Caleb Williams Focused on Going No. 1 in 2024 NFL Draft: ‘I Don’t Think of a Plan B’

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It’s No. 1 overall or bust for Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL draft.

The former USC quarterback, who is widely considered the best signal-caller available in this year’s draft, told reporters Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis that he doesn’t think about the possibility of not being selected first overall.

“I don’t think of a plan B,” Williams said.

While Williams is focused on going No. 1 overall, he’s not participating in a number of standard procedures at this weekend’s combine.

The 22-year-old isn’t throwing, which isn’t uncommon for the top quarterback prospects, but he’s also not participating in medical examinations with teams and did not share his medical records with every franchise, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported Thursday.

There have been rumors about Williams not wanting to play for the Chicago Bears, which own the No. 1 overall pick, but general manager Ryan Poles told reporters this week that he’s not worried about those rumors.

Williams has also repeatedly denied any speculation that he doesn’t want to play in the Windy City.

“The Bears were a 7-10 last year, and that’s pretty good for a team with the No 1 pick,” Williams told reporters Friday. “A really good defense. It’s pretty exciting if you can go to a situation like that.”

Williams added that he just wants to play for an organization that wants to win from top to bottom.

Williams had an impressive collegiate career at USC, winning the 2022 Heisman, and he’s expected to excel at the next level, whether that be with the Bears, who have a decision to make in regards to Justin Fields, or another franchise.

Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department lists Williams as the second-best quarterback available in the 2024 draft class behind former UNC standout Drake Maye, though the there’s not a large gap between the two.

If the Bears select Williams this spring, it will likely spell the end to Fields’ tenure in Chicago. The decision will be franchise-altering, so the Bears need to be sure that the former Trojan can help return the team to prominence.