'Like Patrick Mahomes!' Falcons to Interview Star QB Caleb Williams at NFL Draft Combine

The Atlanta Falcons are set to interview USC quarterback Caleb Williams during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

INDIANAPOLIS -- University of Washington defensive lineman Zion Tupuola-Fetui arrived at the sideline and posed a question to teammate Bralen Trice.

"I was like, 'Bralen, you see that?'" Tupuola-Fetui recalled Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "He said, 'what?' [I said] 'You see his legs, bro? He's massive. He's built like a bulldog.'"

He, of course, is USC quarterback Caleb Williams, widely viewed as the favorite to be the draft's No. 1 overall pick on April 25.

The Atlanta Falcons, barring a trade, almost certainly won't get the chance to draft Williams - but they'll have the opportunity to meet with him this week in Indianapolis.

Williams will meet with eight teams, including the teams holding the first three picks - the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots - and the Falcons, among others, per NFL Network.

Caleb Williams and the Falcons / ChatSports

The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner won't participate in Combine testing or drills and will only do meetings. Williams, who stands 6-1, 216 pounds, doesn't have an agent, instead representing himself.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said Tuesday he's unmoved by the decision to not throw - a choice made not only by Williams but also North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels, the class's next two highest-ranked passers.

"Most important part is what they did on Saturdays and what we saw in those areas," Fontenot told local media. "Every part of this process is important - the way they get prepared, when we get to meet with them and talk to them.

"But whether a quarterback throws or doesn't throw, we wouldn't hold that against them."

Williams' tape reveals an impressive playmaker who completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions across 12 games this past season.

The year prior, Williams tossed 42 touchdowns to only five interceptions while accumulating 4,537 yards through the air en route to college football's most prestigious award.

Williams, 22, has drawn many lofty comparisons. Oregon defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus, who played against Williams twice, offered another one Wednesday.

"He's a great player," Dorlus said. "Like Patrick Mahomes-type player."

Mahomes, a two-time MVP, three-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowler in seven professional seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, has a chance to finish his career as the greatest signal caller in NFL history.

Dorlus thinks Williams has the skill set to warrant such a comparison.

"Extends plays with his feet, does a great job getting the ball out, has a great arm throwing it deep," Dorlus said. "He's annoying. He's one of those players like Kyler Murray, just running in the backfield. I love how he plays though."

Tupuola-Fetui, still fixated on Williams' legs, noted his low center of gravity with assistance from his lower body strength helps keep him on his feet while facing extreme pressure.

Perhaps most impressive about Tupuola-Fetui's praise is Williams put on a show despite the Trojans suffering a 52-42 loss to the eventual PAC-12 champions.

"I mean, he lit us up even though we were able to come out with the win," Tupuola-Fetui said.

Williams went 27 of 35 for 312 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It wasn't enough for USC to spring the home upset, but it left a lasting impression on Tupuola-Fetui.

"He's just special," Tupuola-Fetui said. "Explosive guy, but then what we worry about is his change of direction. He always has this little shuffle mid-run. He sees things, he threw a pretty crazy spin move against one of our guys like in slow motion in the first quarter.

"His mind, what he sees out there, he's really just playing."

The Falcons are in pursuit of their next franchise signal caller. Fontenot dubbed it a top priority for this offseason, and both he and new head coach Raheem Morris spoke extensively Tuesday about adding new life to the position.

Falcons' Morris, Fontenot Leaving 'All Gates Open' at QB

Atlanta's path to Williams is largely uncontrollable. The Bears would first have to decide they want to move down, and then grow comfortable sliding to the No. 8 pick.

The Falcons, similarly, would have to commit significant capital to move up for Williams - but if he even comes close to providing Mahomes' level of play, it's worth it.

Nevertheless, this crop of quarterbacks extends beyond Williams ... and Fontenot thinks several quality options exist.

"It's a really good group," Fontenot said. "It's a strong draft overall, the quarterback position is strong and you have some different types, too. Guys that do it different ways, but it's a really good group. So it's very, very exciting."