Big Name Reportedly Spearheading Washington Pursuit Of Caleb Williams

Things got interesting when the Washington Commanders hired Kliff Kingsbury as their new offensive coordinator. Many felt this was the first legitimate signal that the organization would try to make a play for quarterback Caleb Williams. Kingsbury has had a relationship with him since their time at USC together. His offense is a perfect fit for what the young quarterback does well. The obstacle in the way of this plan is, of course, the Chicago Bears. They hold the #1 pick in the draft, and most insiders have gotten strong indications they are prepared to take Williams. As Ian Rapoport put it, only a "historic" offer might convince them otherwise.

Washington has put out whispers that they aren't so desperate to make such a move. They are comfortable taking one of the other top quarterbacks if necessary. However, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network added a layer of intrigue when he revealed that one of the team's new owners is spearheading the organization's makeover. Magic Johnson, a minority owner, was the one who heavily recruited Kingsbury to Washington. He did this by making a notable promise to the young coordinator.

He said that he and the Commanders would do everything in their power to get him the quarterback he wanted.

It sounds like they're prepared to make a run at Caleb Williams.

Every indicator is that many around the league view him as the best quarterback in this class, and it's not close. Not only that but there are concerns about the 2025 class next year being considerably weaker. So if you're going to get your quarterback, you better get him now. That is why the price tag for the #1 pick is projected to be so high. It comes down to how much the Commanders are willing to pay for moving up one spot. New GM Adam Peters might not be wild about the idea. He was in San Francisco when they moved up for Trey Lance in 2021. That was a total disaster.

Based on this update, it might be out of his hands. Johnson is an owner, and owners have the final say in everything. He already has a reputation for being aggressive in pursuit of potential star power from his work with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It isn't a shock to see him bringing the same mentality to Washington. If Johnson feels Caleb Williams is what the organization needs, he will put on a full-court press to convince the Bears to make a deal. Whether Poles is swayed by any offers remains to be seen.