Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL Draft, but the quarterback’s father issued a warning about that scenario Wednesday.
Carl Williams told GQ Magazine that the USC Trojans star could return to school next year if he doesn’t like the team with the No. 1 pick.
The funky thing about the NFL draft process is, he’d almost be better off not being drafted than being drafted 1st,” Carl Williams said. “The system is completely backwards. The way the system is constructed, you go to worst possible situation, worst possible team, worst organization in the league — because of their desire for parity — gets the 1st pick. So it’s the gift and the curse.”
It’s not the first time a star quarterback has threatened or outright refused to play for a team with the No. 1 pick. John Elway and Eli Manning both balked at playing for a team they didn’t like.
But Williams’ situation is a bit different. In the NIL era, he can make good money staying at USC and waiting for a different team. The downside to that is NIL money is not NFL-type money, and he’d be delaying his second, more lucrative NFL contract by a year.
NFL fans aren’t sure whether or not Williams has a good plan.