03 May 2023 , 16:04
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Barring any unmitigated disaster, it is a consensus belief that the number one overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is already known.
USC superstar Caleb Williams will be draft eligible and has already indicated that he plans to head to the NFL - the quarterback who many believe to be the best prospect in over a decade.
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner - who beat out this year's second overall pick CJ Stroud to the award - is already being compared to Patrick Mahomes, with some even believing he could be even better than the Kansas City Chiefs star.
In a recent article in The Athletic, NFL insider Bruce Feldman spoke to a number of NFL coaches in the league, who agreed that Williams would have been the number one pick in this year's draft, had he been eligible.
And one quarterback coach went even further, declaring that Williams might end up being even greater than the reigning MVP. The source said: "He’s the closest I’ve seen to Mahomes... He’s like a refined Mahomes.
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"It’s hard to compare anybody to Mahomes, but he really does play like him. I don’t think his arm is quite like that, but it’s definitely special for college. It’s not quite as freaky as Patrick’s, but it’s upper-level for the NFL."
Williams is coming off the back of a sensational season for USC in the Pac-12 - throwing for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns - also rushing for a further 10 touchdowns.
Caleb Williams is being compared to Patrick MahomesWhile Williams is seen as far and away the top prospect, there will be three others who are being highly-touted heading into 2023.
UNC's Drake Maye is projected to be the second quarterback - who has been compared to Josh Allen. Meanwhile, Washington's Michael Penix Jr and Colorado's Shadeur Sanders - son of NFL legend Deion Sanders - are expected to declare for the draft.
Along with four star quarterbacks, next year's class is also expected to have a generational wide receiver (Marvin Harrison Jr), offensive tackle (Joe Alt), tight end (Brock Bowers) and pass rusher (Dallas Turner).