Joel Klatt agrees with notion of Caleb Williams is a 'more refined' Patrick Mahomes

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt sees a special talent in Caleb Williams, as in, Patrick Mahomes-level right now at USC.

Talking with Colin Cowherd on The Herd, the host said Williams was a more refined version of Mahomes at this point in college football. The former Colorado quarterback agreed with that take.

Klatt first told a story about Mahomes before draft night when he was selected by the Chiefs.

“Well, there were questions, remember Mahomes wasn’t even the number one overall pick,” Klatt said. “I’ve told you this story before but what was very fascinating about that draft … Jon Gruden was still working at ESPN … He’s like ‘what do you think about Mahomes’ … I thought I had the answer. No one succeeded from that offense, that air raid offense. So I don’t know man.

“‘He retreats a lot, I just don’t see it.’ That’s what I tell him. I said I don’t see it. What an idiot I am. This is what he said, ‘all of us who touched Brett Favre, that’s what we see. Andy’s taking him tonight.’ And I was like, whoa … that’s crazy.”

Williams won the Heisman Trophy last season, something Mahomes did not do at Texas Tech. While that’s not indicative of success in the NFL, it’s a start.

Caleb Williams the next Patrick Mahomes?

Williams is also in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in 2024. Heck, if he wins a second Heisman Trophy along with a conference title at minimum, it’ll be hard to pass on him with the first selection.

“Well, here’s the deal, Caleb Williams doesn’t have those same question marks that Mahomes did (in college),” Klatt said. “Because the offense is more NFL in terms of what Lincoln Riley does. His production is off the charts. His ability to scramble and throw the ball down the field to create, to do all of those things athletically, have the arm angle and the touch and the power with his arm that only Mahomes had in college. 

“Like this guy has it all. He’s the best college quarterback I’ve seen in a long time. Maybe ever. You talked about hyperbole before, maybe ever because he is Mahomes, but a better version at this point.”

Last season, Williams tossed for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns, five interceptions, a 66.6% completion percentage, 382 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

But he was pretty much expected to do this at the Division 1 level.

As a member of the Class of 2021, Williams was a five-star recruit out of Washington D.C.’s Gonzaga, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 1 overall prospect in D.C., the No. 2 quarterback in the country and the No. 7 overall prospect in the class.