Caleb Williams will be the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, walking into a situation with the Chicago Bears that is uniquely structured for him to have immediate success. While no one around the NFL questions Williams’ talent, there does appear to be one personality concern.
Despite the spotlight being put on Williams for having a pink phone case and some criticism of him for being consoled by his mom after a loss and how he dresses, that doesn’t appear to be an issue for NFL teams. Coaches see an elite talent who can be the face of a franchise, which is what makes Williams the best player in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
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- Caleb Williams stats 2023 (ESPN): 3,633 passing yards, 68.6% completion rate, 30-5 TD-INT, 170.1 QB rating, 11 rushing touchdowns, 82.4 QBR
However, there is at least some criticism of what Williams did during his USC Trojans career. Specifically, one NFL scout told Ben Standig of The Athletic that he “understands” the leadership concerns with Williams. However, he still views him as the top player in the class.
“I understand the leadership concerns, but Williams has the most talent. He’s easily No. 1.”
Anonymous NFL scout on USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams
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Refuting the leadership concerns with Caleb Williams
The 2024 NFL Draft class is one of the most talent-rich at the top in recent years. However, with fewer knocks to make on prospects’ physical abilities, that has seemingly led to anonymous statements made about their character during the pre-draft process.
Recent NFL rumors suggested LSU Tigers wide receiver Malik Nabers had off-field concerns and there were worries about how he’d fare in a big city. In recent days, however, multiple NFL reporters have strongly refuted any notion that teams are concerned about Nabers off the field.
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The criticism of Williams’ leadership also seems to be just as unfounded, at least if you ask his teammates. Trojans’ receiver Tahj Washington called Williams a great teammate, saying he’s an even better person than a player. It’s also notable that at USC’s Pro Day, Williams spent a significant portion of his time helping out his teammates and joking around with them during downtime and after the workouts were over.
During an appearance on ESPN 1000, ESPN’s NFL Draft analyst Field Yates specifically addressed the alleged character and leadership concerns against Williams. He made it clear that in conversations with a lot of teams, neither is viewed as a red flag.
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“I can’t say that I’ve spoken to every NFL scout that’s been through the USC campus. But nobody I’ve spoken with has told me ‘His character is such a concern that you need to be investigating it night and day until the draft.’ As a matter of fact, nothing even close to that. Honestly, I don’t think character is like a red flag, or leadership is a red flag for Caleb Williams at all.”
ESPN’s Field Yates on Caleb Williams (H/T NBC Sports Chicago)
Considering Williams is already going to be the first overall pick, the knock on his leadership from an anonymous NFL scout doesn’t have the normal motivation of trying to push him down the draft board. While it might be a criticism of Williams that the scout heard, it seems clear that opinion isn’t shared by those who were around Williams the most. Of course, those are the same opinions the Bears will hold in high regard.
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