The Chicago Bears seem committed to making Caleb Williams their #1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. It is the start of the real clock for GM Ryan Poles. People will judge him on this decision more than any other. If he hits on it, he may go down as one of the greatest GMs in franchise history. Nobody can say he hasn't done the work. The past several months were spent doing all kinds of information-gathering. They watched tape, interviewed coaches, teammates, and friends while also meeting with the USC star himself. Everything to this point has resulted in positive results. The only thing left to do is turn in the card.
Fans want to know who they are getting. They've heard the hype and seen the highlights. Even so, it is hard for casual people to know what sort of ceiling Williams has. This is where NFL comparisons can often help paint a picture. Since leaving college, the most popular name dropped is Patrick Mahomes due to Williams' unique improvisational skills. However, top ESPN draft expert Matt Miller sees somebody different when watching him. Someone Bears fans know all too well, for better or worse.
Caleb Williams becoming another Aaron Rodgers would be poetic.
Is it too much to dream of? Probably. Still, the explanation speaks for itself. Rodgers, especially when he was younger, had a knack for fantastic out-of-structure plays, highly accurate passes, and inhuman field vision. More than anything, Rodgers' ability to protect the ball stood out the most. He threw only 13 interceptions total across two seasons as a starter for Cal. Williams threw 14 across his entire college career. Even their physical profiles are similar. Rodgers was 6'2 and 223 lbs coming out in 2005. Williams is 6'1 and 218 lbs.
Everything comes down to how the Bears handle this. One of the reasons Rodgers took off was because the Green Bay Packers put an excellent structure around him. When he took over in 2008, the team had Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Jordy Nelson as receivers and a veteran-laden offensive line. Thankfully, it appears Caleb Williams will have it pretty good, too. D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Cole Kmet will be waiting for him, while the offensive line has four returning starters from last year.
If Shane Waldron is any good at crafting an offensive scheme, this could be the best structure the Bears have ever put around a young quarterback. Maybe this time will be different.
Comments
Join the discussion below. Keep it civil and focused on the content.
Loading comments...