Pete Thamel explains how NFL situation could impact Caleb Williams' 'in-the-moment' draft decision
As he prepares to try and defend his Heisman Trophy, Caleb Williams is the early favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But the USC quarterback said he’s not entirely certain he’ll declare for the draft, telling ESPN’s Pete Thamel it will be an “in-the-moment” decision.
Thamel also wondered if Williams’ potential landing spot could play a role in what he decides to do.
In ESPN analyst Matt Miller’s preseason mock draft, he projected Williams to go to the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 1 overall pick. Thamel said his prior conversations with Williams and his father indicated he planned to enter the draft after his junior year, but noted the change in tone. That adds to the intrigue about where he could go when the draft comes around in April.
“I’ve known Caleb Williams and his dad since high school and they had always said, ‘We want to be three-and-done and we want to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Draft,'” Thamel said Friday on College Football Live. “He was saying this in 2019 when college was still, he didn’t even know where he was gonna go to school. So when I talked to Caleb last week, I said, ‘Hey, you’re right here on the precipice of what you always wanted. Is everything still in line?’ And he kind of pumped the brakes a little bit. He said, ‘You know what? It’s gonna be an in-the-moment decision. I want to see if I can accomplish everything that I want to accomplish in college. I want to see what my goals are.’
“And there’s also a notion, too, that they can see where he could go, right? Like that’s at least possible. You saw Arizona projected there. Is that the best situation? So he definitely said it’s gonna be an in-the-moment decision, which will be interesting and something to follow as the NFL season plays out [and] as the college season plays out.”
Williams is looking to become the first two-time Heisman Trophy winner since Archie Griffin did it for Ohio State. He put up monster numbers a year ago after transferring to USC to re-join forces with Lincoln Riley, totaling 4,537 passing yards, 382 rushing yards and 52 combined touchdowns.
It’s shaping up to be a “special” year for Williams and the Trojans.
“Going in year three? It’s pretty special,” Williams said. “We’ve got a special team this year. It was a special team last year. But, this year, it’s a special year for myself and for this team.”