Former Titans offensive lineman Taylor Lewan raised some red flags about USC quarterback Caleb Williams after seeing him at the NFL combine in Indianapolis last week.
During Tuesday’s installment of his and Will Compton’s “Bussin With The Boys” podcast, Lewan said Williams — who is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — seemed “very full of himself” and has the wrong people in his ear.
“One guy that, this is up for everybody else to interpret, but I did not get a good vibe from Caleb Williams throughout the combine process,” Lewan said. “I know, a lot of backlash for the boy. He essentially came to the combine for the free gear and the interviews.
“Only player in combine history not to do a medical review. Only dude [who] didn’t run, didn’t throw. His choosing not to throw was, ‘Hey there’s a lot of film on me, you can watch that in real action. I don’t need to do that.’
“So he essentially went there and then I think he did one thing about sour gummies, like him and some lady sat there and tried sour candy.”
Williams, 22, declined to throw and do medical testing at the combine, and when he was asked about it, said he “didn’t feel the need” to throw.
“I’ve played around 30 some games I believe, go ahead and watch a live game of me and see how I am as a competitor,” Williams said in a press conference at the NFL combine on March 1.
The USC product explained that he will undergo medical evaluations during team visits, and those teams will have access to his medical information.
Lewan didn’t seem impressed, and thought Williams “postured on everbody” at the combine.
“It’s incredible how talented he is, but he’s got this type of ‘I’m better than everyone’ attitude that it’s coming off of,” Lewan said. “Now if that’s not the individual he is, he’s more than welcome to come on the bus [the podcast] and explain himself, but what I saw from the short sample size I got of watching a few interviews of him on my way to the combine was, [the] guy is very full of himself. He’s got some big time yes people in his camp right now that are getting in his ear a little too much.”
Lewan then claimed people at the combine were saying that “[Williams] was saying he wanted equity or a percentage of the team he goes to.”
Lewan couldn’t confirm if that was true, but said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if it were to be true.
Lewan could have been referencing a months-old report from Pro Football Talk on the subject.
“I don’t know if it’s real, but based on watching the interviews I’ve watched, I can now sit there and be like, I wouldn’t be surprised at that at all.
“To me, not a great look at all. This is a game where no one is bigger than the team. The name on the front is more important than the name on the back–type of attitude and he is not displaying that right now.
“Sometimes it’s better just to fall in line. You can be different, you can go about your ways differently, everybody does eventually, but at this point in your process, don’t shoot yourself in the foot.”
Williams also said his decision to not participate in throwing and medical testing at the combine came down to his team and family.
The Bears have the No. 1 pick in the draft, and could selected Williams, the favorite to be taken first, or stick with incumbent starter Justin Fields.
In 2023, Williams threw for 3,633 yards with 30 touchdowns and five interceptions for the Trojans, adding 11 rushing touchdowns.
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit from April 25-27.
