Every year we see a team purposely losing to secure the first pick in the NFL Draft. USC’s star QB Caleb Williams will be the target of several teams next year who are looking for a franchise quarterback. While teams like the Bengals, Bills, Chiefs, and Chargers have their QBs, several teams are still searching. Who are three teams that we could see tanking this year to be able to get Caleb Williams?
Believe the Hype
For those who don’t know who Caleb Williams is, he is the starting quarterback for the USC Trojans. Williams enters the year as the hands-down favorite to win the Heisman Trophy this year, which would make him the second player in history to win the Heisman Trophy twice. Archie Griffin of Ohio State won it in 1974 and 1975. Under the tutelage of coach Lincoln Riley, Williams completed 333 of 500 passes(66.1% completion rate) for 4,537 yards in 2022. He threw 42 TD passes and only 5 INTs. Williams also rushed 113 times for another 382 yards and 10 TDs. He has an NFL prototypical build at 6’1” and 215 lbs. Williams is a true dual-threat quarterback who runs a sub 4.6 in the 40. He possesses elite arm strength and accuracy and is a bonafide field general. To put things into perspective, Williams is being compared to Patrick Mahomes, and we all know how good Mahomes is and his success in Kansas City. So it makes sense why teams would consider tanking to get the opportunity to draft a generational talent like Caleb Williams.
Your weekly absurd Caleb Williams highlight.
(🎥: @uscfb) pic.twitter.com/q6lLEb0kAt
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 3, 2023
Caleb Williams 😂 pic.twitter.com/KdafAGPVLb
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) September 2, 2023
#4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Tom Brady retiring, the Bucs brought in Baker Mayfield to help fill the void. They already had Kyle Trask, and let’s be honest, this QB room is weak. Tampa Bay has a good receiving corps with Evans and Godwin, and the O-line is decent, so if they start losing games, they should win easily; we know why. If they could secure the #1 overall pick next year, Caleb Williams would be stepping into an ideal scenario with several weapons at his disposal. I see Mayfield being a one-and-done QB in Tampa and will be a free agent again next year. Defensively, they are stout, and to be honest, even without Brady, this offense has the talent to be relatively good in 2023. Looking at their schedule, anything less than six wins would indicate they are tanking for Williams.
#3. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are in full-blown rebuild mode, and Stafford isn’t the future this late in his career. He did what he went to LA to do: win a Super Bowl. Sean McVay is a good coach, and I would assume his job is not in any jeopardy at this point. This team has several players, including Matt Stafford and Aaron Donald, near the end of their careers. I would not be surprised if the Rams traded Donald before the trade line to acquire more draft picks and free up some salary. I see this Rams team being horrible this year, and if they only win 3-5 games, it is safe to assume they are going after Caleb Williams in the 2024 draft. It would be ideal, considering he would be a hometown favorite and has a large following in Cali. Williams would be right at home in LA and has one of the best receivers in the league to throw to in Cooper Kupp.
#2. Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is not the answer in Arizona, and the team brass knows that. While injuries have plagued this team over the last few years, Murray still has not been able to live up to expectations. Last year, he had Marquise Brown, D-Hop, Rondale Moore, and Zac Ertz at his disposal, and he could not get the job done. The offense looked horrible, and they will be looking at Williams as the future of their franchise. New coach Jonathan Gannon will have a few years to build before he is on the hot seat, and if Murray can’t prove himself early, I see the Cardinals getting rid of him and tanking the rest of the season for Williams. Arizona is already projected to be one of the worst teams in the league this year, and knowing that they will capitalize and shoot for the #1 spot on draft day. Let’s not forget that they possess two first-round picks in next year’s draft.
#1. Washington Commanders
You are sadly mistaken if you genuinely believe Sam Howell is the future in Washington. This team fits the bill of what you look for in a team that will be tanking. They are entering their first year under new ownership, and we really don’t know what the team name will be moving forward. They have a solid receiving corps with “Scary” Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. Their defense is solid, and they have a decent roster from top to bottom. Coach Ron Rivera is on his way out the door, and I see newly acquired offensive coordinator/ assistant head coach Eric Bieniemy becoming the head coach next year. Think about it, Washington has a chance to draft a QB comparable to Patrick Mahomes, and they just so happen to hire the guy who coached him in KC. I am no conspiracy theorist, but the situation in Washington seems obvious to me.
