Caleb Williams has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, where the Chicago Bears hold the top overall pick, with the USC star considered a generational prospect compared to Patrick Mahomes
USC star Caleb Williams has finally made his decision to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, leaving the Chicago Bears with a tough choice. They must now decide between keeping Justin Fields as their long-term quarterback or opting for the highly sought-after prospect.
Williams, who has been seen as a once-in-a-generation talent, had a dip in form last season after an outstanding 2022, but this doesn’t seem to have dented his appeal. Before the 2022 college football season, he moved from Oklahoma to USC with head coach Lincoln Riley and quickly proved himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the game. In just his second year at college, he scored 42 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
In 2023, Williams achieved 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns to five picks, but the Trojans, with an 8-5 record, didn’t meet high preseason expectations. The 22-year-old has drawn favourable comparisons to two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes due to his ability to dodge pressure and make impressive throws from unexpected angles.
In an emotional Instagram post, Williams shared: “Since I was 10, all I ever wanted to do was to play football. From the 5:30 am breakfast club workouts to the long nights watching film, through every win and every hard loss, my love and passion for the game never wavered.
“The gratitude I feel for the opportunity to play this game grows every day. But the journey would be empty without the people who have supported and loved me.
To my teammates – my brothers – these last few years have been the most fun I have had playing the game. I will forever cherish the time we spent together. To my coaches and everyone else in the USC football ecosystem, thank you for your unmatched support and commitment to helping me and the entire team be the best we could be.
To my family, friends, and mentors: your love, your guidance, and your willingness to push me to reach my potential, not only as a football player but as a man, has led me to this day, and I am eternally thankful to each of you.
“I want to thank Sooner Nation for embracing a kid who came to you from Washington D.C. I cherished my time at OU. To my Trojan family, it’s been an honour putting on the cardinal and gold these last two years. I hope I gave you as many good memories as you have given to me. No matter what lies ahead, I will Fight On forever and rep Hornsdown4Life.
“I still have a lot to learn and I’m ready to do whatever it takes. As a kid, I said this is what I was going to do for the rest of my life, but I didn’t work this hard just to reach this point. I will continue my journey to make that little kid proud of the man I will be for many years to come.
I’m excited for the future, and I am officially declaring for the NFL Draft.”
During his time at college, Williams scored an impressive 93 touchdowns and only 14 interceptions, throwing for over 10,000 yards. He had a winning record as a starter with 23 wins and 10 losses. Williams also managed to score 21 times in his two seasons at USC, showing off his ability to make big plays; he had 10 games where he scored five or more touchdowns. According to ESPN Stats and Info, only Mahomes had more in the College Football Playoff era.
Now that Williams has declared for the NFL Draft, all eyes are on the Chicago Bears. Their general manager, Ryan Poles, has admitted feeling the pressure ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Bears, who also have the ninth overall pick, hold the top selection following a trade last year that allowed the Carolina Panthers to pick quarterback Bryce Young first.
Even though the Bears might be tempted to draft a rising star like Williams, they could consider trading down, given that Fields is on offer. They picked Fields in 2021, and while he hasn’t taken them to victory yet, his steady progress as a dynamic quarterback is promising.
