NFL Draft Analyst Colton Edwards Endorses Caleb Williams

The NFL Draft is less than a week away and here is my updated USC quarterback Caleb Williams report. We take one final look at the prospect who was responsible for plenty of conversation this draft cycle.

Williams was a four-star recruit by ESPN and a five-star recruit by 247 Sports coming out of high school.

He eventually committed to Oklahoma before transferring to USC in 2022.

During his three-year career, he went 735/1,099 (66.9%) and contributed 10,082 yards (9.2 AVG), 93 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

2023 Summary:

Williams had a relatively inconsistent season, playing with all eyes and ears on him. He threw for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions off 266/388 (68%). He received no awards, unlike his 2022 season.

Overview:

6-Foot-1, 214 Pounds

Williams Combine Results

Colton Edwards Grade: First-Round

Previous Colton Edwards Williams’ Scouting Report (First-Round Grade)

2023 Film Evaluated: Arizona, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA and Utah.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Williams undoubtedly has elite arm talent. Contributes impressive athleticism with angle freedom to adjust for any throwing window with good velocity. Displays a quick zip on the ball through all levels of the field (short, intermediate, and deep). Able to squeeze the ball into tight coverages including zone or breaks on man. Solid decision-maker on RPOs with a quick transition from snap to base. Good anticipation and ball placement to lead his receiver in one-on-one deep ball situations. Showcases comfortability inside and outside of the pocket with good awareness, demonstrating a solid use of his legs. Solid at sustaining drives due to his playmaking ability to create on third downs, as well as in critical situations to keep the sticks moving. Natural competitor willing to put his team on his back in crucial moments, good or bad. Excels in the red zone with a 46:1 TD-to-INT ratio.

Weaknesses: Inconsistent mental processing to progress through multiple reads. Hesitant on initial to second reads. His hero-ball mentality creates indecisiveness and inconsistent decision-making. He can also hold onto the ball too long, resulting in sacks or pressures. Adequate footwork inside the pocket, but sometimes fails to reset his feet inside or outside the pocket, resulting in errant throws.

Summary

Williams is one of the most efficient and athletic creators at the quarterback position in recent memory. His ability to evade pressure, escape the pocket, and launch the football downfield with accuracy reminds me of a future Hall of Famer. His fluidity, change of direction, and poise are impressive with his effortless off-platform throwing ability. With that being said, his processing at times is questionable and could be a concern at the next level due to more complex defenses and having to learn a more detailed offense compared to USC. On top of that, the lack of under-center experience also causes concern. He fits into a modern RPO spread system to allow him to get the ball out quicker.

Who will he remind us of?

Former Green Bay Packers and current New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 10x Pro-Bowler, 4x MVP, 4x All-Pro and 2010 Super Bowl Champion.

Colton just graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science at the United States Sports Academy. He has previous coaching experience as a former offense and defensive line coach at a local high school. While performing those duties, he also worked at PFF(Pro Football Focus) for a brief moment of time. He currently develops scouting reports here at firstroundmock.com. He aspires to become an NFL Scout/GM in the future.