The father of top 2024 NFL draft prospect Caleb Williams said the USC Trojan quarterback could return to school next season to avoid a “worst possible situation” to begin his pro career.
Carl Williams told GQ for a feature on his son that the drafting system is “completely backwards.” USA TODAY Sports noted these comments in a separate piece.
The junior signal-caller is draft-eligible after this season. Many presume Williams is going to be the odds-on favorite to be picked first in next year’s draft. The last two Heisman winners (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray) coached by USC head coach Lincoln Riley have each gone first in the draft.
“The funky thing about the NFL draft process is, he’d almost be better off not being drafted than being drafted first,” Carl Williams said. “The system is completely backwards … The way the system is constructed, you go to the worst possible situation. The worst possible team, the worst organization in the league — because of their desire for parity — gets the first pick. So it’s the gift and the curse.”
Williams has franchise quarterback potential and could turn an organization around. At some point, he will have to bet on himself to be able to do it, regardless of who might wind up selecting him.
We will see what Williams does in the 2023 season for the Trojans, setting the scene for an intrigue-rich 2024.
Update: USC star QB Caleb Williams is willing to stay in school if he doesn't want to play for the team with the first pick in the draft.
Caleb's father, Carl Williams thing said that his son could stay in USC for an extra year if he doesn't like the environment of the team… https://t.co/vhPfLKoGFw pic.twitter.com/OdQ0jGDiD0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 6, 2023
Caleb Williams returning to USC would be a $78 million dollar or more mistake.
I’ll explain:
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) September 6, 2023
Check out our Pac-12 football predictions roundtable for the 2023 season.