The importance of the NFL Scouting Combine continues to be called into question two years after stringent COVID-19 rules nearly caused a mass boycott of the event in 2022. The topic of the boycott brought attention to how important the combine is for late-round, fringe, and small school prospects while potentially serving as a negative for some of college football’s best. Those debates may crop up again with recent news that USC quarterback Caleb Williams plans not to throw at next week’s combine, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. 
To clarify, Williams still plans on attending the event in Indianapolis, according to Ian Rapoport. He’ll be available to interview with any interested teams. It’s unclear if he’ll perform in any of the other workouts of the combine, but we know for sure that he will not throw. Rapoport informs us that Williams’ plan is to wait until his pro day, where he will throw and workout for scouts.
There will be pundits chirping on both sides of the story. Some will support the decision, claiming that he has nothing to gain from throwing at the combine. He’s already expected to be selected at No. 1 overall and plans to throw on March 20 at the Trojan’s pro day. What good can be done by working out twice?
The other side will point to character issues that have persisted in the media throughout his junior year of college. Williams’ mentality and leadership took hits late in the year from the media after the quarterback refused to speak to reporters following what ended up being his final game of college football. Rapoport himself seemed to call out the 22-year-old citing Joe Burrow as an example of how a quarterback should handle his role and responsibilities. His refusal to work out among the other quarterbacks is sure to draw criticism from those who already believe that “off-field concerns” exist for the young passer.
In reality, there are advantages to working at the combine, namely the officiality of the measurements and the additional opportunity to work with NFL coaches. Sure, he will get to perform workouts at his pro day, but the results of timed exercises will be hand-timed. Also, while some coaches will choose to attend USC’s pro day, the combine serves as an additional opportunity to work with NFL staff. Some will look down on Williams’ decision to reject that opportunity.
So, yes, there are advantages, but are they minimal for someone with his current draft stock? That’s difficult to answer. We have certainly seen bad combine performances affect draft stock. Most recently, free agent tight end Isaac Nauta went from first-round prospect to seventh-round pick in 2019. Similarly, Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. fell to the third round after what is classically seen as one of the worst combine performances of all time. Still, there are examples of players like Terrell Suggs, who, despite a terrible combine performance, still turned out to be a top-10 pick.
Could Williams be the next to fall victim to the combine? Probably not. He isn’t expected to deliver anywhere near that poor of a performance and, even if he did, his current stock is simply too high to warrant a drastic fall. Still, when he’s already at the top of most prospect rankings, there’s nowhere for him to go but down. It’s hard to blame him for choosing not to take any chances heading into the 2024 NFL Draft.
His announcement has, obviously, caught headlines, though. In the time between the Schultz’s initial report and this one, both Schultz and Rapoport have reported on a number of other prospect’s intentions. So far, South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Oregon’s Bo Nix, and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy have all made it known that they intend to throw next week. Only LSU’s Jayden Daniels has joined Williams in announcing his intentions to wait until his pro day, per Rapoport. The other four passers will have the opportunity to not only work out at the combine in front of NFL coaches but also to do so in direct comparison to their competition, with the lone exceptions (so far) of Williams and Daniels.
This kid is going to flame out so hard. He has Cam Newtons arrogance and Kyler’s work ethic. Add in his Cousins like ability to fold when the stage is the biggest and you have a recipe for disaster.
You obviously didn’t watch his 3 years in college. I predict he’ll win his first start next season and be Offensive Rookie of the Year.
College success =\= NFL success.
I can’t speak to his work ethic or attitude
But. He goes to the bears I can almost guarantee he won’t be winning rookie of the year .
An unprecedented class of perennial PB type receivers make it more likely a non-QB wins OROY this year. Whichever goes to the Chargers has the best chance imo.
Imagine Nabers or Bowers paired with Herbert. They could lead the NFL in yardage or receptions, respectively…or either in receiving TDs.
I think Williams has all of the physical tools you could ever want in an NFL QB, but I really question his leadership abilities and maturity, too. I’d pass on him if I was the Bears GM. Some people will knock Fields, but he showed improvement– and he’s coachable. Can Williams be coached? I wouldn’t bet on it.
The NFL managed just fine before the combine was created. It’s rather useless as an effective grading tool of talent but it does give GMs a chance to meet and discuss possible transactions involving players they already have rostered.
