Caleb Williams NFL Draft Scouting Report

Size:

Height: 6’1″ | Weight: 215 lbs

Accomplishments:

2022 Heisman Trophy Winner • 2022 Unanimous First Team All-American • 2022 Walter Camp Player of the Year • 2022 AP Player of the Year • 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Year • USC Single-Season Passing Record 

“Caleb Williams is a dual-threat quarterback that has the arm talent to make throws to all levels of the field accurately while also making game-changing plays with his legs.”

Strengths:

• Arm talent to make every throw  
• Accurate/velocity to fit the ball in tight windows 
• Athleticism to escape pocket and make off-script plays
• Turn potentially negative plays into positive outcomes 
• Physical tools to be an X-Factor QB 

Concerns:

• Takes chances forcing throws into coverage 
• Relies on athleticism to beat pressure 
• Accuracy on short throws due to lower-body mechanics 

In-play Film Analysis:

Caleb Williams operates in a Lincoln Riley RPO/vertical passing offense that uses quick game while also taking shots down the field. On RPO-designed plays, Williams has shown the ability to execute the mechanics of the RPO flawlessly, quickly being able to get the snap, set his feet, and get the ball out of his hands. Williams has shown that he can make throws from all platforms and arm angles to get the ball out accurately and timely. 

Building off of the RPO-action are vertical routes that Williams has shown he has the arm strength and velocity to consistently hit down the field.  Skinny posts, wheel routes, deep ins, and go routes are all routes that Williams is confident in and consistently hits accurately.  

An underrated part of Williams’ skill set is his athleticism and how he can use it to make positive plays utilizing his legs as both a runner and also to extend passing plays to pick up big yards down the field. As a passer, Williams does a great job of evading pressure by showcasing an element of elusiveness and upper-body strength to shrug both defensive linemen and blitzers off of him, escape the pocket, and then being able to locate a receiver down the field and deliver an accurate pass. Williams’ escapability is a big part of his game when it comes to making big plays down the field and his ability to turn broken plays into net-positive plays is a key element of what he offers as a prospect. 

As a runner, Williams is an underrated athlete that can make game-changing plays when he decides to tuck the football and run on passing plays and QB-designed runs. Williams shows elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field while also having an element of power to his running style where he can be difficult to bring down at times with arm tackles. 

While Williams has many high-level elements to his game there are still things that can be improved upon. As a passer, Williams appears to prefer the deep shot and big chunk plays, which results in him turning down the easy throws in the progression. That causes him to hold onto the football too long, causing a potential negative play for the offense. Williams also goes through moments of inconsistency with accuracy with short routes which appear to be attributed to lower-body mechanics—this is fixable. Lastly, different variances of zone defenses force Williams to throw the ball into coverage on short, intermediate, and deep throws, which can result in turnovers. 

Overall, Williams takes risks with the football playing out of structure which often results in positive plays for the offense, but there are times when playing in structure and taking the easy throws could be beneficial.

Prospect Projection: Day 1 — Rare, All Pro

Written By: Keith Sanchez

Last Updated: May 30, 2023

Exposures: Oregon State (2022), Washington State (2022), Utah (2022), Utah CC (2022), Notre Dame (2022), Tulane (2022)

Caleb Williams’ NFL Draft Scouting Report will be updated by Draft Network throughout the season. Add him to your big board here.