Caleb Williams Draws High Praise from NFL GM, Top Executives

Scouts Praise Caleb Williams’ Ability to Take Over a Game ahead of Chicago Bears’ NFL Draft

Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, and presumptive No. 1 overall pick, completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 3,633 yards with 30 touchdowns to five interceptions last season, leaving many evaluators around the NFL to believe he is the consensus top prospect in this year’s class.

“What stood out to me was his ability to make plays,” an AFC Scout told me recently. “When he took over the Cotton Bowl, one of his first snaps was a fourth-down touchdown run. It reminded me of Vince Young’s big run the first time he played in that game. His arm jumps out every time you put his film on. Caleb has all the tools, the only question is whether the Bears can put enough pieces around him to be successful.”

Chicago has done an excellent and thorough job over the past two offseasons of facilitating a soft landing for Williams, by acquiring D.J. Moore in 2023, and Keenan Allen in 2024 to round out an explosive receiver duo. Then, in free agency this offseason, Poles signed versatle former Eagles and Lions running back D’Andre Swift.

Even as the Bears’ offensive line continues to gel and Williams matures as a passer, one NFC executive told NFL.com that he believes the USC star’s mobility is going to be among his best assets early in his career.

“He’s an escape artist in terms of his play style,” an NFC scouting director told Pelissero. “The guy can get out of any play, he can throw off-platform, he can run around, make things happen. That is his strength, and that might also be his weakness right now, because he’s never throwing from the pocket. He’s never throwing on platform. It’s a lot of tunnel screens out to the perimeter or he’s running for his life. Obviously, the offensive line was a little bit up and down [last] year, the defense was not very good, and he was in a gunfight every single week.”