Top QB Prospect to Meet with the Vikings at the Combine
This year’s NFL Draft is chock full of quarterback talent at the top of the board.
One player has been the consensus leader of the pack, though, and that QB prospect is Caleb Williams. With the NFL Combine getting under way this week, Williams will get a chance to interview with multiple prospective teams over the next couple days.
One of the teams he will meet with is the Minnesota Vikings, who could very well be in the market for a new quarterback this offseason.
Top QB Prospect to Meet with the Vikings
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted on Wednesday morning, “USC QB Caleb Williams, the potential top overall pick, arrives today at the NFL Scouting Combine and is expected to meet with the #Bears, #Commanders, #Patriots, #Raiders, #Falcons, #Jets, #Giants and #Vikings. Williams will do meetings, but no testing or on-field work.”
This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, given the fact that the Vikings have Kirk Cousins set to enter free agency this offseason. Currently, the only QBs on their rosters are Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens, who the Vikings went a grand total of 1-4 with in games that they started.
In fact, the only teams who hold picks ahead of the Vikings that Williams won’t meet with are the Arizona Cardinals (No. 4), Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5), and Tennessee Titans (No. 7). Particularly in the cases of Arizona and Los Angeles, they already have their long-term QB plan in place, and the Titans still have a promising player in Will Levis.
Williams is a wizard at the quarterback position with his ability to create plays outside of structure. He is a very mobile player in the pocket with an exceptional ability to throw accurate passes on the run while also picking up yards with his legs.
The quarterback initially began his collegiate career with the Oklahoma Sooners, taking over the starting role in 2021 from another QB prospect in this spring’s draft, Spencer Rattler. As a freshman, he completed 64.5% of his passes for 1912 yards, 21 TDs, and just four interceptions over the course of 11 games.
Williams then made the decision in 2022 to leave Oklahoma, opting to enter the transfer portal and follow Lincoln Riley out west to USC. He proceeded to win the Heisman Trophy in 2022 and was the AP Player of the Year by accruing 4537 passing yards, 42 passing TDs, and five interceptions. USC finished the season in the top 10 of the final College Football Playoff poll for the first time since 2017.
Of course, 2023 wouldn’t go all that well for USC, finishing the year with a record of 8-5 behind some major defensive struggles (allowing nearly 35 points per game). However, Williams carried the program despite the kicking and screaming to those eight wins with another stellar year.
Now, the QB has a chance to take his talents to the NFL level and try to claim the ultimate prize of a Lombardi Trophy. Given his meeting, it seems there is at least some mutual interest in that team being the Minnesota Vikings.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Sports Reference CFB.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.