Report: Williams won't hire agent ahead of draft

Potential No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams doesn't plan to hire an agent ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.

The NFL Players Association published a list of draft-eligible players and their agents Wednesday, and Williams' name wasn't included.

The former USC quarterback is widely expected to be selected by the Chicago Bears at the top of April's draft, potentially explaining why he's opting against hiring an agent.

The NFL implemented a rookie wage scale in 2011 in which contracts are given out based on draft position, meaning negotiations for first-year players are far less complex.

However, issues like offset language - what happens to a player's salary if he's cut during his rookie deal and then signs with a new team - can still cause holdups.

The first overall pick in 2023, Bryce Young, received a four-year, $37.96-million deal from the Carolina Panthers. He also got a $24.6-million signing bonus.

The 22-year-old Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022. After beginning his college career at Oklahoma, he finished his two-year stint at USC with 8,170 yards and 72 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.