The Caleb Williams Rookie Experience was on full display at mini-camp Wednesday. In one 7-on-7 drill, Williams — — threw a pass over the middle that was intercepted by linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. On the very next play, Williams threw a deep ball for a touchdown to wide receiver Velus Jones (!), who made a diving catch for a 50-plus-yard play.
That pretty much has been Williams’ introduction to the NFL in a nutshell. Good plays. Bad plays.
Good days. Bad days. And the experience is complete with all the offseason cliches: It’s a learning experience.
Iron sharpens iron. Work in progress. The defense is ahead of the offense.
And while many fans can’t get enough of the details, the reality is the extenuating circumstances outweigh just about anything he does. It’s June. It’s practice.
The players are in shorts. There’s no hitting. It’s not real football.
And key players on both sides of the ball have been out. It’s a part of the process. But the magnifying glass on Williams is so intense, it not only exaggerates everything he does, but distorts it.
Predicting Williams’ success in the NFL is an educated guess at this point. Just as Justin Fields looked like a different animal from Mitch Trubisky, Williams looks like a different animal from Fields. That’s a step-ladder upgrade in quarterback ability.
But with so many x-factors involved — Shane Waldron’s offense, the offensive line and pass protection, and of course, the upgrade-on-paper weapons — Will.
