Caleb Williams negatively compared to Russell Wilson ahead of draft

In an article published on Tuesday, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic revealed that some NFL personnel fear that USC quarterback Caleb Williams is similar to Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Russell Wilson in less-than-desired ways. 

"He gives off a Russell Wilson vibe with this lack of self-awareness," an unnamed offensive assistant coach told Feldman about Williams. "'I’m kind of above everybody.' Not bad. Just a little where you want to see him be a more regular guy. Are you gonna be able to coach him or is he gonna be more worried about his marketing team?"

Wilson earned nine Pro Bowl nods with the Seattle Seahawks from 2012 through the 2021 season but flopped badly with the Denver Broncos across the past two campaigns before they showed him the door last month. The one-time Super Bowl champion received criticism during his Denver tenure for, among other things, being a "poser" and an alleged inauthentic presence in the locker room.

While most expect the Chicago Bears will happily make Williams the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft this Thursday night, many have voiced concerns related to his personality. Some have suggested that LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels, the presumed second selection of the draft, "loves football more" than Williams. Others have wondered if "Williams' interest in the business of football" will impact his ability to succeed at the highest level. 

"Nobody is saying straight-up negative things (about Williams)," a quarterbacks coach told Feldman. "You kinda have to decode the compliments and there is enough you see that concerns you. After the game, everybody else is shaking hands and you’re seated on the bench by yourself. You can be a superstar player on a team and have all your side stuff, and then you’re going down that Russell Wilson path, where you’re gonna have your own team and your own this and that. I just hear there’s a lot going on." 

Dan Pompei of The Athletic shared that some evaluators have criticized Williams "for painting his fingernails and crying in his mother’s arms in the stands after USC lost to Washington." One scout expanded on such takes while speaking with Feldman.

"I’m worried that he leans into this identity/persona of just being a little bit weird and different, and that detracts from his ability to relate to his teammates and just be about the team and work on winning," that scout remarked. The scout also said he isn't sure about Williams' "wiring" and about "how motivated [Williams] is to just win." 

As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Williams as the overall betting favorite at -20000 odds to be the draft's first pick. If nothing else, Williams should have plenty of bulletin board material for the start of his NFL career.