NFL teams scouting the best players in college football already believe USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams could be one of the all-time great prospects. However, the team that drafts him might face a unique problem.
Since the NFL adopted the rookie wage scale to prevent draftees from immediately becoming some of the highest-paid NFL players, contracts for the top picks have become routine. Rookie holdouts during training camp are now extremely rare and a majority of first-year NFL players aren’t anywhere near veterans in terms of salary.
- Caleb Williams stats (2022): 168.5 QB rating, 42-5 TD-INT, 4,537 pass yards, 10 rush TDs
Related: NFL teams view Caleb Williams as generational talent
The rookie wage scale has made quarterbacks on rookie contracts extremely valuable. At a time when the highest-paid quarterbacks are making $50-plus million per season, signal-callers still playing on their rookie contract can produce at an MVP-caliber level and make less than $20 million.
While one of the biggest storylines in the NFL right now is the treatment of running backs and the positions’ declining salaries, Williams could be the first quarterback prospect to try and change how the position is compensated on the first contract.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Williams’ representatives have reportedly make it known to potential agents that the Heisman Trophy winner wants partial ownership of the team that drafts him in 2024.
Under current NFL rules, a player is not allowed to have an ownership stake in a team and play at the same time. As Greg Auman of The Athletic explained in 2022, any active player would need three-quarters of the NFL’s 32 owners to approve him becoming the first active player and owner in league history.
Related: Caleb Williams compared to Patrick Mahomes
Williams’ motivation for wanting a minority ownership stake in the team that drafts him is clear. NFL revenue is skyrocketing and with the Washington Commanders recently selling for $6 billion, franchise values are rising exponentially every year.
Getting a small percentage in an NFL franchise would be worth tens of millions of dollars, at a minimum. However, recent present with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers makes it clear that NFL owners aren’t willing to consider the notion right now.
While Williams could try and fight the rule legally, it’s an issue that wouldn’t help him in the eyes of NFL teams. As a result, the absence of an ownership stake won’t prevent Williams from signing with the team that drafts him.