Just doing due diligence in case he slides on draft night?
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Minnesota Vikings are one of eight teams “expected” to meet formally with potential No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
The star quarterback from USC will also meet with the Bears, Commanders, Patriots, Raiders, Falcons, Jets and Giants, according to Rapoport. Williams is reportedly not going to work out at the NFL Combine, nor does he plan to throw during the USC pro day.
As Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell noted Wednesday, every quarterback will wind up testing and throwing for interested teams if they accept invitations for private workouts.
“I would love for all the guys to show up and throw and compete a little bit on the field, that’s what this has really been built for,” O’Connell told KFXN-FM 100.3’s Paul Allen. But every prospect is entitled to choose their own path. Every single one of these guys is going to end up throwing either at their pro days in front of every football team or the individual workouts through the month of March and early April.”
Minnesota reportedly met with LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels on Tuesday night.
Williams is projected by most to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears. Daniels is also projected by most to be selected with one of the first three picks. In fact, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his second mock draft on Wednesday and he has Williams going No. 1 and Daniels being selected by the Commanders with the No. 2 overall pick.
All of the teams Rapoport expects Williams to meet with need a quarterback. The Bears need a QB if they move on from Justin Fields; the Commanders are in the market if they don’t trust Sam Howell; the Patriots certainly need a QB amid the Mac Jones strife; the Raiders don’t have a long-term answer at QB, nor do the Falcons or Jets; and the Giants could be in the market if they want to punt on Daniel Jones.
