Caleb Williams offers new clue on NFL future after naming team he wants to join
University of Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams is widely expected to be the number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft but claims there is a chance he will return to college for a fourth season instead.
Williams, 21, won the Heisman Trophy and several other national awards after a standout first season since transferring from the University of Oklahoma. He is already drawing comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
Some college football analysts claim Williams is already developing quicker than the NFL 's best did during his collegiate days. Teams tanking to improve the draft odds seems inevitable; such is his stock.
The player has even addressed the, rather unlikely, prospect of playing alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle under Mike McDaniel on the Miami Dolphins, admitting they're the team he'd love to play for. However, pencilling Williams in at the top of teams' draft boards may all be premature.
That is because the quarterback has left the door open for staying another season at USC. "That's for sure now going to be an in-the-moment decision at the end of the year," Williams told ESPN.
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"It's my third year, and the dream and goal was to go three-and-out. Being around these guys and in college and enjoying it, we'll have to see at the end of this year."
"Being in college now, being part of this brotherhood and being with Coach [Lincoln] Riley, it's been awesome." He admits that there are many individual and team factors to weigh up over the coming months.
Williams will be the top quarterback prospect in whichever draft class he ends up in"I don't think there'd be one specific thing to effect and detour that type of decision," he said after being asked whether who ends up with the top selection will sway his decision. "It'd have to be a multitude of things to lead me to one side or the other."
While still possible, it seems remote that Williams would turn down the chance to turn pro next year. He is already considered the best quarterback prospect for over a decade since Andrew Luck entered the league in 2012.
Some analysts even suggested earlier this year that, if eligible, he would have been the number one pick in the 2022 Draft, not Bryce Young. Therefore, these comments will not put off any teams considering tanking during the upcoming season.
Such is the expectation of a race to the bottom beginning that Williams has already addressed the idea before the football season even begins. "It wasn’t any surprise or anything (to see the talk about teams tanking for him)," he told USAToday.
"I work hard to try and be the best, so there’s no surprise (with) any of that, whatever they talk about on TV or social media. Not too pressing. Not bothered by it."
Five months out from Williams making a final decision, teams will no doubt have plans for either outcome. But fingers will stay crossed until he officially enters the draft, whichever year.
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