Caleb Williams on possibly not being No. 1 pick: 'It's not a thought in my mind'

Former USC star Caleb Williams was bursting with confidence while talking to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine. Asked how he feels about the possibility that he might not be the first pick taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, Williams didn’t stumble. He had an answer ready to go.

“It’s not a thought in my mind, I don’t think that I’m not gonna be No. 1,” the former Heisman Trophy winner said. “I think I’ve put in all the hard work, all the time, effort, energy into being that. I don’t think of a Plan B. That’s kinda how I do things in my life. I don’t think of a Plan B, just stay on Plan A and when things don’t work out, find a way to make Plan A work.”

Williams’ answer is in stark contrast with his Heisman successor Jayden Daniels. The LSU standout was asked a similar question this week at the combine and he insisted it doesn’t matter where in the draft he goes.

“I just want to go to the best situation, if that’s the first pick, if that’s the 32nd pick,” Daniels said Friday. “I’m just blessed overall just to be here. No matter where I hear my name called, I’ll be happy.”

The Chicago Bears, the owners of the first overall pick, are currently the favorites to snag Williams at No. 1 overall. However, some analysts believe Daniels or even Drake Maye could be the first quarterback taken and the first overall pick.

Williams excited with ‘first date’ with Bears

At the NFL Combine, Williams spoke to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, explaining to him that he’s excited about his “first date” with the Bears and dispelling rumors that he may try and force a trade in the NFL Draft.

“A lot stood out, but I think you need to lead with Caleb Williams and the Bears,” Thamel said on SportsCenter. “It’s been the biggest story hovering over this draft since the draft order was set, and Caleb Williams made two things clear to me. He said, one, he’d be excited if he went to the Bears. Now, he [also] said that he’d be excited if the Bears traded him and he went anywhere else, but he said he was open to Chicago.

“He was excited for his first date with the Bears, as they’ll be one of the teams that he meets with here. He talked about loving Michael Jordan, even deep-dish pizza. He’s studied Walter Payton on YouTube. So, there was an openness from Caleb Williams.”

Williams also praised the Bears, saying, “They have a talented team, a talented offense and defense. For anyone to be in that situation, I think they’d be excited.”

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.