Does Caleb Williams want partial ownership? Debunking latest rumors around USC QB's financial plans
Caleb Williams is widely expected to be the first overall of the 2024 NFL Draft. With the pre-season shaping up, teams like the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers are looking like likely destinations for the USC Trojan quarterback.
However, there are reports the young signal-caller clearly values himself highly and wouldn't accept any sports franchise drafting him.
Some rumors even claim that the Heisman winner would forgo the draft entirely and stay at the college level for another year. This might happen if Williams doesn't feel like the team likely to draft him would be an organization in which he could succeed.
His requests vary from having reliable receiving core to the financial health of the organization. Regarding that last point, the latest rumors have Caleb Williams asking something no other draftee has ever dared to ask: A stake in the ownership of the team.
While this isn't expressly prohibited by the NFL rules, it could be considered a violation of anti-trust law. Veteran Aaron Rodgers attempted to gain partial ownership of the New York Jets when he transferred there, but the NFL prevented it from happening. In the aftermath of this, NBC Sports Mike Florido reported that on July 26, the league instituted a new rule that prevents players and other employees from getting equity on their teams.
Apparently, this decision was taken without consultation with the players, which could open the NFL to litigation. The NFL players, like every major US sports league, are unionized and their employment terms are set forth in a collective bargaining agreement. By not consulting the union on this, the NFL has changed an important factor of their employment terms without consultation.
However, for the short term what this means is that neither Aaron Rodgers nor Caleb Williams are likely to get a stake on their teams.
Could Caleb Williams' stock be losing value?
The USC Trojans season is imploding right before their eyes, as they've lost two back-to-back encounters against Notre Dame and Utah. Against the Fighting Irish, Caleb Williams had the worst game of his career throwing for 199 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. USC lost 48-20.
William's performance against the Utes was better, but far from what we are used to expecting from him with 256 yards and no touchdown passes. The Trojans fell 34-32.
If he continues to drop his performance levels, we could see other players rise in their valuations. Think of Drake Maye or Heisman Trophy favorite Michael Penix Jr. to compete for the first overall pick.