Joel Klatt Said Caleb Williams Would "Upgrade 18 NFL Teams Next Week." He May Be Underselling Him.
Caleb Williams is a video game. When it comes to quarterbacks, I feel like we often fall victim to hype and hyperbole, but this is not overhype. Caleb Williams is the best quarterback prospect we’ve seen in a long time. It’s so bizarre that we haven’t had a two-time Heisman winner since Archie Griffin. Considering the numbers that Williams is putting up, he’s putting himself in position to be the first player with two Heismans in his trophy case since Griffin.
I understand this is the second week in a row that Colorado’s defense has been completely exposed, but this was still a nationally televised game in a hostile environment. Williams had six touchdowns in six and incompletions in the third quarter. His completion percentage this season is well over 75%. He currently has 21 touchdowns and one interception. He threw 44 touchdowns in 14 games a year ago. He’s almost halfway there. It’s week five.
As far as Joel Klatt's comments are concerned, his argument was that Williams would simply upgrade 18 NFL teams if he stepped into the league tomorrow. He's not wrong. Looking at the list of teams right now, he would be the best option for the Patriots, Jets, Raiders, Broncos, Browns, Colts, Texans, Titans, Commanders, Giants, 49ers, Cardinals, Packers, Bears, Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers, and Panthers. That's not to say that every one of these teams should be tanking for Williams. Teams like the Colts and Panthers are still getting used to the rookie quarterbacks, but as an overall prospect, I think the GM's of those respective teams would rather have Williams.
This Heisman race is shaping up to be a unique one. We still have a long way to go, but as of now, the two best players in the country play in a conference that will disband at the end of the season. Michael Penix and Caleb Williams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack. That's subject to change, but that's such a unique storyline. This conference is going out in a blaze of glory, and they have these two quarterbacks to thank.