18 October 2023 , 19:48
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The 2024 NFL Draft could be significantly different from what many expect if the reported demands by Caleb Williams prove to be true.
The USC Trojans quarterback is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft. Williams is in his second year at USC and third at the NCAA college football level, where it’s anticipated that he will enter the NFL next season in 2024.
Talk of the prospect of Williams entering the NFL began before the 2023 season even got underway. It was reported by ProFootballTalk in July that Williams’ representatives would seek partial ownership of whichever team drafted him next April.
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However, it was stated that Aaron Rodgers tried and failed with a similar request when being traded to the New York Jets earlier this year, with the NFL rejecting the proposal. As a result, it would seem unlikely that any team in 2024 would give up potential equity to a rookie fresh after being drafted.
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Williams has even hinted in recent months that he may not even enter the NFL next year. It has been suggested that the quarterback could have another year in college before entering the draft.
“I’ve always been able to choose the team that I’ve played on,” Williams told on September 6. “But now, going into this next part of my career, it’s weird ’cause it’s so uncertain. You don’t know anything. You can’t control anything but you and how you act. That’s honestly the weirdest part for me, is the uncertainty.”
Should the reports prove to be true, and that Williams may see partial ownership of whichever NFL team picks him in 2024, that could significantly affect the draft order. Teams may decide to look elsewhere for a different quarterback if they do not wish to meet the reported demands from Williams.
If that is to be the case, then what other quarterbacks would be out there for teams to pick? While Williams is projected to be the first overall selection, he is not the only talented QB expected to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
NCAA college football has a number of quarterbacks who are likely to be drafted in the first round next year. Whether any will go with the No.1 pick, though, remains to be seen.
Bo Nix at Oregon, Drake Maye at North Carolina, Michael Penix Jr. at Washington, and JJ McCarthy at Michigan are all expected to be the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, alongside Williams.
In terms of which teams are likely to get the No.1 overall pick, there are several who may be in contention given how the season has panned out in the first six weeks. Before a snap was made, the Arizona Cardinals were expected to be near the top of the draft order, and have started the season 1-5 after Week 6.
Other teams to have the same record after Week 6 include the New York Giants, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Denver Broncos. The Carolina Panthers remain the only team 0-6 and without a win all season so far.