Caleb Williams Rumors: NFL Insiders Question Bears Navigating a QB Who Made Millions

Caleb Williams is the first superstar of the NIL era to enter the NFL draft, and some teams are concerned.

"He's already made millions," a league source told Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. "He is a business."

Kalyn Kahler of The Athletic reported Williams made around $10 million in NIL deals over his final two seasons at USC.

Williams' family has also been fundamentally aware of the power he possesses. His father, Carl, said last year the family would consider keeping Williams in school another season if they were concerned about the organization that earned the No. 1 pick. Kahler reported Carl Williams also explored the possibility of his son receiving an ownership stake in a franchise, which is banned by NFL rules.

Caleb Williams recently went on record to confirm he will play for any organization that takes him.

"I'm not pushing any agenda," Williams told ESPN's Pete Thamel. "At the end of the day, the Bears have the last say. Regardless of how I feel, I'm not pushing an agenda of, 'Yeah, I want to go. Or no, I don't want to go.' I'm excited for whatever comes."

While Williams is the first of his kind, he will not be the last. NIL money is overflowing at high-level college football at the moment, and Williams may wind up being on the low end of things in the coming years. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders could be well into eight figures next year when he heads to the NFL draft. Texas' Arch Manning has thrown five passes in his college career and is already a millionaire.

Handwringing about Williams simply because he's the first is natural but ultimately unfair. One could argue Williams and other high-level prospects will be better equipped for NFL life because it won't be their first time with money. They have already reaped the rewards—and potentially made mistakes—so they should be able to handle things as a professional.

As it stands, NIL isn't going away, so NFL teams might as well get used to stars arriving with marketing teams and hefty bank accounts.