Chicago Bears fans want to feel optimistic about Caleb Williams' upcoming inaugural season. By every right, they should. He is widely viewed as one of the best quarterback prospects to come out of college in the past two decades. The Bears have surrounded him with legitimate weapons. He has an experienced offensive coordinator to guide the way. Excitement should be everywhere. Yet many seem somewhat subdued, likely due to the knowledge that this organization has gotten burned way too many times in the past.
Mitch Trubisky was supposed to be the savior. Justin Fields was supposed to be the savior. Both flopped. Yes, their circumstances were different. Also, both of them had legitimate concerns about their games even before they got to the NFL. That doesn't change the fact people are reluctant to go all in on Williams. That hasn't stopped national insiders from doing so. Connor Orr of Sports Illustrated is one of them. He went so far as to project the rookie's exact stat line by the time he finishes the season.
43. Caleb Williams will put up the following numbers during his rookie season:
A 65% completion rate, 24 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 3,727 yards. Williams will finish a very close second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and win at least seven games. The hallmark of his rookie season will be a few critical throws he makes under duress, taking hard hits as he releases the ball and dispelling some of the predraft narratives on the No. 1 pick.
Caleb Williams will join rare company if that happens.
Only two quarterbacks have managed to cross 3,500 yards and 20 touchdown passes in a season. Erik Kramer did it in 1995. Jay Cutler did it three times in 2009, 2014, and 2015. That's it. Such a feat only happened four times. Trubisky was the last quarterback to crack 20 touchdown passes in 2018 with 24. Williams eclipsing 3700 yards would mark only the third time in franchise history. This should help provide context to what Orr is projecting. While that would be considered a solid season for a rookie quarterback these days, it would be an excellent one for the Bears.
Fans need a sign. They need proof that Caleb Williams isn't just another in a long line of scrubs masquerading as the Savior. Nobody denies he is a talented young man. Physical ability has never been the issue with several Bears quarterbacks. It has always been their inability to play the chess match. Opposing defenses would inevitably find a weakness and exploit it constantly. Williams has to show them it won't work that way with him. A season like that would certainly be such a sign.
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