Caleb Williams’ stock in this college football season appears to have taken a hit.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Caleb Williams, has long held the position as the top prospect for the 2024 NFL Draft. The USC quarterback has been widely projected as the potential No. 1 overall pick should he declare for the draft next year. However, recent developments indicate a shift in the consensus, with speculations of a decline in his draft stock.
Dane Brugler, a respected draft analyst for The Athletic, has made a significant adjustment by moving Williams down to third place on his draft board. He might be the first prominent evaluator to remove him from the coveted top spot.
Like I wrote back in July for my quarterback preview, the gap between USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye is “razor-thin.” Both are dynamic prospects, and the league will be split on who deserves the QB1 designation. But then there is Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., who might be most-deserving of the “best prospect” tag for this draft class.
There are 17 new names in this version of the draft board, and four positions (wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback, offensive tackle) make up 70 percent of the list — including 10 wide receivers.
Brugler currently ranks UNC quarterback Drake Maye at the No. 1 spot, with Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. occupying the second position. While this doesn’t necessarily imply that Caleb Williams won’t be selected first overall, Brugler’s reputation as an analyst, coupled with his access to insider information, lends credibility to the shift in rankings.
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It’s important to note that Williams isn’t having a poor season for the Trojans. He has thrown for 2,646 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, in addition to scoring nine touchdowns with his legs. Nevertheless, he has faced criticism for his demeanor and body language on the field, as well as for occasionally attempting overly ambitious plays instead of targeting open receivers.
Drake Maye’s exceptional performance this season is undeniable. Yet, it remains a challenge to envision an NFL team in need of a quarterback with the No. 1 pick passing on Caleb Williams. As such, Williams still remains a strong candidate to be the first quarterback selected in the upcoming draft.
