The Chicago Bears have received tons of hype this offseason. This comes one year after the team made Caleb Williams the No.1 overall pick, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the former USC product in year one. Williams was the most-sacked quarterback in the league last season by a wide margin, being taken down 68 times, 16 more than the second-most.
Knowing they needed more protection for their potential franchise quarterback, the Bears spared no cost this offseason. The team brought in three veteran interior offensive linemen in Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney and acquiring Jonah Jackson via trade. In terms of weapons, the Bears already had D.J. Moore and last year’s other first round pick in Rome Odunze already on the roster. They spent a second round pick this year on Luther Burden III, who has high hopes to be an immediate impact player.
Williams threw for 3,541 yards with 20 touchdowns to six interceptions, but everyone knows his ceiling is much higher. The arrival of new head coach Ben Johnson should help, as he orchestrated one of the league’s most electric offenses in Detroit. In ESPN’s recent roster rankings, the Bears came in at No.15. Williams was listed as the team’s X-factor, here’s what analyst Mike Clay had to say:
“It’s the obvious call but the right one. Williams can either ascend to meet his potential or continue to scuffle in Year 2. Which he does will be everything. Williams’ rookie numbers were poor: A 46.7 QBR (28th), 10% sack rate (31st), 5.1 yards per dropback (32nd) and a minus-1.4% completion percentage over expectation per NFL Next Gen Stats (25th). But a year of experience and new head coach Ben Johnson could be enough to unlock Williams into the quarterback the Bears dreamed he would become.”
If Williams can take a massive jump in year two, it means the Bears will have won plenty of games in 2025.