Assessing Caleb Williams future ahead of NFL draft declaration deadline

USC quarterback Caleb Williams is regarded by most as a shoo-in to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Yet the former Heisman Trophy winner has not yet declared for the NFL Draft ahead of the January 15 deadline.

The NFL releases its list of the 2024 NFL draft-eligible players on January 19, which as it currently stands would not have the league’s top prospect. Taking that into account, On3’s Andy Staples and Pete Nakos discussed Williams future and possibilities given his current circumstances.

“I still can’t imagine any scenario where he does not declare for the draft, but this year’s been so weird Pete, now I’m open to any possibility,” Staples said.

“Caleb Williams strikes me as the kind of guy who doesn’t want to make a huge deal out of it,” Nakos replied. “So I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t announce and just pops up on the 19th on that list.”

Williams threw for 4,537 yards and scored 52 total touchdowns in 2022 to take home the Heisman Trophy and numerous other national player of the year awards. He followed that with a 2023 season where he threw for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdown passes, and although his production dipped, he’s still regarded by some as the best NFL prospect since Trevor Lawrence or Andrew Luck.

Williams sat out of the Trojans’ Holiday Bowl matchup against Louisville to end the football season, which is typically a strong indicator of a player shifting their focus to the NFL to prepare for the draft. But at the moment, Williams still has a variety of options at his disposal regarding his football future.

Including potentially entering the transfer portal during the spring window that opens on April 16.

“Can you imagine a Heisman Trophy winner essentially on the open market?” Staples asked. “Because obviously he can just stay at USC, and I’m sure Lincoln Riley would be cool with that, he plays very well for Lincoln Riley so that would be fine. But in the ultimate, just chaos scenario, he goes I’m a sit spring practice, I’ll be in the portal, and once I’m in let me know.”

Williams will likely declare for the draft sooner or later and continue his career at the professional level, contrary to Nakos’ sarcastic suggested scenario where he enters the transfer portal in the spring and commits to Michigan.

But in today’s college football landscape, anything can happen.

“We’ll find out though, that’s why I asked you this Pete, because I feel like after the last week you’re open to any suggestion at this point,” Staples said.

“I am very jaded and I am open to anything, yes,” Nakos admitted.