This isn’t my first rodeo. So I’m not freaking out about USC quarterback Caleb Williams not declaring for the NFL Draft yet. But because of Williams’ collegiate résumé, his status as football’s top draft-eligible quarterback, and the Chicago Bears being in a position to draft him, Williams not declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft is going to raise some eyebrows.
In a Twitter thread reporting on that and some other oddities surrounding Caleb Williams’ situation, The Athletic’s Kalyn Kahler brings up the reminder:
It’s a rare occasion where something not happening is a story. No, it’s not on the man-bites-dog scale. But it could get there depending on how things shake out over the next few days.
Don’t worry about Caleb Williams’ draft status until you have to
This seems to be a common thing that happens at least once a year ahead of the draft. A high-profile player drags their feet and doesn’t declare until late in the process. We saw it last year with Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. And before Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. declared for the draft on Thursday, there was chatter about how he hadn’t declared yet. For me, it’s not a problem until it’s a problem. And that date won’t be until after January 15. Don’t get me wrong. Monday is a big day. But I’m not going to let something that could happen Monday muck up my Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Now, I might feel differently if Caleb Williams doesn’t declare for the NFL Draft by the deadline. But we can cross that bridge when we get to it.
Because the Bears have the first overall pick, I don’t think I’ll be worrying too much about Williams’ draft intentions. In a hypothetical timeline that has Williams returning to USC, the focus on quarterbacks will shift to North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels. Both players have already made their intentions known to join the NFL Draft. Maye and Daniels are both projected to land in the top 10. And some believe Maye is as worthy (or more!) of being the QB1 of this particular NFL Draft class even if Williams is in it. So even if Williams isn’t in it, this feels like a good draft to be in a spot to take a quarterback.
MORE: Drake Maye Brings a Different Skill Set to the Table (If Bears Decide to Draft a QB)
And if the Bears don’t want to draft a quarterback, they can always pivot to Marvin Harrison Jr. — who declared for the NFL Draft on Thursday:
In either case, stay tuned. Because even if we don’t know the Bears’ plans just yet, what Caleb Williams decides is an important shoe that will soon drop.