Caleb Williams is being lauded as a can't-miss talent ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
With his golden arm, dazzling mobility and flair for the dramatic, the USC product has been tipped for greatness since his high school days. He's a Heisman winner, a media darling and one of the most-hyped quarterback prospects in recent memory.
Yet a few red flags could turn franchises away from Williams. Here's a look at the factors that could drop Williams out of the No. 1 spot come April 25.
LIVE: Results and highlights from the 2024 NFL Combine
Caleb Williams red flags, explained
Carl Williams
The 22-year-old quarterback isn't the biggest question mark in his camp. That title belongs to his father Carl, a man who has been preparing his son for an NFL career since childhood.
The elder Williams plays a pivotal role in his son's day-to-day affairs. He even contacted agents to see if Caleb could scoop up a minority ownership stake in whichever team drafted him, per The Athletic. (Aaron Rodgers made a similar request, per Pro Football Talk, but NFL owners voted to ban such a move.)
So even before Caleb Williams takes his first NFL snap, Carl is a controversial figure.
MORE: Caleb Williams compares himself to Aaron Rodgers in NFL Combine press conference
Connected to Carl Williams' control over his son's career is the Caleb's lack of an agent. Carl Williams is wary of agents, The Athletic reported Wednesday, and his son still does not have one as the NFL Draft approaches.
Carl Williams manages many aspects of Caleb's life off the gridiron. And he isn't afraid to offer soundbites about the NFL draft process, his son's business holdings and more. His strong connection to Caleb represents an unknown quantity for NFL teams as they look to gauge Williams as a top prospect.
Perceived character issues
Williams is an extraordinarily talent, but he's also shown a willingness to flout NFL conventions. That independence could be construed as a character issue, a nebulous term that nonetheless can sully draft prospects.
As an example, Williams opted against providing his medical information to all 32 teams during this year's NFL Combine, an unusual step even for prospective No. 1 selections. Williams is believed to be the first combine invitee in league history to decline his medical exams, CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported.
Williams explained his choice while speaking with Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio and Chris Simms at the combine, saying:
The main thing has just been, it was a decision with my family and my team and it really came down to not all 32 teams can draft me. So why give all 32 teams my personal, medical things.
There's nothing there. I played all 30, however, games I played. I've never came off the field unless my helmet came off and a ref took me off.
My thing is: give it to the teams that are going to pursue me. All my visits, I'll be doing medicals but just decided not to do them here.
Here’s Caleb Williams talking about his decision to skip the medical testing at the Scouting Combine. pic.twitter.com/xfKVIh1duX
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 1, 2024
His stance spurns the conventional NFL process. Couple that with a vocal team and it's clear Williams cuts against the grain, which could draw trepidation from some front offices.
On-field concerns
Williams is an elite prospect. He grades out more than favorably when compared to other starting talent across the NFL.
But that doesn't mean he's without faults, though. Some, including ESPN's Dan Orlovsky, questioned whether his listed height and weight — 6ft 1in, 210lbs — are correct. Given the lack of consistent success for undersized QBs who have gone No. 1 overall in recent years — think Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and, most recently, Bryce Young — perhaps Williams' lack of size would give a team pause, especially when compared with the more imposing Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels.
Williams is also known to be a wizard in impromptu situations. When the pocket collapses and he's forced to make a play, he tends to conjure up long-dormant spells to propel his offense towards the promised land, similar to Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, among others.
Can he handle the responsibility when placed in a rigid, unmoving system, however? He wasn't called upon to do that in spades in Lincoln Riley's offense. Given his talent level and impressive skillset, it might prove challenging to rein him in during the opening stages of his career.