Commanders Trading Up to Draft QB Caleb Williams 'Inevitable', Says Insider

After hiring offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, could the Washington Commanders trade up to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft?

The Washington Commanders are entering a new era.

With head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters in the fold, the Commanders are working towards putting last year's 4-13 finish behind them.

The next step big box to check for Washington is under center, where Sam Howell currently sits - but largely only as a placeholder.

As owners of the draft's No. 2 overall pick, the Commanders are guaranteed to secure one of the draft's top signal callers, be it USC's Caleb Williams or North Carolina's Drake Maye.

But Washington may be plotting more.

Upon hiring offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who worked with Williams at USC this past season, the idea of reuniting the two in Ashburn is growing more prominent ... if not probable.

"Even if you slightly overpay," CBS Sports said, "if you've got a guy that you want to build your franchise around, with new ownership, with a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator that has a history with him, that's going to keep him happy and have him succeed at the next level, then by all means, go make that move.

"I think it is probably, eventually, inevitable ... it does feel like it's going to happen."

The former Arizona Cardinals head coach and now USC Trojans assistant coach Kliff Kingsbury talks to quarterback Caleb Williams (13) during the pregame warmup before playing the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Sept. 23, 2023 :: © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Commanders would have to land the No. 1 pick in a trade with the Chicago Bears, who dealt the pick last year but may spurn others in favor of adding Williams to replace Justin Fields.

Williams has drawn stylistic comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was coached by Kingsbury in college at Texas Tech.

Of note, Kingsbury turned down the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive coordinator vacancy in favor of Washington's - perhaps knowing he'd have a greater chance of working alongside Williams.

Shortly after Kingsbury's hiring, Williams reposted the news on social media - which CBS used as further evidence of the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner's interest in the Commanders.

Regardless, Williams and Kingsbury are fond of each other - and Kingsbury's presence could make Williams' move to the professional level that much better.

"I do think having some familiarity, relationship-wise but also in the system, will make that transition smoother," CBS Sports said. "It's not going to be easy for anybody, but having familiarity is crucial for any young quarterback."

Commanders Coach Kingsbury 'One of the Best Offensive Minds in Football'

For now, it's just an idea - but for Commanders fans, turning this scenario into reality should feel more likely with Kingsbury in the fold, setting the scene for a potential rise to the draft's top pick.