Caleb Williams is going to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday. There is no longer any debate as to who the Chicago Bears are going to select at No. 1.
However, not everybody agrees with the pick.
Williams is a rather polarizing prospect. On one end, he won a Heisman Trophy. On the other end, he marches to the beat of his own drum and does things in his own way. That scares people.
The 22-year-old quarterback’s unique personality and unwillingness to compromise on who he is or how he operates is often viewed as pompous or self-important. Williams’ attitude toward other rookie quarterbacks can be construed as disrespect and it doesn’t necessarily go over well.
All of this goes to say that there are questions about the soon-to-be franchise quarterback for the Chicago Bears and his ability to “fit in” on the NFL level, for lack of better phrasing. That goes for both Williams’ on-field play and off-field personality.
Four NFL staffers took the easy way out during a recent conversation with Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. They chose to express their doubts about Williams behind the veil of anonymity.
One of the position coaches who chose to comment believes that there is a path to success and would draft him high. With that being said, he wonders if Williams’ skillset and personality will translate.
Caleb has a lot of stuff that he is going to have to break in the NFL. Now, look: That’s part of what you love about him. Those are great plays in college but not when Myles Garrett is rushing you.
I like Caleb as a player, but the locker room part of it concerns me. I don’t know him from a can of paint, but what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen from watching interviews, he’s going to have to understand the difference in where he’s at and how he’s been treated to being the quarterback in an NFL locker room. That system is one that when they get to the NFL, they really have to learn football, (like) Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield. You can win a Heisman and do all that stuff. In the NFL, you have to know protections, and responsibilities and run game and managing the game. There’s no layups, like all the quick screens and bubble passes and all that other stuff that boosts up your completion percentages because those plays are taken away. But I would still take him high. You just have to hope that your team and staff and mentorship can support him.
— Anonymous QB Coach, via The Athletic
The same quarterbacks coach admitted that Williams gives him more pause than Jayden Daniels. His concerns stem largely from how the former USC quarterback goes about his business.
I would be more comfortable with Jayden than Caleb. Nobody is saying straight-up negative things (about Williams). You kinda have to decode the compliments and there is enough you see that concerns you. After the game, everybody else is shaking hands and you’re seated on the bench by yourself. You can be a superstar player on a team and have all your side stuff, and then you’re going down that Russell Wilson path, where you’re gonna have your own team and your own this and that. I just hear there’s a lot going on.
— Anonymous QB Coach, via The Athletic
Interestingly enough, the Russell Wilson comparison came up again. An offensive assistant echoed similar concerns about Williams as both a player and a person.
He’s ridiculous. He looked like he got bored and wanted to make wow plays. But he can do anything. My only reservation is the times he gets in trouble. He makes too much out of plays past 15 yards on the scramble. He doesn’t understand that the ball takes a lot longer to get there and that’s when the defenders can get in on it. He doesn’t see the difference between 10 yards and over 20 yards.
He gives off a Russell Wilson vibe with this lack of self-awareness. ‘I’m kind of above everybody.’ Not bad. Just a little where you want to see him be a more regular guy. Are you gonna be able to coach him or is he gonna be more worried about his marketing team?
— Anonymous Offensive Assistant, via The Athletic
A third NFL staffer also offered his or her thoughts. He or she wonders if Williams will be able to mitigate any ego that might come from the fame that has followed him throughout the NIL era.
I think Caleb has a chance to be very good but I’m not sure about the wiring. For me, it’s how motivated he is to just win. He’s super talented. He really is one of the first quarterbacks to deal with as much celebrity and NIL as he has. I’m worried that he leans into this identity/persona of just being a little bit weird and different, and that detracts from his ability to relate to his teammates and just be about the team and work on winning. He’s gotta work on some things from the pocket, and that takes discipline and that takes humility. And I just don’t know if he has that. I’m not saying that’s his fault. I just don’t know if that’s how he’s been nurtured as such a high-profile quarterback that has made a ton of money. But if he can figure out those things from the pocket, he can be elite.
— Anonymous Scout, via The Athletic
While it is rather easy and pretty lame to speak down on someone while remaining anonymous, these three staffers are not the only ones to express these kinds of concerns about Williams. They are not alone in their opinions.
In the end, though, it doesn’t matter what they think. Caleb Williams is going No. 1 on Thursday night!