Caleb Williams began this week as one of the few first-round picks from this year’s NFL Draft who had not yet signed with his team. Concerns about his participation in training camp have now been put to rest, as the No. 1 overall pick in April finalized a lucrative four-year, $39 million contract with the Chicago Bears.
Williams is expected to step into the starting role for the Bears in Week 1 after the team traded Justin Fields, their starting quarterback for the past three seasons, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March.
Prior to this week, Williams was one of five first-round draft picks who had not yet signed, including his former teammate and wide receiver from Washington, Rome Odunze. With both Williams and Odunze now under contract, they are set to join the Bears for the upcoming season.
Williams, who was widely regarded as the top quarterback and overall player in this year’s draft class, achieved significant acclaim after winning the Heisman Trophy during his tenure at USC in 2022. Despite a less impressive performance last season with USC due to a weaker supporting cast, Williams maintained substantial hype leading up to the draft, with the Bears’ selection of him at No. 1 overall being widely anticipated for several months.
The 2024 NFL Draft saw six quarterbacks chosen in the first twelve picks, including Jayden Daniels by the Commanders and Drake Maye by the Patriots in the top three spots. As of now, the Minnesota Vikings have two of the three remaining unsigned rookies, including JJ McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick and former quarterback for Michigan.
In preparation for Williams’ debut season, the Bears fortified their offense by signing running back D’Andre Swift and acquiring wide receiver Keenan Allen, providing Williams with a seasoned veteran target while Odunze continues to develop.