Merril Hoge, a former ESPN analyst and veteran running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, delivered a harsh assessment of Caleb Williams, the highly-touted prospect projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Throughout his career as an analyst, Merril Hoge has shown his talent evaluation skills by making accurate assessments. Some of his notable evaluations include referring to former South Carolina Gamecock and current Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney as an “average football player” and predicting that former Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel would be a “bust.”
During Super Bowl week, Hoge continued to add to his collection of brutal assessments when he spoke with NBC Sports Chicago.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney
According to Hoge, it is Hoge’s belief that the Chicago Bears should retain quarterback Justin Fields and focus on building a team around him.
According to Hoge, Caleb Williamshas not lived up to the hype surrounding him and falls short of being considered truly exceptional. However, Hoge did acknowledge that his evaluation process of the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is only halfway complete.
Hoge stated, “It is evident that he lacks the special qualities that set players like Patrick Mahomes apart.”
Hoge strongly advised against the Chicago Bears attempting to rectify their past mistake of passing on Patrick Mahomes by selecting Caleb Williams, emphasizing that Williams is nowhere near the caliber of Mahomes. While some praise Williams for his ability to make spontaneous plays and impressive off-platform throws similar to Mahomes, others point out his underwhelming performance during the season with USC, particularly after several talented players left the team and losses in high-pressure situations against Notre Dame, Utah, and Washington, which have revealed weaknesses in Williams’ once seemingly invincible skills.
The ongoing debate surrounding whether the Chicago Bears should trade Justin Fields and draft Williams as the No. 1 overall pick, or trade the pick to another team for a substantial return to continue building around Fields, will likely intensify as the draft approaches.
Hoge expressed concerns about Williams’ ability to throw accurately while on the move, referring to it as “disturbing” and “inconsistent.” He also criticized the excessive use of run-pass options (RPOs), stating that relying solely on RPOs is unlikely to lead a team to a Super Bowl in the NFL.
Hoge emphasized the importance of pushing the ball downfield in the passing game. While acknowledging that Williams does demonstrate this ability at times, Hoge expressed concern about his lack of anticipation, attributing it to the presence of clean pockets that afford him extra time.
What currently troubles Hoge is Williams’ inconsistency as a thrower while on the move. Hoge noted that Williams often opts to throw on the move more frequently than necessary, which is not a viable choice in the NFL. Hoge further commented that he does not perceive anything exceptional or extraordinary about Williams’ arm talent.
Hoge expressed his reservations about replacing Justin Fields with Caleb Williams, stating that he does not see enough evidence at this point to justify such a decision. He highlighted the fact that Williams has no experience playing in the National Football League (NFL) and would have to overcome numerous challenges in order to give the team a chance to win.
Hoge emphasized his belief that the Chicago Bears already have enough potential and promise with Justin Fields as their quarterback. He suggested that the team should continue to build around Fields and maintain hope for future success.
