Caleb Williams is still drawing a split reaction around the NFL, even after plenty of analysts have started treating the Bears quarterback like a rising star. He’s showing up in a lot of top-10 quarterback rankings, but not everyone is ready to push him that high just yet.
In a recent ranking of the league’s best quarterbacks heading into the season, Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick placed Williams 13th. Their view was a little cooler than the buzz surrounding him, even while acknowledging how far he has come.
“Williams made the sophomore leap many hoped for after the Bears hired Ben Johnson as head coach. “Iceman” led Chicago to its first Divisional Round appearance in 15 years and recorded 37 big-time throws, second among NFL quarterbacks behind league MVP Matthew Stafford.
The cover athlete for Madden NFL 27 is still a bit of a gunslinger, as his negatively graded throw rate ranked 38th at the position. Even so, Williams is trending in the right direction and appears well on his way to living up to the immense expectations that came with being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.”
That’s the tension with Williams right now: the upside is obvious, but the rough edges are still part of the conversation. He’s got the kind of talent that keeps people watching closely, and he’s already built a reputation as one of the more clutch quarterbacks in the league.
Even so, some analysts still see flaws they can’t ignore. He may not crack every top-10 list yet, but the direction is clear enough. Williams is moving forward, and the sense is that more and more teams would take him in a heartbeat.
Whether it’s what he already showed last season or what comes next, the hype around Caleb Williams is not going away. And if this progression holds, this may end up being the lowest he’s ever ranked again.
In Other News...
USCs New Defensive Identity Is Starting To Feel Very Real
Alex VanSumerens move from Michigan State to USC was one of the quieter offseason additions, but it fits neatly into the kind of defensive makeover the Trojans have been trying to sell around the program. At Big Ten Media Days, the lineman talked about what drew him west, pointing first to the coaching staff, then to USCs tradition, and then to the culture he says has taken shape under Lincoln Riley. For a team trying to convince the rest of the league that its identity is changing, those are the kinds of details that matter.
VanSumeren also described a competitive environment inside the program, one that has pushed him while still making the transition feel welcoming. He said the support from teammates has stood out, which is hardly a small thing for a transfer trying to find his footing in a new locker room. For USC, the larger takeaway is encouraging: the defensive side of the roster is not just collecting bodies, it is beginning to sound like a group that believes in where it is headed. [Read more 🡒]
USC Fall Camp Is Turning Up The Heat On Rising Playmakers
Fall camp is starting to sort out which USC newcomers can push for real roles, and a few names have already begun to separate themselves in practice and scrimmage settings. True freshmen Boobie Feaster and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt have drawn notice for promising early work, while King Miller and Luke Wafle are also among the young players creating enough buzz to keep the coaching staff leaning in. On the other side of the roster, transfer cornerback Williams has been part of the conversation too, as USC keeps evaluating who can help most once the season gets rolling.
For a team still putting pieces together before the opener, those kinds of flashes matter because they can change the depth chart quickly. The coaches have talked about the challenges of transition and what it takes to look ready in camp, and that is where the next few practices will matter most for this group of rising playmakers. The talent is clearly there, but the real question is how much of it will translate when the Trojans stop practicing against each other and start playing for keeps. [Read more 🡒]
Jide Abasiri Is Setting The Tone For USCs New-Look D-Line
Jide Abasiri has spent this offseason doing more than just adjusting to a different spot on USCs defensive front. The junior has embraced a bigger leadership role while moving to the outside of the line more often, a change that asked him to reshape his body and play style for what the Trojans need from him now. Even with the adjustment, he still carries the reputation as one of the strongest players on the roster, which makes his presence especially important for a unit that is trying to come together quickly.
USCs defensive line looks a lot different this year, with returning pieces mixing alongside transfers and freshmen to create more depth and experience than the group had before. In that kind of setting, Abasiris blend of physicality and growing responsibility matters beyond his own snaps. The real question now is how much that expanded role can translate once the Trojans start leaning on this new-look front in games. [Read more 🡒]