The combine is all about the medicals…period. For the teams anyway.
Now, for the ratings?
It’s all about the underwear, baby!!!
Caleb is very talented but I can tell he’s pretty full of himself. I’ve watched his postgame and training camp conferences. He knows he’s the sh#t. He doesn’t really smile at reporters. Doesn’t seem too personable. But he’s very talented and most likely has a higher ceiling than Justin Fields. If bears pass on him they might regret it like panthers passing on Stroud all over again
I hope the Bears do pass on him. As a Bears fan I say this. What good is all the physical talent in the world if you have no psychological talent.
A guy like this, where there’s already questions regarding his character, should be the one willing to throw and work out and jump through hoops to try to fix his reputation.
Hard pass for this Bears fan
I mean…how bad do you want to win? If Vikings move off of cousins and Jefferson walks away Bears have a massive chance. Lions games are smashmouth and packers and bears played close game end of the year with Justin and could have won. Plug in Caleb with a better OC, DJ Moore, some more draft picks bears can be a 10-7 team
Isn’t that the same for Fields??
Getsy was trash, the receivers outside of Moore were trash, and with another high-caliber WR from the draft and a seasoned Vet could very well make the Bears a 12-5 team.
I’d rather take my chances with Fields any day.
He just needs more weapons outside of Kmet and Moore, a Center, maybe a good Gaurd and we are ready to fly.
No fields is way more likeable and has never dodged the media even after brutal losses. Fields has struggled as a passer consistently. And contract year is coming up. You can get a cheaper franchise QB with a higher upside and see what happens. And this is the year to go all in. Bears have a top 10 projected cap and two first round picks. They need to get serious nfc north is getting harder all over again.
Lol Fields doesn’t know what to do with the football. The WRs and OC were fine. Fields was the problem.
He makes plays but his ceiling is low. I say that as a fields fan. He’s very limited despite his athletic talents
2023 was the year Fields could prove he could throw a football. We all know he can run, but running QBs don’t last long and dont win SBs. Fields didn’t prove it despite a decent WR group, decent TE, decent OL and a top running game. It wasn’t the WRs fault, the TEs fault, the OCs fault, the HCs fault, the football’s fault, the weather’s fault, or the ghost of George Halas’ fault. He was a bottom 3rd ranked NFL QB, all the talent in the world but can’t process a play in 2.5 seconds, and a turnover machine.
“Decent WR group” lmao I laughed. Without DJ Moore bears maybe win 3 games. Claypool was so terrible he was shipped off to Miami for a bag of Doritos and a Pepsi. Mooney is entering free agency for a reason. He’s a dud. Cole Kmet and Moore were 95% of the offensive weapons minus Fields and sometimes Herbert
Yes decent. Better offense on paper than the Texans, and a better running game. No one knew who Nico Colins and Tank Dell were to start 2023. But Stroud made the difference and Fields didn’t.
Tank was a highly talked about WR but I get your point. Collins went off out of nowhere lol.
He’s soft…in the head.
burrow and lawerence were just as cocky as Williams is
But they were leaders. And Lawrence is way more personable. He won a media award his rookie year. He always talks to media on a personal level. Burrows teammates have never said anything bad about him.
When you are the consensus #1 pick in the draft there is only one direction you can go by attending the combine – Down.
I see some folks on here have a new quarterback they’re excited to hate.
Bears fans now have a surplus of hate at their disposal now that Jay Cutler has hung up his cleats…lol.
For Williams to succeed it is going to come down to what team and do they expect Williams to change a 3- and 4-win team the last few years to immediately play that team into a 10-win team overnight and how much patience will they have if it is not a 10-win team overnight. Then you have to look at the ownership and HC and does this team have offensive tools already at top NFL level, probably not. Williams will struggle if he is thrown to the wolves out of the gate, it will be a shame if he doesn’t get to maybe sit behind a veteran QB, unlike how Mahomes and Love were able to learn the pro game and appreciate the game sitting and learning the real game of pro football. I like Williams as a QB but just hope he gets the help by ownership put in a position to succeed and will be able to have a good NFL career.
Wrong guy in the link
Let’s hope he doesnt have spoiled, entitled, athelete syndrome.