NFL Scout Warns Against Comparing Caleb Williams to Patrick Mahomes: “He Has No Fundamentals”

Since his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2022, Caleb Williams’ stardom has been on the rise. Despite a less-than-stellar 8-5 season with the University of Southern California in 2023, his standing as the draft’s premier talent remains unshaken. However, as anticipation mounts, comparing Williams to icons like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or even the latest Rookie of the Year, CJ Stroud, seems like a bit of a stretch. At least that’s what an NFL insider thinks.

Merril Hoge, a former scout, and Steelers’ RB voiced concerns to DailyMail, highlighting Williams’ occasional carelessness. Hoge said, “He’s sloppy with the ball… He has no fundamentals, sound fundamentals… Does he make some real incredible plays? ‘Yes’ he does. But [the networks] don’t show you all the plays, because it’s some real incredibly bad ones too. It’s on the ground, it’s fumble, it’s a turnover.” Last month Hoge went viral for making a statement on a Chicago radio station and said, “Williams is not special.”

He also warned against making any comparisons between Mahomes and Williams, he said, “Caleb Williams is more elusive than Patrick Mahomes. Does that make him better than Patrick Mahomes? Absolutely not… Caleb Williams has never shown he can play from the pocket clean or dirty… And what he is, what he notoriously does is, he doesn’t execute the play. He holds onto to the ball. Sometimes he’ll throw it, sometimes he won’t. But that inconsistency is not good.”

But why do people compare him to Mahomes in the first place? Jay Gruden, the former Washington Redskins HC, said, “The thing that intrigues you most about Caleb Williams’ ability to step up in the pocket… That’s why people compare him to Patrick Mahomes.”

Yet, skeptics like Hoge argue that Williams’ tendency to hold on to the ball too long, leading to 83 sacks over three seasons, and his reliance on impromptu plays rather than fitting into a structured offense, might be red flags. Hoge further added, “You’re talking about Caleb Williams. What’s everybody thinking? ”Now we got our Patrick Mahomes to make up for the Mitch Trubisky screwup.” Furthermore, contrary to Gruden’s observations, Williams often finds himself backpedaling in the face of defensive pressure, a maneuver seen as a strategic misstep for a QB.

However, some differ in opinion from Hoge. According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, an AFC regional scout has described the Trojan QB as a player similar to Aaron Rodgers. The scout said, “To me, he’s peak-era Aaron Rodgers. They way he moves in the pocket to create passing windows and then, boom! He’s thrown a no-looker across his body or a deep ball that looked impossible.”

When Williams himself was asked what he thinks about being compared to Mahomes he said, “I’ve said this multiple times. I just think of it as respect… I’m not Patrik Mahomes… Hopefully, I’ll get to see him, go against him, and get a good battle between him.” 

Read More: 2024 NFL Draft: Jordan Love Advises Rookies to Not Follow Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes but Rather Focus on Basics

Bears’ GM Ryan Poles, in a recent chat with ESPN’s Pat McAfee, expressed optimism about Williams, stating, “[Williams has] checked all of the boxes so far and I’ve been encouraged with the time that we’ve spent together.” This endorsement suggests that the Bears might already be envisioning Williams in their lineup. On the other hand, Robert Griffin III candidly expressed his hopes for Caleb Williams’ future, specifically advising against joining the Bears.

Bears to ruin a talent like Williams?

Robert Griffin III pinpointed his reservations to the Bears’ coaching, particularly HC Matt Eberflus. “If they don’t believe in Matt Eberflus, then they should have fired him as soon as they knew they were going to go with a rookie quarterback,” he stated, suggesting that the leadership might not be conducive to a rookie quarterback’s growth.

Instead, RGIII sees the Washington Commanders as a more promising home for Williams. “The Washington Commanders have a clean slate now. They’ve got a new regime; they’ve got a new owner in,” Griffin explained. He passionately outlined the team’s strengths and said, “The Washington Commanders don’t lack weapons on the offensive side of the football.

“When you talk about wide receivers, what about Scary Terry McLaurin? What about J.D. McKissic? Are those guys scrubs? No, they’re dynamite. And let’s not forget that Austin Ekeler is not just a running back; he can also play as a wide receiver and is an excellent third-down blocking back, making him a quarterback’s best friend.”

Only time will tell whether he will join the Bears of the team of his home state, the Commanders.

Read More: NFL Rumors: Teams Likely to Turn to Commanders as Bears Refuse to Trade for First Overall Draft Pick