Hours after Rome Odunze‘s signature was on his rookie contract, Caleb Williams was additionally placing pen to paper. The Bears are additionally signing their No. 1 general choose to his rookie deal Tuesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports.
This will likely be a totally assured four-year deal value $39M. Whereas this can be a fraction of what No. 1 picks commanded earlier than the 2011 CBA reshaped rookie pacts, Williams’ slot value sits increased than anybody drafted since. The Bears, who traded Justin Fields to make room for the 2022 Heisman winner, now have this year’s top draftee signed via 2027.
Williams marks the latest QB swing from a Bears team that has been unable to find a true franchise-level option. Fields showed some improvement last season, but Williams’ ceiling is viewed as considerably higher. Chicago’s whiff on Mitch Trubisky stays probably the most notorious transactions of the fashionable draft period, as Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson had been drafted quickly after. The staff’s Jay Cutler commerce, which price two first-round picks and alter, produced one playoff berth in eight seasons. A 2023 Panthers commerce, nevertheless, modified Chicago’s fortunes and led to a uncommon alternative.
The Bears did cross on C.J. Stroud by sending the Panthers the 2023 prime choose, resulting in Carolina selecting Bryce Young. Though GM Ryan Poles tried to provide Fields a shot at making a case to be the staff’s long-term choice, the Panthers ending 2-15 modified the Bears’ plans. Few anticipated Chicago to noticeably entertain buying and selling out of No. 1 for a second straight yr, and the staff didn’t. The Bears as a substitute unloaded Fields — for a value (a conditional sixth-round choose) a lot decrease than most anticipated — to clear the decks for Williams. With no notable backup, the previous Lincoln Riley pupil will quickly transfer into Chicago’s beginning lineup.
The Bears already named Williams their starter, although that standing was by no means doubtful. The previous Oklahoma recruit-turned-USC famous person had established himself because the clear-cut prime choice on this yr’s class throughout his 2022 Heisman-winning season. Williams didn’t fare in addition to a junior however didn’t do sufficient to fall within the draft. This yr’s spree of draft rumors centered round 5 quarterbacks, not six, as Williams-to-Chicago was an open secret for weeks.
Though some evaluators referred to Williams’ combine interviews as “not great,” the dynamic expertise was by no means carefully related to any staff however the Bears. That set him other than Younger final yr, because the Panthers had been additionally tied to Stroud and Anthony Richardson, and positioned Williams nearer to the Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow ranges. Williams’ supporting solid appears higher than each of these skills coming in.
Williams totaled 4,537 passing yards, with a 42-5 TD-INT ratio, throughout his Heisman season. Though the Trojans took a step again in 2023 by dropping 5 of their ultimate six regular-season video games, Williams nonetheless closed with a 30-5 TD-INT ratio, enhancing his completion proportion from 66.6% to 68.6%. Williams’ yards per try quantity (9.4) additionally bettered his Heisman common (9.1). Williams averaged no less than 9 yards per cross in his three faculty seasons.
The 6-foot-1, 214-pound passer will now staff with one of many prime receiver teams in Bears historical past, with Chicago including Keenan Allen and Odunze to a bunch fronted by D.J. Moore. The Bears even have Cole Kmet and ex-Shane Waldron cost Gerald Everett rostered at tight finish. After Trubisky and Fields struggled with restricted pass-catching assist, Williams will start an try and reverse this franchise’s depressing fashionable QB historical past with a deep array of weaponry.
Going into coaching camp, right here is how the Bears’ 2024 draft class appears: