Mel Kiper Jr. details how end of USC’s season impacted view on Caleb Williams in NFL Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. is a big believer in Caleb Williams, but he can see how the end of his collegiate career is giving NFL franchises some pause.

The ESPN NFL Draft analyst still has Williams being picked first overall and in the No. 1 spot on his big board, but he relented that he went from a shoe-in to having some question marks over the last couple of months, like some of his other quarterback counterparts who will be available, including Drake Maye.

“You talk about loving guys. Loved him coming into the year, loved him at the beginning of the year, late in the year, it was the same thing was Drake Maye. It was those head-scratchers. Those what-went-wrong,” Kiper stated. “The Notre Dame game, three interceptions. A couple games later in the year, Cal was one of those. 55%, 57%. He’s not as accurate. So you look at it and see the same thing with Drake, the same thing with Caleb. Just didn’t finish as strong as you think he would. That’s why for Caleb you say, ‘Okay, can Drake challenge him?’ Well, he didn’t. Because of the way he struggled in some games. Caleb has some doubters, but there are people saying, ‘Is he as good as generational? Is he as good as people are saying? Elite of the elite? Is he one of the best quarterback prospects we’ve seen maybe in the last 30 years, right up there with the great ones?’ Because of those struggles from that Notre Dame game on, that opened the door and opened up the debate field as to whether Caleb Williams is special, generational, elite of the elite.

“So right now I really do like him. You say love? Well yeah, No. 1 pick on the board, you love him. I would’ve loved to say exclamation point at the end of that sentence. The fact that he didn’t have that midseason to the end finish, same thing with Drake Maye, is the reason why with both of those quarterbacks, we’re not necessary as guaranteed to say three exclamation points at the end of the write up on Williams and Drake, because they didn’t finish as strong as we would’ve liked.”

So Kiper Jr. still has a lot of love for Williams, but he may not be as much of a shoe-in as originally believed to be the next great NFL quarterback. Still, he’ll have his chance, and the former USC star certainly has the talent to live up to his prior potential, now and into the future.

Time will tell, but one franchise will be elated to have Caleb Williams in their uniform in 2024, and it’ll likely be whoever is picking first overall. Whether that be the Chicago Bears or a different team who trades up for the pick.