Former QB Already Ranks Caleb Williams Among NFL's Elite

Caleb Williams hasn't played any real games yet. That said, the #1 overall pick gave his hype train another boost with his debut preseason performance against the Buffalo Bills. The Chicago Bears rookie showcased a little of everything: poise, intelligence, arm strength, accuracy, and reflexes. He went 4-of-7 for 95 yards, and two of those passes were drops. There was also the 13-yard scramble for a first down. Aside from one pass that could've been intercepted, it was a near-flawless showcase.

That said, Williams is still a rookie. He has much to learn before anybody considers him among the NFL's elite. Or so we thought. Dan Orlovsky played quarterback in the league for several years before becoming a top analyst for ESPN. He did a quarterback ranking for this coming year but decided to split it into various categories like arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, and so on. In his estimation, there is one area in which Williams should already be considered among the best in the business.

Nobody should be surprised.

Second-reaction ability

1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
2. Josh Allen, Bills
3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
4. Brock Purdy, 49ers
5. Jordan Love, Packers
6. Caleb Williams, Bears
7. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
8. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
9. Gardner Minshew, Raiders
10. Justin Herbert, Chargers

Being able to make a play is central to QB success, and the best in the league excel at making off-schedule and off-platform throws. These second-reaction passes from different arm angles -- often on the move -- can be the difference between moving the sticks and a stalled drive. They require serious creativity at times. Mahomes -- the obvious No. 1 on the list -- is elite in this trait...

...We've seen a lot of growth at the position overall, and that's why this is the only top-10 list that includes a rookie. Williams has elite strength, and considering how good he was in this category in college, I fully expect him to instantly be among the NFL's best second-reaction playmakers in 2024.

Caleb Williams has a gift for improvisation.

Coaches can't teach that. The best quarterbacks are often the ones who can make something happen when the play's structure breaks down. Joe Montana, John Elway, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes are all great examples of this. Williams was a magician in college. Most of USC's biggest plays came when the quarterback had to invent on the fly. Make no mistake. That isn't the only way he knows how to play. He made some nice throws from the pocket, too. He is capable of reading defenses and distributing the ball.

The good news is the Bears know Caleb Williams already has one elite trait in his back pocket. They can lean on his second-reaction ability to get the offense out of trouble at times. This allows Matt Eberflus and his staff to focus on honing the other areas like pocket management, pre and post-snap reads, adjusting the protection, and changing plays. Those are all things Williams will have control of in this offense. If he masters that, defenses will despair because every time they do everything right, he'll still hurt them with another off-platform rabbit out of the hat.