Caleb Williams is still expected to be the first pick in the upcoming draft, but his pre-draft interviews with teams were not as impressive as expected. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Williams’ interviews were described as “good, not great” and “just okay.”
Williams chose not to participate in medical exams and only did a few interviews, where he did not exhibit the same level of preparedness as other QB prospects. Some teams interpreted this as a result of knowing he will be the first pick.
“I don’t think he’s had a great spring,” one AFC executive told Fowler. “He’s still going first. That’s pretty much a done deal. But while he was a no-brainer three months ago, there’s at least a conversation now. Even still, I think he’s a smart kid, a good kid. He just knows where he’s going.”
Due in part to Williams’ pre-draft performance, some coaches have reportedly rated LSU’s Jayden Daniels higher than Williams. This has led to speculation that Daniels may be selected before North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
While Maye was initially considered a top prospect, there is now debate whether he will even be picked with the third overall selection. The New England Patriots are reportedly considering between Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
The Washington Football Team, holding the second pick, is also evaluating QB prospects. They are hosting Daniels, Maye, McCarthy, and Washington’s Michael Penix for top-30 visits simultaneously, following a strategy from GM Adam Peters‘ time with the 49ers.
The New York Giants are next in line after the Bears, Washington, and New England in the QB race. Rumors suggest they may trade up or down, but it is clear they are targeting a quarterback.
Dan Duggan of The Athletic believes the Giants are high on Maye and may trade up for him. If McCarthy is available at No. 6, the Giants may consider trading back. If they do trade back, they could target Penix or Oregon’s Bo Nix later in the first round.