Everybody knows Caleb Williams is a uniquely talented quarterback. The Patrick Mahomes comparisons are valid. His arm strength, accuracy, mobility, and creativity all mirror the Kansas City Chiefs superstar. Of course, one of the things that separates Mahomes from others is his unbridled competitiveness and leadership. GM Ryan Poles said that is something he believes is vital to making a franchise quarterback. He'll be searching for it in the upcoming NFL draft for the Chicago Bears, and Williams is the most hyped option.
People aren't sure what to make of him as a leader. While his stats at USC were phenomenal, he never seemed to elevate the program to the highest level. A lot of that wasn't on him—still, some wonder if some lacking leadership traits may have played a part in such underachieving. Nicholas Moreano of CHGO caught up with two of Williams' teammates at the East-West Shrine Bowl to discuss their former QB. Their comments were enlightening.
WR Tahj Washington
"A phenomenal player as we all know, but even better person. Having that inside take on, you know, him as a person...
...He’s a great teammate. Great person on and off the field. Like joke, funny, guys like that. He knows how to compartmentalize well."
DL Solomon Byrd
“Caleb is a dude. I mean he is one of us, the guys, like if Caleb didn’t have his face so to speak, you wouldn’t know the difference between Caleb and another guy. He’s one of us. He’s one of us.”
Caleb Williams doesn't seem to carry red flags.
While nobody would call him a natural-born leader, it sounds like he's great in the locker room and knows how to mesh with his teammates. He also handles the pressure and expectations of his position well. These are good traits for a young quarterback to have. Some guys grow into leadership roles over time. In fact, most of them do. Of course, it's essential to remember Washington and Byrd aren't inclined to air any dirty laundry on their former QB. That won't make them look great, with their own hopes to reach the NFL still in process.
One can safely assume the Bears are talking to any and all people anywhere in the vicinity of Caleb Williams during his time at USC and Oklahoma. The more opinions they collect, the clearer the picture becomes. If they catch any red flags, it may influence what they do with that #1 pick. Poles is known for being a stickler for details. He will leave no stone unturned. If the Bears do end up drafting Williams in April, it will come with assurance they exhausted every possible avenue in their research.
