As expected, the Bears have kicked off the 2024 draft by adding their quarterback of the present and future. Chicago has selected Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. 
The 2022 Heisman winner entered the past campaign in pole position to be the first player off the board. His highly productive campaign that year – upon following Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma to USC – led to massive expectations and many evaluators deeming him a generational prospect. While the Trojans did not have a stellar showing in 2023 and Williams’ statistical output (both in the air and on the ground) regressed slightly, he has long remained the favorite for the No. 1 slot.
The Bears acquired Carolina’s first-round pick as part of last year’s blockbuster deal which delivered Bryce Young to the Panthers. Now, Chicago general manager Ryan Poles has taken advantage of the 2024 draft’s top choice to add a replacement for Justin Fields. The latter spent the past three years at the helm of Chicago’s offense, and he entered 2023 as a critical evaluation period. With the Bears still struggling to move the ball through the air and Fields failing to show tangible signs of improvement, Poles and Co. elected to start over at the QB spot.
Following through on the stated goal of “doing right by” Fields, Chicago dealt the 2021 first-rounder to the Steelers in March. That swap yielded less compensation than what other teams are believed to have been willing to offer, but it allowed Fields to go to his preferred destination. It also, of course, cleared the way for Poles to draft his own franchise QB in his third season in charge.
Williams’ pre-draft process was not seen as the greatest amongst 2024 quarterbacks, and some teams reportedly have Jayden Daniels ranked as the class’ top signal-caller. Chicago only hosted one QB prospect this spring, though, and Williams in turn only met in-person with one potential employer. Team and player can now officially move forward with a relationship which has long been foreshadowed.
The Bears’ offense has seen a number of changes this offseason, including the hiring of new OC Shane Waldron. Chicago has also signed running back D’Andre Swift and traded for wideout Keenan Allen, adding those players to a skill-position corps already featuring D.J Moore and Cole Kmet. That unit may see another notable move made at a pass-catching position or along the offensive line with the No. 9 pick.
Williams will thus enter a situation where he will not need to be as much of a catalyst as he was with the Trojans. If things go according to plan, though, he will provide Chicago with a long-term solution under center and thus fill a massive organizational need.
What? Totally unexpected.
In other news water is wet
Look forward to the Bears moving on from Williams by 2028 after he doesn’t prove to be a franchise QB.
You misspelled “after the bears failed to develop yet another QB”.
Caleb is the true bears savior!!!! Justin Fields was a false prophet
This pick is going to get Poles, Eberflus and Warren fired, and hopefully nudge the McCaskeys to sell the team to owners that want to win.
What a ridiculous comment with absolutely nothing to back it up with.
Williams will be just fine with the WR room they have.
Omg I never saw this coming!!!WOW
For reference purposes here are the rookie season passer ratings of USC QBs drafted in round 1.
Sam Darnold (2018) 77.6
Carson Palmer (2004) 77.3
Matt Leinart (2006) 74.0
Mark Sanchez (2009) 63.0
Pete Beathard (1964) 59.7
Jim Hardy (1946) 22.7
I’m not crazy about this draft pick. There were commentators and analysts who said he was not a good quarterback. I dunno, but I’m always leery about choosing a quarterback in the first round of the draft. Guess we’ll see what happens, but if this pick bombs (no pun intended, well, almost) then hopefully it’ll finally put the Bears organization in a position to have to sell and finally get competent management in place. Again, we’ll see……
The Bears should have kept Fields & sat Williams for at least a year , with all the eventual adds, shore up that OL & the Bears make the play offs , the newcomers to the team will realize this is the NFL & everyone is better here than in college . As the previous statement did not happen as the Bears are the Bears , you will see Williams do much like what Fields did , run for his life , hold on the ball too long as the receivers can’t get open for him to throw it . Will be taught the 8-10 foot side step hash mark run out of the pocket, either to run or throw it out of bounds to safe a sack much like all Q/Bs are shown