NFL Network’s Kurt Warner Talks Caleb, Darnold, Kyler & More with Rich

Kurt Warner isn't handing out the word "elite" to Caleb Williams just yet. But in a wide-ranging visit to The Rich Eisen Show, the NFL Network analyst explained exactly what has changed in Williams' game, how the Bears won in Seattle, why Bo Nix confuses him, what Minnesota should do at quarterback and why Joe Fagnano shouldn't try to be a hero.

Warner even admitted he is in one fantasy league this year, after a buddy called needing one more person. With only four bench spots, injuries force tough decisions. "I'm hanging around," he said, "but I'm not great."

Rich started with the big question: has Williams reached elite status? "I hold elite at a whole different standard," Warner said. "There's only four or five maybe at any one time that fall into that elite category. And I'm not ready to put Caleb there yet."

What he loves is the ascension, and the timing surprises him. Players returning from injury are usually sluggish and rusty, but since coming back from his hamstring injury, Warner said, Williams "has more command in the pocket, has more patience in the pocket." Warner wondered if being unable to run during his return forced Williams to get comfortable inside the pocket.

The result is a quarterback who gets to his check down instead of bailing. Warner pointed to Monday night in Seattle, when Williams hung in on the first drive, rolled right and hit Loveland for a first down. "He's not panicking taking off trying to create, which I think we saw at times in his college career and early in his NFL career," Warner said. "That to me has been the biggest breakthrough." He tied it to Williams' 71% completion rate and the 17-play opening drive against Seattle. "He's playing really good football. I'm just not ready to put him in that elite category yet."

So who is in the club? "The Josh Allens and the Joe Burrows and the Patrick Mahomes, you know, Lamar Jackson when he's healthy," Warner said, plus "a Matthew Stafford when he's going good." Those are guys who have done it over and over. "You don't just take one or two games and go, 'Ah, it looks pretty good. Now he's elite.' They got to earn the right to get into that club."

Rich asked whether the Bears had exposed the Seahawks the way Seattle exposed the Chiefs. Warner called that game in person, and he said it was decided up front. "The teams that win the line of scrimmage are the teams that win and dominate football games," he said. When Chicago wins, it dominates the line of scrimmage. Seattle wins the same way, especially on defense, "and Chicago dominated them up front."

Seattle couldn't pressure Williams, and every handoff went for four or five yards. Seattle's defense is built on zone coverage and a four-man rush rather than an abundance of blitzes, and "they could not get home in this game." Even when the score tightened, Warner said, "calling the game and being there in person, I never felt like Seattle was in this game."

He also credited Ben Johnson for half-rolling Williams, including off a wildcat look, which changes rush lanes and forces a defensive line to play laterally.

Next up was Tampa, and Rich asked whether blitzing is the way to rattle Williams. Warner said that's the logical next test, keeping him in the pocket and forcing him to get the ball out. But "you've still got to stop the run game," he warned, or all-out blitzes get gashed. "As great as Caleb has played, the bottom line with this team is they're a run-first team."

Asked for his takeaway from Chiefs-Broncos, Warner said both play callers created big-play chances, and both teams still have passing game issues. Nix leaves him scratching his head. "I've watched Bo make big throws and big reads and attack down the field at critical times in games," Warner said. "I just can't figure out why he won't do it for three quarters." He gets that a deficit forces the issue, but "if you can do it and if you can see it, why would you not do it the entirety of the game?"

He praised Sean Payton's play calling in the tight red zone, on fourth downs and after the missed field goal, with a dump-off that turned into a huge gain to set up the winner. He also credited Andy Reid for designing opportunities for the Chiefs' second back, given limitations at wide receiver. Both teams will be in the mix, Warner said. The question is which one can make its passing game more efficient when it has to carry them.

Rich also asked, as he does most weeks, about Kyler Murray. Warner said Murray can make nice throws "when he sees it and knows where he wants to go," but there is too much hesitation on throws that look "pretty wide open from an NFL standpoint." It could be a new offense or the old concern that Murray struggles to see the whole field and get past his first read.

Carson Wentz would attack downfield and give Justin Jefferson more chances, Warner said, but "turnovers, which has been a problem for Carson Wentz," would put Minnesota's defense in tough spots. Murray is protecting the football. Asked what he would do with Buffalo up next, Warner chose Murray. "I like the fact that we are in every game," he said. "I think you stay where you're at right now."

Rich asked what Warner would tell Joe Fagnano, suddenly thrust into a major role for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, with Kedon Slovis just brought on. "Don't try to be the hero," Warner said. With playmakers around him, Fagnano should let them make plays. That was a key for Warner early in his own career. He understands the pressure of replacing Lamar Jackson, but said Fagnano should lean on the guys around him "until you kind of gain that confidence in what you're doing and then they can build the system around who you are as opposed to who Lamar Jackson was." Throwing a check down is okay.

Warner's best performance of the week came from a young player. "I thought it was the best game that I've seen Cam Ward play as a pro," he said, praising his poise in the pocket as his team pushed Cincinnati to the limit.

Rich then showed a board comparing Joe Burrow, who accounted for six touchdowns, five passing and one rushing, with Baker Mayfield, who won with no completions and no passing yards. Warner said he'd take Burrow's stat line if it came with a win, but he understood. He remembered games when Marshall ran for 200 yards and he could "just flip it to 28 and watch him run." Mayfield has about four completions over two weeks and two wins, Warner said, a nice way to ease back from a hand injury while the team runs for something like 370 yards.

Rich looked up Warner's 11-6 NFC Championship Game against Tampa, when he threw 43 times and was picked off three times. Warner said that was how his team was built, and he sees Cincinnati the same way, with Burrow having to make every throw. "I'm sure Joe Burrow wouldn't mind a game or two like that," he said.

Warner will be in studio with the show for Burrow's game in Spain against the Falcons. "My international travels are done," he said.