We take a look at the scouting report for USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams ahead of the 2024 NFL draft as the Chicago Bears hold the No. 1 overall pick.
With the Chicago Bears holding the number one overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, it’s no secret that the organization could be moving forward with its next franchise quarterback in a few months.
One player that has constantly been in the discussion in that regard has been Caleb Williams out of USC. Among the most hyped prospects to enter the draft over the past decade, Williams is no stranger to being in the spotlight. With many scouts referring to him as the best quarterback prospect since Trevor Lawrence and even Andrew Luck, Williams has dealt with the benefits and drawbacks of being labeled a “generational” talent.
As a true Freshman at Oklahoma during Lincoln Riley’s final season in Norman, Williams burst onto the scene in his first significant playing time by leading a dramatic come-from-behind victory against the rival Texas Longhorns. Williams finished his Freshman campaign with 1,921 yards and 21 touchdowns passing despite only starting in eight games. After following Riley to USC, Williams cemented himself into College Football lore by helping revive the Trojan football program on his way to winning the Heisman trophy, throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns in the process.
In 2023, however, some of the luster was lost on Williams’ status among the elite prospects at the position despite enjoying another strong statistical season with 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns through the air. USC took a significant step back as a program going 7-5 and as the quarterback, Williams took much of the heat for the team’s struggles. Williams didn’t always help himself with that narrative either, having perhaps the worst game of his playing career in a disastrous prime-time game against Notre Dame where he threw three interceptions.
Despite his college career ending on a sour note, there’s a reason why many scouts still view Williams as one of the best quarterback prospects to enter the NFL in years and the presumptive number one pick in this year’s draft. Here’s a quick look at his scouting profile.
QB Caleb Williams, USC (6-foot-1, 215-pounds)
Here is Williams’ NFL.com draft profile courtesy of Lance Zierlein:
“Williams’ play is highlighted by rare escapability paired with the talent to exploit defenses once the play breaks down. He’s not tall, but he is well-built, with an arm to challenge defenses across the field. He can be a high-impact playmaker on the go or an effective pocket passer when he allows himself to trust his eyes on second and third reads. He can improve his accuracy and placement on intermediate and deep throws, but he’s unlikely to be known for pinpoint accuracy. It is admirable that he looks to keep his eyes up and make throws outside the pocket, but he’ll make things easier on himself early in his pro career by becoming a more decisive scrambler to move the sticks and carry on to the next set of downs. Williams is tremendously talented but often bites off too much responsibility and plays off-schedule. He has a good chance to hit new heights with a surrounding cast he trusts, but greater self-discipline and a well-structured offense might be needed to help him become a quarterback who can elevate a franchise to championship contention.”