In all likelihood, the top overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will be USC quarterback Caleb Williams. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner didn’t have the team success he was hoping for in his final season with the Trojans, but his immense talent makes him a potential game-changer at the quarterback position and someone many would love to see in a Las Vegas Raiders jersey.
The Raiders have the 13th overall pick in the draft, meaning they would have to trade up in order to get Williams or one of the other top quarterbacks, such as North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels. But with the NFL Scouting Combine getting underway, teams are getting the chance to meet with Williams and Las Vegas is apparently on his list.
According to Ian Rapaport of NFL Network, Williams is set to meet with eight teams at the combine, and the Raiders one of them:
#USC QB Caleb Williams, the potential top overall pick, arrives today at the NFL Scouting Combine and is expected to meet with the #Bears, #Commanders, #Patriots, #Raiders, #Falcons, #Jets, #Giants and #Vikings. Williams will do meetings, but no testing or on-field work. pic.twitter.com/x5onK00Ous
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2024
The Raiders are expected to be aggressive in finding their franchise quarterback this offseason and this year’s draft is one that is full of potential prospects. The fact that Williams is even willing to meet with the Raiders is proof that there is a belief around the league that Las Vegas could be a big mover on draft day.
The team also has a connection with Williams as the Raiders hired Rich Scangarello as their new quarterbacks coach. Scangarello had actually been spending time helping Williams with his pre-draft prep, so the two are familiar with each other.
Last season Williams completed 68.6% of his passes for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns with just five interceptions while also adding 11 rushing touchdowns. It was the 2022 season in which Williams completely dominated college football in which he threw for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns with five interceptions and another 382 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and AP Player of the Year while being named a consensus All-American.
Raiders interested in trading for Bears QB Justin Fields?
Another potential move for the Raiders in addressing their quarterback position is via trade and one option who could be available is Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields.
The Bears have the top overall pick in the NFL Draft and could decide that Caleb Williams is their guy and move on from Fields and the Raiders reportedly have real interest in trading for the third-year QB.
The Raiders will reportedly explore the possibility of trading for Fields and do have a connection with him as new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy came over from Chicago and is very familiar with Fields’ game.
