Caleb Williams intrigued by Bears, Commanders at prime of draft

INDIANAPOLIS — Former USC quarterback Caleb Williams deeply admires Michael Jordan and Walter Payton, loves deep-dish pizza and informed ESPN he can be “excited” if the Chicago Bears take him No. 1 total within the 2024 NFL draft.

Coming into the NFL mix, Williams is the favourite to be the highest decide in April. In his first public feedback since declaring for the draft in January, Williams spoke in depth concerning the Bears, unveiled his mix plan and mirrored on a journey to the NFL that’s nearing a fruits.

“That is what I have been making ready for my entire life,” Williams informed ESPN by cellphone Tuesday. “Since I used to be 10 or 11, that is what I wished to do for the remainder of my life. At that age till now, it mainly looks like your entire life.

“I am excited. I am able to get again on a soccer workforce round my teammates and my brothers — my new brothers now.”

The place these new teammates are situated stays one of the vital intriguing questions surrounding the draft.

Williams spent a lot of the interview with ESPN discussing the Bears, whom he has lengthy been linked to given they maintain the No. 1 decide and he’s the consensus betting favourite to be the draft’s prime choice.

“If I get drafted by the Bears, I will be excited,” he mentioned. “In the event that they commerce the decide, and I get drafted by another person, I am simply as excited. Talking about Chicago, they’ve a gifted workforce, a gifted offense and protection. For anybody to be in that state of affairs, I feel they’d be excited.”

Williams pushed again on any notion that he would request a commerce or desires to play elsewhere.

“I am not pushing any agenda,” Williams mentioned. “On the finish of the day, the Bears have the final say. No matter how I really feel, I am not pushing an agenda of, ‘Yeah, I wish to go. Or no, I do not wish to go.’ I am excited for no matter comes.”

Williams mentioned he’s anticipating his “first date” with Chicago, with a gathering deliberate in Indianapolis this week, and he pressured the significance of the primary impression.

He mentioned he was intrigued to listen to concerning the Bears’ plans and be taught what the group is like and the imaginative and prescient shifting ahead. Chicago hasn’t gained a playoff sport since 2010 and has simply two successful seasons since.

“Simply the fixed progress and alter, that is necessary whether or not you’re a quarterback or extensive receiver or a common supervisor or an proprietor or a company,” Williams mentioned of what he is searching for. “Only a wholesome state of affairs — within the facility, with the gamers — and only a place that actually desires to win.”

Williams mentioned he has been to Chicago as soon as, has heard good issues concerning the rowdiness of Bears followers, and has gone down video rabbit holes learning each Jordan and Payton, two of the town’s most iconic athletes.

“I am 22. I did not actually get to see these gamers,” Williams mentioned. “Because the saying goes, the legends dwell on. That is my objective of taking part in soccer — it is not cash, it is not fame … it is to be immortal. I wish to attain that sense of being a legend. Being on the desk … and having a rightful seat via exhausting work and vitality and time I’ve put into this sport that all of us love.

“It is interesting to be in a metropolis like that. With legends that you’ve got regarded as much as … attain for the usual they set and attempt to do something to get there.”

Williams’ subsequent most speculated vacation spot is the Washington Commanders, who’ve the No. 2 decide. That union would mark a return dwelling for Williams, who grew up within the space and attended Gonzaga School Excessive College in Washington.

“It might be actually cool as a result of it is so acquainted,” he mentioned. “There is a time and place for all the things. My job and my passion is being on the facility or on the sphere or watching movie. Or stress-free and prepping for the subsequent day or sport.

“My most important objective and focus … is to go win video games and keep centered on holding the primary objective the primary objective.”

Williams mentioned he’s not going to work out on the mix however will throw at USC’s professional day on March 20. He’s additionally not planning on doing medical testing on the mix however will do this in his particular person visits with groups.

He isn’t planning to signal with an NFL agent, saying he has a “entire workforce” of attorneys and advisers to deal with contracts and endorsements.

“Everybody thinks I am a one-man workforce,” Williams mentioned, referencing the symphony of labor that makes an F1 workforce go. “That is simply not the case.”

He’s planning to fulfill with the media in Indianapolis.

“I need everybody to listen to me and get a really feel for who I’m … so they are not throwing issues on the market which are false or that is not coming from me,” Williams mentioned.

What ought to they count on to listen to?

“Having the ability to see who I’m as an individual and my coronary heart and love for soccer and successful video games,” Williams mentioned. “That is what I feel they’re going to get from it, and my depth about being on a workforce and going on the market and kicking ass with my new brothers. That is what I am enthusiastic about. That is who I’m.”

Williams completed his three-year school profession — one season at Oklahoma and two at USC — with 93 landing passes and 14 interceptions. He threw for 10,082 yards, ran for 966 extra and compiled 27 dashing touchdowns.

Since USC’s season ended, Williams mentioned he labored out in Los Angeles to remain in form and, early on, did plenty of psychological work to organize for the NFL. (He additionally took a fast trip to Tokyo, the place he loved meals that was “out of this world,” highlighted by Wagyu steak. “I am not even a pink meat form of man,” he mentioned.)

The early psychological work included learning defenses, fronts, blitzes, coverages and protections and speaking performs within the huddle. Williams mentioned in school he hardly ever huddled however identified he was answerable for speaking the play, versus colleges that look to the sideline for performs.

Extra just lately, he has been figuring out in Florida with famous quarterback coach Will Hewlett, who trains Brock Purdy and others, and efficiency coach Tom Gormely. Different gamers Williams is figuring out with embody Mason Rudolph, Emory Jones and Nate Peterman.

Requested particularly what he was specializing in in exercises, Williams mentioned mainly all the things.

“We’re capturing for the celebrities and attempting to nitpick the small issues,” he mentioned. “They grow to be massive issues in a protracted season. There’s nothing actually that we’re not engaged on. … I’m a perfectionist, and I wish to be good. In actuality you may’t.”

When requested whether or not he had extra nerves or pleasure concerning the upcoming weeks, Williams once more talked about how a lot he was wanting ahead to having a workforce to construct a rapport with.

“It is not anxiousness or something like that,” he mentioned. “I am unable to wait to say my first cadence. No matter how good or unhealthy, with me switching up the playcall, messing up or not messing it up in apply. Regardless of the case could also be. I am unable to anticipate that second, that minicamp second.”