Chicago Bears Pick Caleb Williams to Be Franchise QB

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Hype and buzz surrounding players heading into the NFL Draft is often a double-edged sword. Players can either rise or fall as college careers get turned into the realizations of childhood dreams to play in the NFL. This year was no different as Caleb Williams, the quarterback from USC, had been the presumptive first overall pick in the 2024 Draft before the 2023 Draft was complete.

When it came time for the Chicago Bears to make the first pick of this year's NFL Draft it was evident it wasn't as much a question of if the Bears would select Williams, but how quickly they would get the card up to the podium for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to announce Williams becoming the next quarterback in the storied history of the Bears. The Bears and General Manager Ryan Poles set themselves up for a franchise-defining draft in 2023 when they traded the top selection to Carolina in exchange for the Panthers' first-round selection in 2024 among other considerations.

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In Williams, the Bears get a quarterback with all-world talent. A quarterback who can not only make throws to all areas of the field but can make them while on the run with relative ease. During his time with USC, Williams had a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 72-to-10 while throwing for more than 8,000 yards during that time. He was able to push the ball downfield as well average 9.1 yards per attempt over his career. Although not a true dual-threat quarterback, Williams has shown a great ability to escape the pocket and create plays with his legs when needed. He averaged just under 7 yards per carry when he created plays and accounted for 27 touchdowns on the ground.

While in college, he began drawing comparisons to the likes of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Although there are aspects of Williams's game that are similar, the praise has helped set the bar extremely high as Williams and the Bears begin their journey into a new era of Chicago football.

While his on-field play has earned Williams praise, off the field he has earned just as much publicity. Critics look to his nail painting and the emotion he has displayed after games on the sidelines to try and diminish his rise and attack his character. For the nail painting, while not conventional, it has certainly become part of his style. He has also said he does it as a way to honor his mom from whom he draws inspiration.

As the dust settles from the first round of the draft and draft weekend as a whole, the Bears organization and fans everywhere are truly excited about what Williams and the Bears' future holds as signs point to a shift in the philosophy of the organization. With Williams, the Bears have found their first franchise quarterback and someone who many consider to be a generational talent to lead the offense.