Red Flags on Caleb Williams

USC quarterback (QB) Caleb Williams just hoisted another red flag. There seems to be more and more popping up each week.

Why does this matter?

Every piece of information in the NFL Draft process is a piece of a prospect’s puzzle. While scouts go to practices, talk to coaches, and watch game film, they also gather background information on character for team decision-makers to consider. It’s gotten to the point where NFL teams are even scooping a prospect’s social media pages looking for things that might be red flags.

Team personnel do everything they can to be able to successfully project player performance. They also look at what type of person they are bringing in to represent their organization. Obviously, mistakes are still made. That’s because there are just too many variables to account for when it comes to human behavior.

The big thing is nobody can ever 100% predict what fame, fortune, and past influences will really have on a prospect until they are in that moment.

Regardless, believe me when I say this, NFL team owners and executives will be bringing this stuff up in conversation pre-draft about Williams. When a team is considering the potential ‘face of their franchise,’ this stuff has to come up for discussion.

Known red flags on Williams

Per Pro Football Talk NBC Williams has been said to want partial ownership in whichever team selects him in the 2024 NFL Draft. 🚩

While some are saying it’s not true and it’s only a rumor, to date Williams has not come out and publically said it’s not true either.

There is additionally supposedly a shortlist of teams he wants to play for. MSN ran an article three weeks ago listing the Cowboys, Raiders, Vikings, Giants, or 49ers as being the five teams. 🚩

The last time we saw something like this was back in 2017. That’s when UCLA QB Josh Rosen came out predraft in an article by the New York Post and said, “I’d rather be a lower pick at the right team than a higher at the wrong team.” Rosen went on to play for six teams and now he’s out of the league. He became a bust.

Williams painting expletives on his fingernails in the Notre Dame and Utah games in 2022 is concerning. It brings up the discussion of Williams’ decision-making and professional standards. Someone in Williams’ position has children looking to him as a role model. NFL teams will have to ask themselves if they want someone painting messages of this nature on their nails for the world (and their opponents) to see. 🚩

Back-to-back losses against no. 21 Notre Dame and no. 14 Utah? 🚩

Why is this a concern?

How a prospect does against higher-level competition is a consideration. The fact he is struggling when the pressure is highest prior to the draft is also a valid concern. If he can’t defeat higher-ranked college teams, how will he perform on an NFL franchise that likely had a losing record in 2023 against much faster defenders and more complex defensive schemes at the next level? 🚩

Athlon Sports reported, “It appears Williams didn’t get up from the bench to go and shake hands with Utah football players.” 🚩

Then there is this. Williams’ attitude towards a Notre Dame fan. How will NFL teams feel about this response and his body language? 🚩

Entitlement?

Entitlement is a trait where the subject feels that they deserve special treatment. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “The feeling that you have the right to do or have what you want without having to work for it or deserve it, just because of who you are,” is the definition of entitlement.

If these red-flag rumors about Williams wanting partial ownership in an NFL team and there are only certain teams he’ll play for (again that Williams is not denying either) are indeed true, the ‘entitlement’ trait is something decision-makers will have to look at and weigh.

Conclusion

Everything I have presented to you has reliable sources. It’s my job to present the information.

They say a ‘picture is worth a thousand words,’ and the below video footage of Williams’ body language after the loss to Utah is what we are left with. Putting an NFL helmet on him likely doesn’t change who he is, and we need to pay attention. More importantly, NFL teams that are considering him need to be paying attention.

Every piece of credible information is useful in the evaluation process.

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.