Caleb Williams still largely viewed as best QB NFL Draft prospect since Andrew Luck

USC’s Caleb Williams has long been viewed as the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, even before the 2023 football season started. The Trojans QB won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore, and even though he’s not quite on track to win the trophy again, Williams is still putting up strong numbers.

While USC’s defensive struggles have been well-documented this season, Williams is still impressing NFL scouts across the league.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. still views Williams as one of the best QB prospects he’s evaluated in his 45 years in the business.

“Caleb has a chance to be one of the higher-rated quarterbacks I’ve had when we are all the way finished with the process — in that No. 5-10 group,”
Mel Kiper Jr. on Caleb Williams

ESPN’s Matt Miller agrees, calling Williams the best QB prospect he’s seen since Andrew Luck entered the NFL in 2011 as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts. But he also compares him to another certain QB that still wows football fans each week.

“People throw around the term ‘generational,’ but Caleb is special. USC is not good offensively, so he plays a lot of hero ball. The key is how to keep a version of that but limit it. Scouts compare him to Mahomes because of the crazy arm talent, the ability to extend the play, and then to have the field vision to make something crazy happen. He just frustrates you sometimes because he holds the ball too long in the pocket, but there’s a guy like that every couple years.”
ESPN’s Matt Miller on Caleb Williams

Williams leads college football with 40 touchdowns this season. For an NFL team still searching for an offensive identity that ends up with one of the top picks, overlooking the unique skillset of Williams will be tough to do, especially if all other aspects check out during the pre-draft evaluation process. Based on what the scouts are saying, the USC QB is too good to ignore.