For most analysts, Caleb Williams remains the top QB prospect heading into the 2024 draft. That has been the case for nearly three years, since his breakthrough at Oklahoma. The expectation remains that whoever holds the first overall pick will have the ability to select him in April of next year. As of now, the Chicago Bears appear to be that team. With two games remaining, they have a 96% chance of securing the pick. GMs and personnel people from all over the league have spoken out. If they had the option, they would trade Justin Fields and draft Williams.
However, everyone understands that the draft is an imprecise science. This is especially true when quarterbacks are involved. While there is no denying Williams’ talent, there are some issues regarding his playing style and overall disposition. This is when things start to get interesting. Williams chose not to play in USC’s bowl game versus Louisville. Miller Moss, who took his position, passed for 372 yards and six touchdowns. Keep in mind that Louisville possessed the nation’s 22nd-ranked defense, so they were no pushovers.
Although it was only one game, it served as a sobering reminder that Lincoln Riley’s offensive system is still one of the most QB-friendly in college football. One has to ask if Williams’ achievement was inflated by the system more than people want to accept.
That alone is insufficient to cause concern.
Things started to become intriguing after the game. The first were Moss’ comments about how the Trojans’ great triumph was due to a lack of ego and individual thinking.
He wasn’t alone in this. Similar comments were expressed by cornerback Jacobe Covington. It was difficult not to interpret these remarks as a dig at Williams, who seemed to dominate headlines all year and answered questions about his leadership. He avoided the media if the team lost, and there were even stories of him refusing to shake hands with enemy quarterbacks. Maybe it’s all overstated, but it’s hard not to think about it.
Caleb Williams raises enough red flags to justify further investigation.
Aside from the moral concerns, he has a growing reputation for coming up short against good teams. Last year in the Cotton Bowl, he was outstanding for three quarters. Then he vanished in the fourth quarter, allowing Tulane to come back and win. He faced a rated opponent four times this season and lost 0-4 in those games. In those games, he had some of his poorest performances. The same thing happened last year. Williams went 2-3 against ranked opponents. This gives the impression that he took advantage of a QB-friendly system and a generally light schedule.
It’s approaching draft time. Everyone knows that things get blown out of proportion during this time of year. Caleb Williams is most likely being nitpicked right now. He could very well become the superstar that many anticipate. However, everyone knows that collegiate stars do not always go on to become NFL great. Williams was able to get away with a lot at USC because he was up against a lot of inferior defenses. It will be significantly more difficult at the next level, and we’ve seen how he reacts poorly to being challenged.
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