Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. released his first mock draft of the year Monday night, and he has the Bears going with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. as if Video posted on YouTubeKiper Jr. explained why he believes the Bears will select USC quarterback Caleb Williams when they file their draft cards this April.
“Caleb Williams is so humbled,” Kiper Jr. said. “Go back to 2022 and it was close to perfect.”
Williams won the Heisman Trophy that season, completing 66.7% of his passes for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions with another 382 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
“He gives you that arm talent, that ability to see the field, and he does things in terms of improvement that only the greats can do,” Kiper Jr. said. “He can take a dangerous play and turn it into a positive play, and put you in field goal range, maybe create a touchdown or a touchdown where no one else can.
Some people have nitpicked Williams’ 2023 seasons, including a poor three-interception performance against the Fighting Irish or a dip in production (324 pass yards/game in 2022 vs. 303 pass yds/gm in 2023). But Kiper Jr. dismissed much of the criticism Williams has faced recently.
I think when you’re at the top, people want to throw you off your balcony. I think when you’re an underclassman at the top and you win the Heisman trophy and you’re so close to perfection and you come into this year – I thought he’s going to win the Heisman again… then they start. Say, ‘Okay, this game, that game.’ Then they identify the different things they see.
Some detractors pointed to Williams crying in the stands with his mother after a loss, or his painted fingernails, or his ambitions to one day own a team as red flags. Kiper doesn’t see it that way.
“To me, it’s a lot of nonsense. I went back and learned two years ago and this year, there’s not much not to like. You’ve got to love this kid.
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