Analyst Says Caleb Williams Is Starting To Mirror A Legend No One Expected

Experts thought they had a clear vision of who Caleb Williams would become once he got to the NFL. Most saw him as the next version of Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, or Russell Wilson. He’d mary an elite arm and accuracy with outstanding mobility, allowing him to make magic outside the pocket every week. After all, he’d done that for two years at USC, winning a Heisman in the process. Chicago Bears fans were hopeful they would get some version of that, but years of pain at quarterback left them cautious.

In the end, their skepticism was well-founded, but not for the reasons they expected. It turns out Williams hasn’t become the otherworldly improviser everybody expected. Sure, he can still do that. He’s made a few ridiculous plays to get out of trouble and find a chunk gain down the field. The surprise comes from his rapid ascent as a pocket passer. His processing speed and ability to deliver within the offensive structure are way more advanced. Top analyst Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports believes he is starting to resemble a different all-time great.

Somebody no one saw coming.

Caleb Williams drew lofty comparisons as a prospect, from Aaron Rodgers to Patrick Mahomes to my own personal high-end projection of Drew Brees. His combination of arm talent and creation was mouthwatering for talent evaluators who are desperate for high-end play at the position…

…It’s not just that arm talent that leads to the excitement about what he can become. Williams’ polish at the position is also advanced. He is methodical and a clean operator. The extended plays and loop-the-loops that he performs on defenders will be clipped for highlights and have me comparing him to the Brazilian soccer legend Garrincha. And that ability to create out of structure is so important to have at quarterback in the modern NFL.

But while it’s important, modern QB play requires consistent operation when things do go as scripted. And Williams’ intelligence, polish and capability of operating within the confines of the offense, and to set up what those confines are on a given play, is what makes his long-term outlook so exciting.

Caleb Williams being another Brees is terrifying for the NFL.

That is because the Bears QB has one thing the future Hall of Famer doesn’t: mobility. The one thing that held Brees back was being mostly stationary in the pocket. He rarely scrambled since he had little speed. Just imagine if he could do all that stuff and also had the option of using his 4.5-speed to pick up the occasional first down on the ground. Defenses would’ve waved the white flag before the games even started. The fact both players are similar in stature and temperament seems rather fitting.

In the end, Caleb Williams aims to be the best Caleb Williams, not the next Mahomes, Rodgers, or Brees. He wants to carve his own path. That is the right mindset. Focusing on legacy means nothing. The only way he will ever get his respect in this league is by winning. That is why Williams says the same thing every time he is asked. Numbers don’t matter. He only cares about the final score. Brees was able to drag New Orleans out of the Dark Ages. Maybe Caleb can do the same for Chicago.