We took issue with Pro Football Focus last weekend when Caleb Williams was snubbed from their list of top players under the age of 25.
Williams, obviously, did not have a great rookie season, but his production, given the circumstances around him, should have been enough to have him make this list. To be fair, this isn't a quarterback-centric list that Pro Football Focus is compiling, as it includes players at every position. Still, with Ben Johnson now as his head coach and an improved offensive line, there is a clear case to be made that Williams should have been on this list.
But what's done is done. That is, until we came across a chance for PFF to correct that mistake by listing Williams among the 10 players who just missed their original list. Once again, Williams' name is nowhere to be found.
Caleb Williams' rookie season wasn't great but his arrow is still upward
To be clear, there are things that Williams has to improve at. Between pocket awareness and getting the ball out faster, the Bears' second-year quarterback is far from a finished product. Had Williams had a competent coaching staff around him last season, these things likely would have been cleaned up. It's also likely that Williams would have been on PFF's list. Nevertheless, Johnson's arrival should correct all of those things.
Having said that, it does seem like some are moving the goalposts when it comes to talking about Williams' future as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Despite all that went wrong last season, it can't be said enough that Williams still managed to throw for over 3,500 yards with 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. As a rookie season, that is an incredibly high base to start with.
Williams may not have hit the "generational" expectations that were cast on him upon being taken by the Bears, but he still very much can be a franchise quarterback in the NFL.