Caleb Williams is facing colossal expectations. The likely No. 1 NFL draft pick isn't scared.
Jarrett BellINDIANAPOLIS –ÌýHe’sÌýthe face of thisÌýupcoming NFL draft, the presumed No. 1 overall pick with a bullet.ÌýCaleb WilliamsÌýsurely looked and sounded like the part on Friday,ÌýwhenÌýtheÌýNFL’sÌýnext can’t-miss quarterbackÌýprospectÌýmet with dozens of reporters during theÌýleague’s annualÌýscouting combineÌýand unleashed, well, a stream of consciousness.Ìý
What ifÌýhe’sÌýnot drafted with the top pick?Ìý
Good, at least somebody asked the question.Ìý
“It’s not a thought in my mind,†Williams responded.Ìý
Go ahead, check the box for confidence on your draft scorecard.Ìý
NFL STATS CENTRAL: Ìýthat would be parlayed into more layers of support toÌýprovideÌýthe newÌýquarterback.Ìý
In other words, let theÌýgreat expectationsÌýroll.Ìý
Williams, 22, feels it and is hardly scrambling out of the pocketÌýwhen considering the weight that will come as the centerpiece for a franchise thatÌýhas a tradition of floundering quarterbacks. He envisions making such a mark thatÌýhe’sÌýdelved deep into learning about twoÌýWindy CityÌýsports icons – Michael Jordan and Walter Payton.Ìý
NothingÌýmay sayÌýmore about embracing expectations quite like that.Ìý
Asked toÌýponderÌýbecoming the football version of Jordan in Chicago, Williams said, “I’dÌýsay anywhere I go, that is my standard. That isÌýwhat I play for as you all saw.Ìý
“IÌýdon’tÌýplay for fame. IÌýdon’tÌýplay for money. IÌýdon’tÌýplay for jewels and things like that. I want to goÌýout there and win as many games as possible. Be the best that I can...I think I can reach certain points like that.â€Ìý
Williams, as expected, refused toÌýparticipateÌýin the combine workouts and quarterback drills. So, there will be no fresh comparisons to othersÌýin a loaded quarterback class, at least when it comes to the so-called “underwear Olympics.†That, too, reflects how it is often done with theÌýtop prospects in a draft (Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison, Jr., is another notable non-participant in drills).Ìý
“I didn’t feel the need to go out and throw,†said Williams, who, in the fashion of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson,Ìýwon’tÌýhire an agent.Ìý
“I played around 30-something games, I believe. Go ahead and watch real live ball of me and see how I am as a competitor.â€Ìý
It was more stunning, though, that Williams declined to engage in the extensive medical evaluations that are part of the combine process. The event was actually established during the 1980s as aÌýcost-effective means for the medicalÌýstaffsÌýof every NFL team to assemble while examining the top prospects. The workouts and interviewsÌýcame after that.Ìý
Well, Williams has bucked that bit of history andÌýprovidedÌýanother example of how some players, at least the starÌýplayers, are flexing more leverage.Ìý
It’sÌýunclear whetherÌýhe’sÌýthe first healthy prospect to refuse to undergo the battery of medical tests. ButÌýhe’sÌýsurely not the first who might be annoyed by theÌýpoking and prodding from so many hands during the process.Ìý
“I’ll be doingÌýtheÌýmedicalÌýstuff,†Williams said. “Just not here in Indy.ÌýI’llÌýbe doingÌýthem at the team interviews. Not all 32 teams can draft me. There is only one of me. So, the teams that I go to for my visits, thoseÌýteams will have the medical, andÌýthat’sÌýit.â€Ìý
The showcase date for USC’s pro day is March 20. After that, Williams will undoubtedly visit andÌýpresumably workÌýout for teams at the top of the draft – the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots currently hold the second and third choices after the Bears.Ìý
While at the combine, WilliamsÌýengagedÌýin interviews withÌýseveralÌýteams, including those with the top three picks.ÌýÌý
Surely, his early impressions of the Bears' brain trust, headed by Poles and coach MattÌýEberflus, are significant enough. Even when the block of time for such combine interviews is in the 10-minute range.ÌýÌý
“They wereÌýawesome," Williams said. "I spoke more about all and things like that because the interviews are so short. So, it was more about them getting to know me, getting to test my mental, what I know, the base things of what it takes to be a quarterback in the NFL."
The Bears will have a new offensive coordinator, with Shane Waldron lured from Seattle. That dynamics of that potential relationship will be crucial. Yet that, too, will have to wait and play out.
"Ten minutes is difficult to figure out if they're going to be able to develop you," Williams said. "I enjoyed the meeting. It was a good meeting, but 10 minutes or so, it's pretty difficult."
Pragmatic enough. Yet Williams doesn't hesitate to share certain impressions of the team that landed the top pick from the woeful Carolina Panthers as part of a trade in 2023.
"The Bears were a 7-10 team," he said, alluding to Chicago's finish. "That is pretty good for a team that has the first pick. And they've got a good defense. They've got good players on offense, and it's pretty exciting if you can go into a situation like that."
Any message to the fans of Chicago?
"I'd say the player and person they'd be getting is a person that cares for his teammates," Williams said. "Some of y'all may have seen...I try to take care of all my guys, no matter if you're fourth on the depth chart or the star player. The other part is I'm a fierce competitor, as you may have seen after some games."
He'd better be as the top pick in the draft. And as the ramp-up to the draft intensifies, Williams will brace himself for various forms of nitpicking, rumors and innuendos that, fair or not, have become part of the process.
Along the way, he wants to find out something about the Bears, too.
"Just do you want to win," he said. "That is it."
Spoken like a real No. 1.