As the 2023-24 NFL season has officially wrapped up, all eyes in the football world are now focused squarely on the offseason. The draft is undeniably the biggest event during the spring. Today it’s time to take a look at the scouting report for the man who is universally considered the runaway #1 overall pick: Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams Strength’s
Williams ran a successful offense at USC last year, but I’m not sure it entirely fit his strengths. Williams is an excellent passer, and as good as he was last season, the offense’s scheme might have actually limited him. Nevertheless, Williams essentially was the only reason the Trojans were close in half their games this year.
To put it simply, he can make every throw. His arm talent is out-of-this-world good, and his tape is filled with excitement. He seems to have a great understanding of when to use touch and velocity, and he’s also able to throw out of multiple arm slots to throw around defenders and create passing lanes. Williams also seems to be comfortable when the pocket is closing in on either side of him, where he typically sidesteps quickly and doesn’t let it affect his mechanics. Williams is a very accurate passer, and excels on deep back-shoulder throws.
Finally, his ability as a runner must be brought up. Williams’ running ability is actually a bit underrated, since his arm steals the show most of the time. His sideline-to-sideline speed stuck out to me. He seemed to be more than capable of outrunning linebackers to the edge. He seems to have good instincts on the run, and reads blocks well.
Williams’ Weaknesses
While Caleb Williams has a good general sense of the pocket, I noticed some issues when faced with pressure in his face, specifically. He was fine when the pocket crumbled on either side of him. The only time he really forces the ball is when he’s forced to step back and away from pressure, and his mechanics suffer because of it. This results in passes that sail, which typically result in interceptions. This was an issue in their 2023 game against Notre Dame specifically, which was Williams’ worst performance of the season.
In a sense, sometimes Williams tries to do too much. He can make crazy plays pretty often, but with that comes an occasional mistake as a result of trying to make a play when there isn’t one to make. However, this is a trademark of a young quarterback. Nearly every player in this draft has that issue at some level. With quality coaching at the next level, it will be a non-issue.
NFL Draft Grade and Player Comparison
As I mentioned earlier in the scouting report, it’s all but guaranteed that Caleb Williams will be the first player off the board come April. He’s got all the tools to be a team’s (likely the Bears) franchise quarterback, and there’s no reason to suggest he won’t reach his full potential.
Player comparison: Floor: Kyler Murray, Ceiling: Patrick Mahomes
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