USC QB ranked as a better prospect than Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence

Matt Miller of ESPN listed Williams as the best QB prospect over the past five drafts, ranking him above former first-overall picks, such as Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence and Cincinnati's Joe Burrow.

"Every play is successful because he either throws on time and makes it happen. He has that off-script [Patrick] Mahomes factor," an AFC scout said of Williams, via Miller. 

Williams wowed last season, throwing 42 TDs in 14 games, earning first-team All-American honors and winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy. Per OddsChecker, he's favored to win the award again. So the praise is warranted, but is he ahead of Burrow and Lawrence?

Lawrence had a storied career in three seasons at Clemson, leading the Tigers to a national championship and three consecutive college football playoff appearances. Burrow, a 2019 Heisman winner, also won a national title and threw 60 TDs during his final season at LSU.

Williams has yet to lead his team to the CFP, and he's shorter (6-foot-1) than Burrow (6-foot-4) and Lawrence (6-foot-6), which could become a concern at the next level. Plus, Burrow already set a high bar in the NFL. During his second season, he guided the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance in over three decades.

Williams will probably have another excellent season and prove he's the top QB in the 2024 class. Yet pumping the brakes on the 21-year-old is wise since placing him above two franchise centerpieces is rash.