Caleb Williams says he didn’t feel nervous about waiting to discover he was the number one overall pick at last night’s NFL draft.
Quarterback Williams was taken first by the Chicago Bears after three stand-out years in college football, initially at Oklahoma and then USC, with whom he won the Heisman Trophy in 2022.
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“I didn’t know how I was going to react in the moment,” Williams said after the Bears confirmed the move.
“I was trying to think through it in my head throughout the process, but nothing feels better than actually being in the moment, actually getting that call. You know, I don’t feel nervous, I don’t feel any of that. I was anxious and ready to go, just ready to get the call so I could walk out there on stage and just finally be back on a team is honestly what I’m excited for.”
Williams has spent time with the Bears after a work-out session on a top-30 visit and is excited at the thought of going back.
He added: “I felt good at that point. Getting around the guys, the coaches, the executives. And so, I was around the facility mainly. I didn’t really go into the city. Obviously, the facility is where I’m going to be at for the majority of my time, throughout weeks and days. I was around the guys in the facility, and I felt comfortable. I felt good. I was happy, and ready to go.”
That’s a wrap on Night 1. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/4YNYkawFo8
— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2024
Quarterbacks were also second and third off the board with the Washington Commanders claiming LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye going after him to the New England Patriots.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison went from Ohio State to the Arizona Cardinals with the fourth pick while Notre Dame outside tackle Joe Alt was selected fifth by the Los Angeles Chargers.
There was a surprise at number eight with the Atlanta Falcons taking quarterback Michael Penix despite recently signing Kirk Cousins on a four-year, $180million deal.
Penix, 23, said he was looking forward to honing his trade alongside the four-time Pro Bowler.
“He’s been in the league,” Penix said. “He’s been in there for a while. He’s played a lot of football. I feel like I’m going to come in and I’m going to learn. I’m going to learn from him.”
