New England Patriots Target Caleb Williams Skipping Holiday Bowl; Declaring for NFL Draft?

USC quarterback and potential New England Patriots' target Caleb Williams is opting out of the Trojans' bowl game, giving a major hint about his upcoming NFL Draft decision.

Could the New England Patriots have a chance at selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams in next April's NFL Draft?

With the Patriots sitting at 2-10, they are projected to have the No. 2 overall pick. The first pick is owned by the Chicago Bears (by way of the Carolina Panthers), who already have 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields at quarterback. The scenario could give the Pats their choice of quarterback projects including Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye and Oregon's Bo Nix.

Making Williams one of those options, as ON3.com reports that the current Trojans quarterback will opt out of the Holiday Bowl game versus Louisville. It's a strong hint that the former Heisman Trophy winner will turn pro and declare for the 2024 draft.

Following a successful sophomore season with the Trojans, Williams quickly became an almost consensus No. 1 pick in 2024 mock drafts. However, even with the projections of being the top pick, there was speculation that he could make the NFL wait another year and play his senior season at USC.

"That's for sure now going to be an in-the-moment decision at the end of the year," Williams said in an interview with ESPN back in August. "It's my third year, and the dream and goal was to go three-and-out. Being around these guys and in college and enjoying it, we'll have to see at the end of this year."

USC coach Lincoln Riley (far left), quarterback Caleb Williams (middle left), and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) / Clutchpoints

Yet, that moment is now for Williams' as he will not play in the Holiday Bowl, seemingly pointing to him declaring for the draft. 

While it was a disappointing season for USC, who were looked upon in the offseason as potential national championship contenders, finished well below expectations with a 7-5 record. 

However, the Trojans' struggles weren't because of Williams, as the former Heisman Trophy winner threw for 3,633 yards with 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions while adding another 136 yards and 11 scores with his legs.

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After a recent mock draft projected the Patriots to select Williams with the No. 3 pick, their 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers helped them move up one spot in the draft order, increasing their chances of landing him.

However, that mock draft seems to be an outlier, as others have Williams going No. 1 overall to the Bears. 

As for where Williams ranks among other draft-eligible quarterbacks, The Athletic's Dane Brugler has him second only behind UNC's Drake Maye. 

"[Williams] has an above-average arm and a natural feel for accuracy, and his ability to weaponize his creativity remains a differentiating factor between him and most quarterbacks," Brugler writes. "Williams is fantastic at navigating chaos, but he does hold the ball too long at times. Often he has no choice, either because a defense gets immediate pressure with its front four or his receivers haven’t created separation."

Yet, even with Brugler's rankings, Williams is still seen as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick, which could mean the Patriots will need to start hoping the 1-11 Panthers start winning.

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