Every so often, a quarterback prospect comes around who is surrounded by loads of hype. People believe he will be the next big thing in the NFL. It started in 1983 with John Elway. Since then, others like Troy Aikman, Jeff George, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, and Trevor Lawrence have received similar treatment. It feels like Caleb Williams is the latest such prospect. Many have used the word “generational” to describe him. He’s been the heavy favorite to go #1 overall for the past two years. The hype has gotten to a point where many believe Williams is overrated.
Sure, he was an exciting player at USC, but generational feels like a bit much. Dan Orlovsky played the position in the NFL. He’s spent years evaluating quarterbacks for ESPN. He decided to dig into Williams’ tape to get a definitive answer on what the Chicago Bears might be getting. His initial takeaway from what he has seen is Williams is not overrated. If anything, he actually could be underrated. In his estimation, Orlovsky thinks the quarterback covered up a ton of major issues with the USC offense last season.
Caleb Williams was still great despite limited help.
Almost every draft evaluator worth his salt has acknowledged USC lacked front-line talent this past year, on both sides of the ball. None of his wide receivers are likely going before the 3rd round. His offensive line was even worse. Yet despite that and an offensive system that lacked diversity, he still managed to throw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He even had the highest completion percentage (68.6) of his career. This was not a quarterback carried by the talent around him. There is a strong case that USC would’ve had a losing record if Williams hadn’t been there.
Quarterbacks who elevate the team around them are what teams look for. The Chicago Bears haven’t had one in a long time. Maybe the Caleb Williams hype is a little over the top, but it’s becoming clear some reputable people believe the high praise is justified. The only hurdle left to clear is the interview process. That begins at the scouting combine next week. If Williams can give the right answers, he will be the pick. Otherwise, somebody else might be able to steal his spot.
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