Now that the 2023 NFL season is in the rear view and the scouting combine starts next week, it’s time to give a more critical eye to all the 2024 NFL draft prospects. Of course, that starts with the quarterbacks, and we’ve already done thumbnail scouting reports on Michael Penix Jr., Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy.
We will of course do more detailed scouting reports on all these players as the draft looms nearer, but here’s our quick scouting report on USC’s Caleb Williams, the general consensus No. 1 quarterback (and perhaps the No. 1 prospect) in this class.
In 2023, his second season with the Trojans after one season as a starter at Oklahoma, Williams completed 268 of 394 passes for 30 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 117.4. On throws of 20 or more air yards, Williams completed 34 of 66 passes for 1,342 yards, 15 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating of 124.1. Under pressure, Williams completed 48 of 102 passes for 739 yards, eight touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 81.3. Williams had an absolutely preposterous passer rating of 130.1 when kept clean, so he’ll not only need good pass protection at the next level, but he’ll also need to avoid running himself into less than ideal situations.
As a runner, Williams gained 356 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on 50 carries. He also ran about 50 miles last season in and out of the pocket before he threw the ball last season. As much as we all love active and mobile quarterbacks these days, there are things Williams will have to cultivate and improve upon before all that stuff works hand-in-hand with his abilities as a pure passer.
But if you blitz him? Watch the heck out. Williams completed 93 of 145 passes for 1,394 yards, 15 touchdowns, and two interceptions when opponents brought more than the usual allotment of pass-rushers. Compare that with his 175 completions in 249 attempts for 2,253 yards, 15 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 113.4 when not blitzed, and there’s some of the upside with Williams’ mobile (and occasionally frenetic) style.
Here’s our thumbnail scouting report on Caleb Williams.
PLUSES
— Can make any throw when his upper and lower body are aligned, whether in the pocket or on the move.
— Will work through to his second and third reads even with chaos around him
— Can make all kinds of ridiculous off-platform throws, which both helps and hurts him
— Blitzing him is a bad idea; he had a higher passer rating when blitzed than when not
MINUSES
— Deep-ball accuracy is a mixed bag; he sails a lot of stuff with incomplete mechanics
–Trick-shot stuff is cool, but he needs to refine his throwing base and re-set when on the move.
— Can be a late thrower in the progression; needs to work to take a profit
— Needs to substitute pocket movement for pocket freneticism; this will improve his consistency
Williams will need a good NFL offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach he trusts to shave off the randomness. If that happens, it could get a bit Mahomes-ish out there.
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
PLUSES
— Can make any throw when his upper and lower body are aligned, whether in the pocket or on the move.
— Will work through to his second and third reads even with chaos around him
— Can make all kinds of ridiculous off-platform throws, which… pic.twitter.com/8y9nB93mG6— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) February 21, 2024
