and the Los Angeles Rams are destined to end up together. A little over a year ago, the Rams were hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, and fans began pondering the idea of a dynasty starting up. The 2023 NFL season brought a heavy dose of reality to the fan base.
Thanks mostly to injuries to their best players, the Rams looked like a completely different team last season. Even when healthy, Matthew Stafford struggled mightily. Cooper Kupp spent time on the shelf, and the offensive line was a constant carousel.
Even more concerning, the once-dominant defense became a deeply flawed unit. This offseason it only got worse as the Rams lost Bobby Wagner and Jalen Ramsey, among others. Now, head coach Sean McVay is tasked with raising his team from the ashes.
Stafford is reportedly healthy heading into 2023, but at his age, it is time for the franchise to start considering other options behind center. If the veteran passer regains form and leads the Rams to the playoffs, then this discourse will surely change. But if the team is bad enough to sit atop the draft board, the franchise will take Williams and never look back.
Williams to the Rams is a Hollywood story. It may not be the most likely outcome as of this writing, but it is far and away the best narrative. We are still months away from the start of the season, so monitor things closely for LA as the offseason plays out.