Caleb Williams hype has been increasing throughout the pre-draft process, but it has hit a fever pitch recently. The former USC quarterback is regarded as an elite prospect with high upside, but who has a couple of question marks. Notably, sources around the NFL appear to question his hero ball tendencies and how his future teammates will respond to a rookie who has earned a lot of NIL money. Williams is now drawing some negative comparisons to former Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback Russell Wilson.
According to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, multiple sources within the NFL have drawn the Caleb Williams to Russell Wilson comparison.
“He gives off a Russell Wilson vibe with this lack of self-awareness,” one offensive assistant said. “‘I’m kind of above everybody.’ Not bad. Just a little where you want to see him be a more regular guy. Are you gonna be able to coach him or is he gonna be more worried about his marketing team?”
“He’s ridiculous,” the offensive assistant continued. “He looked like he got bored and wanted to make wow plays. But he can do anything. My only reservation is the times he gets in trouble. [Williams] makes too much out of plays past 15 yards on the scramble. He doesn’t understand that the ball takes a lot longer to get there and that’s when the defenders can get in on it. He doesn’t see the difference between 10 yards and over 20 yards.”
“Caleb has a lot of stuff that he is going to have to break in the NFL,” one QB coach said. “Now, look: That’s part of what you love about him. Those are great plays in college but not when Myles Garrett is rushing you.”
Should the Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams with the first overall pick?
These comparisons beg the questions — should the Bears use the first overall pick on Caleb Williams?
It appears that the answer is different depending on who you ask. The Chicago Bears seems pretty convinced that Caleb Williams is their guy, and vice versa. Williams' lone top 30 visit was with Chicago and the Bears have appeared locked onto Williams for months.
However, clearly not everyone in the NFL is convinced that Caleb Williams will pan out.
“Nobody is saying straight-up negative things (about Williams),” the quarterback coach continued. “You kinda have to decode the compliments and there is enough you see that concerns you. After the game, everybody else is shaking hands and you’re seated on the bench by yourself. You can be a superstar player on a team and have all your side stuff, and then you’re going down that Russell Wilson path, where you’re gonna have your own team and your own this and that. I just hear there’s a lot going on.”
“I just don’t know if that’s how he’s been nurtured as such a high-profile quarterback that has made a ton of money,” one scout said.
Williams may not be every team's cup of tea, but it is easy to see why Chicago is enamored with his upside.
“But if he can figure out those things from the pocket, he can be elite.”
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