SouthernWorldwide.com – After being selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams has consistently delivered electrifying performances. His dynamic playmaking ability is now set to transcend the field and enter the virtual realm as he has been chosen as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 27.
Renowned sports commentator Colin Cowherd views Williams’ selection for the Madden NFL 27 cover as a testament to his exceptional talent. At 24 years old, Williams is the third-youngest player to grace the cover, trailing only Michael Vick, who was 24 in 2004, and Lamar Jackson, who was 23 following his unanimous NFL MVP season in 2019.
“He’s been given the cover of Madden for the Chicago Bears and is the first to ever be awarded that title,” Cowherd remarked. “I still think Caleb [Williams] is unique and rare. He is still underrated as a No. 1 pick at quarterback.”
Cowherd has a distinct perspective on why Williams, despite this significant honor, might still be nationally underrated.
“Here’s my theory on it,” Cowherd explained. “If you look at other No. 1 quarterbacks: Trevor Lawrence, Andrew Luck, Joe Burrow, Matt Stafford, Peyton Manning, they are very traditional, and Caleb is not.”
Cowherd suggests that Williams challenges the conventional image of a franchise quarterback. His distinctive personality, playing style, and improvisational skills have positioned him as one of the league’s more polarizing young stars.
“From painting his fingernails to being only 6-foot-1, he’s unbelievable off-platform,” Cowherd stated. “Sometimes I think he’s better off the platform than in the pocket. He was the first NIL star, the first Gen Z quarterback.”
The core of Cowherd’s argument lies in the observation that individuality in sports is often scrutinized differently compared to other entertainment sectors, where uniqueness is more readily celebrated.
“He’s a non-traditional quarterback, and I think in music, arts, or movies, that uniqueness is celebrated,” Cowherd elaborated. “Pink Floyd was celebrated, The Beatles were celebrated, Stanley Kubrick, the director, was celebrated. That’s not how sports operate. Sports are structured around standings and wins.”
Williams is coming off a 12-5 season where he threw for 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions, guiding the Bears to seven victories in the fourth quarter or overtime. Despite this, some lingering skepticism exists due to his career completion percentage of 60.3% and a 5-12 record in his rookie year.
Cowherd maintains that, irrespective of Williams’ future success, a quarterback’s standing in the modern game is ultimately determined by wins and team achievements.
“I believe that in the sports industry, to be different, you better be successful because people will push back,” Cowherd asserted. “If you win a Super Bowl, you get a parade; that’s about as wild as we get.”
Nevertheless, Cowherd contends that Williams’ unconventional style places him in elite company among the league’s most gifted quarterbacks. In fact, he even likens him to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
“I think this season, and I said this at the end of last year, that I’m not sure outside of Josh Allen if anybody has his talent in the NFL playing the position,” Cowherd commented. “I think two quarterbacks in this league have more horsepower than every other quarterback. Allen and Caleb.”
The NFL has a historical tendency to be slower in fully appreciating quarterbacks who deviate from the traditional mold. Cowherd did not hold back his admiration, going as far as to categorize Williams among the top-five quarterbacks in the sport.
“I do not think [Patrick] Mahomes has quite that level of horsepower, so I do think right now [Caleb] is a top-five quarterback in the league, but he is so different. He had a bad first year, and because he plays a non-traditional style of quarterback, we struggle with that in sports.”
