Jaylon Johnson of the Bears Sends Caleb Williams A Strong Message.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson is not quite convinced that USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the right pick for the Chicago Bears in the NFL Draft, which takes place next month. Speaking about Williams this week, Johnson stated that before he can truly earn respect, the young player needs to demonstrate that he can play in the NFL.
Johnson stated, “What you did in college, the Hollywood, it’s like ‘nah, you’ve got to prove yourself,'” on the Up & Adams Show. “That stuff is, like, irrelevant. You also need to get to know him. I believe there’s a thin line between having to get to know someone and trying to convince them of something. We want him to be the best version of himself at the end of the day. We are bringing him in for that purpose in order to win games. I believe that genuinely getting to know him as a person and understanding more about him than just what you see in Hollywood would be beneficial.
Whoa. Johnson said some fairly nasty things, which shows that not everyone is as infatuated with Williams as the media would have us believe. Of course, things are different for athletes who are currently engaged in NFL play. When they hear about a college player being overhyped to the point of absurdity and then see that kid eventually join the league, the veterans try to get a message across to him right away, it certainly irritates them a little. Johnson seems to be telling Williams that although he may have blazed through the Pac-12, the NFC North is a different animal and that things won’t be quite the same in the professional ranks.
With his recent rich four-year contract extension with the Bears, Johnson will go down as one of Chicago’s elder statesmen going ahead. Before Williams enters the major leagues, Jaylon Johnson is reportedly sending him a message as one of his first moves as a seasoned leader. In his last season at USC this past year, Caleb Williams completed 68.6 percent of his throws for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns with five interceptions.