NFL Draft watch: Is Caleb Williams no longer a lock to go No. 1 overall?

Certainly, no one is faulting Williams for letting his emotions come pouring out after suffering a third defeat in his last four games, but suddenly there are questions about Williams’ confidence and whether he has the mental resilience of a No. 1 overall pick.

Bo Nix | QB | Oregon | PFF big board: No. 3 QB, No. 18 overall

As Williams is experiencing his share of struggles, Nix, on the other hand, is putting up video game numbers while making a strong case to be the third QB off the board in April. The 6-foot-2 senior completed 29 of 38 passes for a season-high 386 yards and four touchdowns in Oregon’s 63-19 romp of the California Bears.

Nix has thrown multiple touchdowns in every game this year, and he’s had fewer than 250 yards in just two of them. He leads the NCAA in completion percentage (78.1), he ranks fourth in touchdowns (25) and eighth in passing yards (2,723), and he one of just two QBs to throw 20 or more touchdowns with two or fewer interceptions. Nix could be approaching top-10 territory.

Tahj Brooks | RB | Texas Tech | PFF big board: not ranked

Running back is one of the toughest positions to project with no clear-cut No. 1 back in the 2024 class. Jonathan Brooks, Blake Corum, Trey Benson and Marshawn Lloyd appear to be the consensus top four, but that could change by the time April rolls around, leaving plenty of time for someone like Tahj Brooks to fly up draft boards with performances like he had in Thursday’s 35-28 win over TCU.

The 230-pound senior rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per rush and notching his sixth 100-yard game of the season. While Brooks began the year as a projected Day 3 selection, it wouldn’t be surprising if he worked his way into the second- or third-round range when April rolls around.

Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State | PFF big board: No. 5 WR, No. 25 overall

Though he plays opposite Marvin Harrison Jr., Egbuka began the 2023 season as a projected first-round pick and among the consensus top five receivers in the class. But he hasn’t helped his cause in any of the six games he’s played this season, especially his latest outing against Rutgers in which he finished with four receptions for 29 yards — his worst performance since the season opener against Indiana — and he’s been even less productive than tight end Cade Stover. 

After logging 74 receptions, 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, Egbuka has just 26 catches, 332 yards and three touchdowns this year. With players like Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze and Keon Coleman having spectacular seasons, Egbuka may be on the way to playing himself out of the first round entirely.