Generational Talent or Bust: Is Caleb Williams the Next Patrick Mahomes or Jamarcus Russell?

Caleb Williams is the hottest talk of the NFL town ahead of the upcoming draft. With the tag of being the top pick, multiple thoughts are brewing in the hearts of fans and the minds of critics. While some shower him with praises and blessings to continue his form from collegiate football, some speculate failure citing his inexperience at the NFL level. 

A video titled The Next Patrick Mahomes has surfaced online raising the question about his fate, and drawing comparisons with the great Patrick Mahomes. What will be Caleb Williams’s future at the NFL?  Will Williams live up to the expectations or falter as JaMarcus Russell?

What will be the career trajectory of Caleb Williams?

During the 14-minute video, the host talked about Caleb Williams while comparing his progress to that of Patrick Mahomes. He rounded up the conversation by saying, “Can he do it at the same level he did in college? All historical arrows point to no, but if anyone can defy those odds, it’s the man who is redefining what it means to be the best quarterback in the country. Do you think Caleb Williams is a generational talent or a generational bust? Is he the next coming of Patrick Mahomes or the next coming of JaMarcus Russell?”

The context in reference is the career trajectory of Patrick Mahomes and JaMarcus Russell. Mahomes was able to replicate his collegiate-level game at the NFL level after the NFL draft in 2017. He was the 10th overall pick and the 2nd QB to be picked. Since then, he has appeared in four Super Bowls, winning three of them.

On the other hand, JaMarcus Russell was the #1 pick at the 2007 NFL draft where he was picked by Oakland Raiders. He was a star QB at LSU who won the Manning Award and was named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. But he couldn’t replicate his success at the NFL as he was eventually released in 2010 by the Raiders.

Read more: “He Is Gonna Lose a Lot”: Caleb Williams Warned About Chicago Bears Ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

Although the fan verse is divided upon the fate of Caleb Williams, the USC star isn’t fazed by the load of expectations. In fact, he is barely thinking beyond the NFL draft.

Caleb Williams isn’t thinking beyond the NFL draft

Caleb Williams is well aware of the news surrounding his #1 draft pick rumors. When asked about his thoughts on the same with ESPN, he rejected the whole notion by saying, “It’s not a thought in my mind,” He further added, “I don’t think that I’m not going to be No. 1. I think I put in all the hard work, all of the time, effort, energy into being that. I don’t think of a Plan B. That’s kind of how I do things in my life.”

Regardless of his words, the fans are aware that the Chicago Bears are allegedly going for Williams, and Williams has given enough cues to indicate his interest. He is also confident about his draft and his stature going ahead that he even rejected attending the NFL Combine this year, an important platform for players. So, as of now, it is hard to take a call on his future for the fans, but Williams is confident about replicating his performance at the highest level and perhaps, becoming the next Patrick Mahomes.

Read more: 2024 NFL Draft: Caleb Williams Marks His Presence at Jacksonville Training Camp