GOAT Debate: Caleb Williams Picks Jets' Rodgers Over Brady?

Presumptive No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams gave a nod to New York Jets' quarterback Aaron Rodgers when asked his opinion of the best football player of all-time.

The GOAT debate is subjective. When it comes to deciding who is the "greatest of all time," factors such as team success, individual statistics and even clutch performance are weighed differently from one opinion to the next.

In the NFL discussion, the GOAT has generally handed the baton from Joe Montana to Tom Brady to trending toward Patrick Mahomes.

The presumptive No. 1 overall pick in next month's NFL Draft, however, has his own choice. Caleb Williams prefers New York Jets' quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

It was a murky answer to a tricky question.

"Winning ... mentality ... things like that, it's Tom Brady," the USC quarterback said this week. "But my football GOAT is Aaron Rodgers."

Despite four MVPs and 10 Pro Bowls, Rodgers usually isn't mentioned in GOAT talk because he has just one Super Bowl ring. That's the same number as Joe Namath, Johnny Unitas and Drew Brees, but one more than Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.

Williams was only four when the 40-year-old Rodgers began his NFL career in 2005, but the comparisons are already beginning to creep in. At last week's Scouting Combine he was measured - like Rodgers - at 6-2 and 215 pounds.

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"This is the first time I'm hearing about my height and size as a talking point," Williams said. "I'm around Aaron Rodgers' size and maybe weight too: 215, 220 pounds, and 6-foot-1 [or] 6-foot-2. So that can't be a bad thing, right?"

Williams, who won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, will likely be an immediate starter this season for the Chicago Bears. Rodgers was drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers to be the understudy to Brett Favre. 

The Jets need quarterback help behind Rodgers, but with the 10th overall pick are likely to select an offensive tackle.

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