Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams found himself at the center of another debate after former NFL lineman and analyst Mark Schlereth questioned whether the former No. 1 overall pick is actually a good quarterback.

Speaking on the Stinkin' Truth Podcast, Schlereth argued that Williams is an elite playmaker but has yet to prove he can consistently operate as a solid quarterback.

“This generational talent who's supposed to be a great quarterback, he's not a great quarterback. He's a great playmaker, and when it comes to off-schedule football, the guy is probably as good as it gets. He is Kyler Murray with more height."

Schlereth explained on the Stinkin' Truth Podcast that Williams relies too heavily on off-script plays rather than operating within the offense's structure.

He said many of Williams' biggest moments came after extended scrambles.

"He's a dynamic athlete. He makes big-time plays, but is he a good quarterback? No. If you were ranking that class, you'd put Jayden Daniels ahead of him. You'd put Drake Maye ahead of him. I'd put Bo Nix ahead of him," Schlereth added. 

Williams appeared to notice the criticism himself, reposting the clip on social media shortly after it circulated online.

Mark Schlereth says Caleb Williams must become more than a playmaker

Schlereth's comments have sparked debate because they acknowledge Williams' talent while questioning how he plays the position.

His comparison to Kyler Murray was intended to highlight Williams' ability to create outside the pocket rather than consistently operate within the structure of an offense.

According to Mike Moraitis of the Chicago Bears on SI, some of that criticism mirrors what Bears coaches have emphasized this offseason.

Head coach Ben Johnson and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett have both stressed improving Williams' ability to stay on schedule within the offense while continuing to build on his natural playmaking ability.

The report also argued that the Murray comparison may not be as harsh as it initially sounds. Murray has earned Pro Bowl honors during his career, making the comparison more about playing style than suggesting Williams cannot develop into an elite quarterback.

Williams enters his third NFL season with high expectations, but Schlereth believes he still has work to do before establishing himself as a complete quarterback.

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Rudra Dubey