Caleb Williams has been the consensus top overall pick among mocks for the 2024 NFL Draft. Even if it doesn’t turn that way, he won’t wait long until his name is called. His career with the USC Trojans speaks volumes about his potential in pro football.
But while he will be a highly touted prospect, he would like to call the shots in salary negotiations. Hence, the JPAFootball account on X (former Twitter) shared that Williams will enter the league without an agent.
Caleb Williams is currently set to enter the #NFL without an agent to represent him.
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 21, 2024
Following in Lamar Jackson’s footsteps. pic.twitter.com/MOHJiH1mtf
Lamar Jackson is the most famous example of an NFL player without an agent. His contract extension met a hiccup when the Baltimore Ravens offered him a non-exclusive franchise tag last offseason. This decision prompted Jackson to announce that he requested a trade on March 2, 2023.
However, the tense situation ended when both parties agreed to a five-year, $260 million contract extension, which includes $185 million in guaranteed money and a $72.5 million signing bonus. He became the highest-paid quarterback until Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow had more lucrative deals in terms of annual average value.
It became a good investment after Jackson won his second NFL Most Valuable Player award, bringing the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game for the first time.
Caleb Williams would like to follow in Jackson’s negotiating footsteps. In doing so, he will get all the money because agents can get up to three percent of the player’s salary. Being an exceptional quarterback could earn him an extension that can reset the quarterback market, regardless of which team drafts him.
Williams’ best season in college football came in 2022 when he won the Heisman Trophy. He was also the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year and a Unanimous All-American in the same year.
Including his one season with Oklahoma, Williams finished his college football career with 9,782 passing yards and 93 touchdowns. He also had 966 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in three seasons.
-Lance Fernandez