Former NFL Scout Removes Caleb Williams From Draft Board Due to Latest Decision

Decisions are like footballs and with USC quarterback Caleb Williams’ latest decision not to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine, I am officially removing him from my draft board at First Round Mock ⎯completely.

I’ve seen and heard enough.

I’ll keep the fourth-round evaluation on Williams which reflects his performance on game film over the past two seasons (I’ve evaluated every snap) and how his skillset projects to the NFL. In short, he’s an elite athlete, who’s underdeveloped as a quarterback. That’s not a hot take, it’s the truth (and my end game isn’t clicks, it’s to get a second chance in the NFL).

For starters, his 3.21 second time to throw (PFF) doesn’t translate well to the next level. Bears’ quarterback Justin Fields has the slowest time to throw in the NFL at 3.23 seconds (Next Gen Stats).

We’ll get back to that.

The point of the throwing drill

During my time in pro scouting with the Jets, I had the privilege of attending the Combine four times. It was then I learned about the ‘point of the Combine drills’ from the perspectives of more experienced scouts.

The whole point of quarterbacks throwing at the Combine is to see how they respond to and work with unfamiliar receivers, as opposed to the receivers at their schools they’re previously accustomed to throwing to.

That made sense since rookie quarterbacks are going to have a whole new group of receivers soon to learn and get the timing down with. It’s an audition before teams make commitments in the draft.

Everything at the Combine is the way it is for very specific reasons. The league isn’t just running these drills to see if quarterbacks can throw.

They can watch game film for that.

What could Williams fear?

Sure, it’s possible Williams could fear injuring himself and his draft stock falling as a result (which is concerning because that would mean he is placing himself over the process).

He already is ‘out of structure’ as they come both on and off the field.

Fear of injury at this event could be further substantiated by his decision when he opted out of the Liberty Bowl (where the concern could be he placed himself over his team as the team leader).

There is a bigger concern.

I believe the real reason ⎯he’s afraid of having to throw timing routes to unfamiliar receivers in front of NFL evaluators and decision-makers.

This is what national media, league evaluators, and decision-makers need to drill down on and question him about at the Combine.

Why would he be afraid of that?

His game film is spray-painted with erratic footwork (evidenced by his slow time to throw) and a quarterback’s footwork is foundational in the timing routes receivers run in the NFL.

Three, five, and seven-step quarterback dropbacks in the pocket control the timing of routes between quarterbacks and receivers in the league. This is important as receivers match up against fast, agile, and experienced cornerbacks. It’s how they get open.

I don’t believe Williams trusts the receivers at the Combine. I believe he’s afraid that his ‘footwork’ (and inconsistent downfield ball placement on game film) will be exposed and his draft stock will fall.

Isn’t removing Williams from your board a little drastic?

No. Not at all.

If I’m an NFL General Manager, Williams can be someone else’s problem. This isn’t about season ticket or jersey sales, it’s about winning Super Bowls.

Haven’t other quarterbacks decided not to throw at this event and gone on to have successful careers? Sure, Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow comes to mind.

However, this is different.

I already have a laundry list of red flags I’ve outlined in the evaluation link up above.

This decision coincides with other examples of him putting himself above everything else. I also know from film study what’s likely going on here.

⎯Call it the final football that broke the proverbial camel’s back for this evaluator.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.