Bears Fans Get Welcome News On The Caleb Williams Front

There are still 14 games to play, but most experts agree on one thing. The Chicago Bears are again the worst team in the NFL. They suffer from an appalling lack of star power on both sides of the ball. Their quarterback has mentally checked out. What little aggressiveness he had as a passer is long gone. Last but not least, the coaching appears completely overwhelmed by their situation. Luke Getsy has no solutions on offense. Matt Eberflus is trying to pick up the pieces on defense after Alan Williams resigned. This is why they're home underdogs next Sunday to a Denver Broncos team that just lost a game 70-20. It's also why they are considered favorites to land the #1 pick in 2024 and the rights to quarterback Caleb Williams.

Most agree the USC superstar is the latest generational prospect to come through the pipeline. He's earning comparisons to Patrick Mahomes with his incredible playmaking instincts and often ridiculous accuracy. One would think Bears fans would be thrilled at the idea of landing him. Except there is one legitimate fear. It is possible Williams may stay in school another season if he runs the risk of landing with a "dysfunctional organization," as his father put it. Given what the Bears have been through this season already, it's not hard for fans to imagine him taking this route if their team got the 1st overall pick.

However, there might be signs of hope.

Insider Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports spoke to several prominent people around the NFL. They aren't buying the idea he stays in school.

As one AFC general manager put it, “Saying he’s a Patrick Mahomes or even comparing him that way is really unfair, but if you want to compete with that quarterback [standard] — which we all should — this guy can get you there. He has the makeup to come in and immediately start turning a franchise around.”

If he enters the 2024 NFL Draft (and most believe he will), Williams is expected to be the No. 1 player across virtually every board. That makes him a remarkably special prospect for any team that ends up with the top pick — whether the franchise already has its foundational quarterback or not. And given how percentages have broken down the past 21 years, that makes Sunday worth watching for a handful of fan bases — especially the quartet of 0-3 teams that are facing each other.

Caleb Williams will have plenty of reasons to declare.

For one, his guarantees of being the #1 pick in 2025 are far from certain. Returning to school increases the risk of him suffering an unforeseen injury that would tank his draft stock. There is also the possibility another quarterback emerges into the picture to steal the spotlight from him, which has happened many times in the past. If it looks like almost a foregone conclusion that he will be the #1 pick come next April when this college season ends, it seems irresponsible not to go pro.

There are many variables still in play. There is no guarantee the Bears will end up with the #1 pick, even if it looks like way right now. It's still September. Crazy things happen in this league. Still, Robinson stated that based on historical data, if the Bears lose to Denver on Sunday to reach 0-4, their odds of grabbing that pick rise to over 70%. It's okay to think this organization might ruin Caleb Williams like many other quarterbacks. Still, there is no denying he would represent the best chance to finally break the curse.