A Former NFL Scout Nukes Caleb Williams From Orbit With the Most Savage Review of a Top Prospect These Eyes Have Ever Seen

Jayne Kamin-Oncea. Getty Images.

Those of us blessed to be Patriots fans in the 21st century are not accustomed to turning our attention to the NFL draft before we've even hit Groundhog Day. But since we're getting more used to it with each passing ghastly, unendurable year and our starting quarterback has already entered the "Live long enough to see yourself become the villain" phase of his hero's journey in less than three years, I can spare the time. 

As fate - along with the No. 3 pick - would have it, the draft board is as clear as it's been since the Patriots had the top pick 31 years ago. The early mocks and Big Boards differ slightly from the 2nd pick on. Though it appears that there's an unanimous consent on Caleb Williams at No. 1. In spite of a questionable public display or two:

Advertisement

As far as I can see, the debate isn't whether Williams will be first off the board, but whether or not you can consider him a "generational talent" or just super good:

Yahoo - Plenty of the discourse around USC quarterback and NFL prospect Caleb Williams is whether or not he's the "generational talent" scouts and pundits made him out to be heading into the 2023 NCAA season.

And while skepticism remains to some, ESPN's Pete Thamel reports scouts don't see it that way.

"The debate surrounding Williams in scouting circles isn't whether he's the No. 1 pick in the draft, but rather whether he is a once-a-decade type prospect or a generational one," Thamel wrote.

And even that conversation is just a question of semantics. Like wondering whether Neo is really The One, or just the guy who's going to bring down the Matrix. Either way, he's the guy everyone wants learning instant Kung Fu and fighting the agents.

Same with Williams. It's agreed. By unanimous decree. Across the board. With all precincts reporting. He's getting all 538 electoral votes. 

Hold on … I'm hearing now that there is one vote against. It is not unanimous. We have at least one protest vote. A lone juror holding out. A single dissenting opinion. And holy cats, is it dissenting. 

This account is run by a former scout for the Jets who's claim to fame seems to be getting Colin Cowherd to eat crow on his love of Trey Lance:

And ranked Brock Purdy his second best QB prospect while comparing him to Rich Gannon:

Advertisement

Make of that what you will. Just remember that making it that far means someone was impressed with his scouting aptitude enough to give him a full time salary while draft nerds like me are watching highlight reels on YouTube, squandering hours watching the East-West Shrine and Reese's Bowl, and getting everything wrong. And here's what this guy has to say about Williams. Put on some SPF 50; it's about to get blistering on here:

The full text: 

This time of the year is about teams doing background work and trying to get inside prospects’ heads. This is part of the evaluation process.

I believe any team considering Caleb Williams needs to think about the high risk from the neck up based on Williams actions, conduct and words that he’s demonstrated.

From painting his fingernails with obscenities aimed at opponents to refusing to shaking hands with Utah and refusing to speak to reporters after the UCLA game, Williams has given NFL owners and decision makers a lot to talk about.

Sportsmanship?

He also made a public statement after the Notre Dame game about a fan being like a sheep and referred to himself as a lion.

Will be paint some obscenity about the 49ers on his fingernails?

Will he jump up into the stands again?

Will he put down fans publicly when the microphone 🎤 is in his face after a loss and he’s feeling frustrated?

During a press conference he said, “I want to go home and cuddle with my dog and watch some shows,” (USA TODAY)

What will he say in NFL press conferences?

How will he represent his team and city?

What’s he going to say or do next?

That’s the question.

He’s much closer to Johnny Manziel than Patrick Mahomes on the spectrum. I mean that with respect and sensitivity, but that’s what I would say if I was a scout sitting in the pre-draft meetings.

What I find incredible is that more people aren’t talking about this.

Do we not care about him?

We witnessed Caleb Williams having a mental breakdown right before our eyes crying uncontrollably in his mother’s arms. To me —as a former NFL Scout, he’s the most mentally fragile player I’ve ever evaluated, quarterback or otherwise.

He has little experience dealing with adversity even by his own admission:

“I’ve never been in this situation, where I’m 7-5 and there are no playoff hopes at the end of the season. I’m dealing with it emotionally, dealing with it spiritually and physically.” (Los Angeles Times)

And now we think he’s going to go into a team with a losing record and turn it around?

He’s 2-9 against ranked college teams on top of it all— and now he’s going to do it in a league that’s only faster and more complex?

Make it make sense.

The mental pressure and expectations will be unbearable from day one. Training camp will look more like a rock concert. Every practice throw will be followed by the paparazzi. Completion percentages in practices, all of it will become a public spectacle.

The expectations are he’s Superman, but in reality he’s 22 years old.

Statistically and on game film Williams regressed in 2023.

This is not headed in the right direction 📉

I get team fan bases wanting to win and the mainstream media feeding off that hope, but underneath that we have to care about Caleb Williams as a person more than anything. I personally feel for the young man.

He’s in an impossible situation.

Team owners and front office personnel have to consider this high risk.

Watch his post game press conferences on YouTube over the last six weeks of the season (before UCLA). Watch his body language and his eyes. Listen to his tone. Watch how he carries himself. His energy level is lower. He looks aloof at times. Look at his posture on the bench after the loss to Utah all slumped over. He’s giving us the signs. Even his team responded with more spirit and enthusiasm when QB Miller Moss made his first start in his absence in the Holiday Bowl.

The Trojans were heard reportedly shouting “We a team now! We a team now!” after the upset against Louisville.

Quote by Miller Moss. Read between the lines.

“I don’t think it’s as much about me as it is about the team,” Moss said after the game. “The emphasis is really to come together as a team. No ego, no individual. It’s all about us as a team bonding together, and that’s what we are to focus on moving forward.”

This isn’t a one off, Caleb Williams has been sending us warning signs for two seasons.

OK, enough of this beating around the bush. Quit mincing words. Give it to us straight. Tell us what you really think. 

So, apart from the high risk from the neck up, Williams' actions, conduct, words, sportsmanship, obscenities on his fingernails, mental breakdowns, mental fragility, body language, eyes, tone, energy level and aloofness, what's not to like? 

I haven't the first clue whether this guy is just being a contrarian or if he's a sage whose wisdom will be proven in the end. I just know I respect his game. It takes a lot of nerve to go against overwhelming consensus like this. When we're talking about a near-unanimous No. 1 pick and you're giving him a 4th round grade, you're risking a lot. You're like the one critic who hated The Godfather. Or liked The Emoji Movie You're opening yourself up to looking like a genius or really stupid. There's something to admire about that. 

A lot of the early mocks have Jayden Daniels of LSU landing in New England with the 3rd pick. This guy gives him a 3rd round grade, the 6th QB in his ranking just ahead of Williams. And his No. 1 overall QB? Spencer Rattler of South Carolina. Whom I've seen listed as the 8th highest ranked quarterback and getting drafted as low as 99th. 

This is all speculation. Everything is in the eye of the beholder. Your results may vary. But if based on everything I've seen and read about Williams - besides this - is true, here's hoping that Chicago and Washington get scared off and he falls to us at No. 3. I for one will be happy to ignore the warning signs and put my faith in everyone but this former Jets scout.