The Chicago Bears’ draft plans are now more evident after trading Justin Fields. With the first pick in the NFL Draft in April, general manager Ryan Poles is expected to select a quarterback. That quarterback will most likely be Caleb Williams from USC.
Williams has a massive marketing operation behind him. Some think he is a “generational” talent. They’ve compared him to Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning. On Wednesday, nine Bears representatives attended the USC Pro Day. This includes Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph.
Poles is permanently linked to Williams. It is critical that he accomplishes what he failed to do for Fields: put him up for success. He has only three picks after number one, so it will be intriguing to see what he does once the round begins.
Caleb Williams may be the Chicago Bears’ franchise quarterback, but he will need to change his mindset if the veterans are to follow him.
While many are overjoyed about the prospect of having Williams, others have reservations. Sure, he is overconfident and hyped up when things are going well. When things aren’t going his way, he acts differently.
Williams has broken down during and after games. After a loss, he raced into the stands and sobbed on his mother’s lap. In 2023, after the Trojans were eliminated from the college football playoffs, his production decreased. He only threw nine touchdown passes in his final seven games. In addition, he appeared sullen when reporters interviewed him.
These are all red signals for someone who is expected to step in and become a leader immediately. He will have a locker room full of mature guys who will assess his leadership abilities. His performance on the field will have some impact, but his attitude will have a far greater impact.
The veterans are aware of what is occurring. They are aware of the hoopla around Williams and his antics. He went to the NFL Combine doing everything but workouts and taking actual measurements. He chose not to undergo the medicals, instead waiting until his Pro Day.
Well, we now see why. At the Pro Day, it was revealed that he stood 6 feet 7/8 inches tall. That was shorter than the Combine’s advertised height of 6-foot-1-1/8 inches. That’s another red flag, as only three quarterbacks under 6’1″ have won the Super Bowl.
Despite this, Williams maintains an excessive confidence that borders on cockiness. How would that affect the veterans?
Johnson warns Williams, cornerback. Jaylon Johnson recently inked a multi-year contract extension worth $76 million. As a long-term member of the squad, he is a leader. He is also not afraid to speak his thoughts on anything. During Matt Nagy’s tenure, he received a fine for speaking up.
It’s not surprising that Johnson had something to say about the Williams situation. He is a really good indicator of the veterans’ feelings. He stated that Williams needs to humble himself and keep the Hollywood thing out of the locker room.
“You can’t bring that Hollywood stuff into the building, especially with guys who’ve been playing this game at a high level for consecutive years in the league. It’s just something that happens to people like myself, Tremaine, and TJ. I mean only the veterans, including Keenan Allen. You just ask certain players in the locker room, and I believe we’ll see through it. It’s similar to what you accomplished in college and Hollywood; you have to prove yourself. That stuff does not matter.”
Fields was a popular presence in the Chicago Bears’ locker room. More than a few teammates advocated for him to stay and the Bears to trade the pick for a slew more picks. Johnson claimed it took him a few days to process the situation before moving on. Williams must work hard to impress and get acceptance in the locker room.
Williams may have convinced the Chicago Bears, certain fans, and the media that he is the next Mahomes or Manning. However, he still needs to prove it to the veterans. They will not simply take his word for it. He needs to demonstrate it on the practice field, followed by games. They’ll put him to the test to determine how tough he really is. Let’s see how he interacts with his teammates before we see how he performs against the league.
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