Long before he set foot on an NFL gridiron, Caleb Williams was already drawing 'generational' and 'unique talent' labels. NFL scouts, fans, and even opposing coaches realized his untapped potential from the very second he laced them up.
Of course, like with Patrick Mahomes, his most usual NFL comp, there were also some doubts. His desire to make the big play on every drive, his erratic decision-making, and his accuracy issues raised some doubts among the most nitpicky evaluators.
Fast forward to today, and that narrative hasn't changed in the slightest. If anything, Williams' accuracy issues last season may have only added more fuel to the fire. That's why it wasn't much of a surprise to see him ranked at No. 10 in Jeremy Fowler's annual quarterback survey.
Caleb Wiliams deemed 'wildly erratic' in ESPN's annual QB surveys
"Wildly erratic," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. "Doesn't always take the layups and still needs to mature into the position. [He] has some of those 'what is he doing?' plays. But he also makes plays only he and Mahomes can make. [He] can throw from any angle, deceptively fast when forced to scramble and he's got the 'it' factor in crunch time."
He's right. Completing less than 60 percent of his attempts isn't good enough and won't cut it in the pros. That said, the second part of his take is actually what matters: He's got the talent to do something other guys simply cannot.
Of course, talent alone can only get you so far, but it feels like people are being too harsh on a guy who's been in the league for two years. In fact, his first season shouldn't even count, as he didn't have a good offensive staff coaching him up, and the Bears had the worst offensive line in the game.
Williams is just learning the ropes of the game. Like Spiderman when he just got his powers, he's still figuring things out on the fly and learning how good he can be, when to layer throws, and when to go for the home run. It takes time, and the good news is that it just comes naturally to him.
Most quarterbacks need years to figure things out. Some even have to sit for a couple of years before being given the keys to ignition, so the mere fact that Williams was thrown into the fire right away speaks volumes about his talent and upside.
Rome wasn't built overnight, and the Bears have given Williams everything he needs to get better: A solid supporting cast, an above-average offensive line, and a head coach with a bright offensive mind. He also has the work ethic and determination to get better, so maybe people should just be more patient with him and cut him some slack.
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