ESPN: Caleb Williams in ‘ideal’ situation with Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears franchise was in desperate need of a quarterback like Caleb Williams, and Caleb Williams should be really, really thankful for that.

It came as no surprise when the Bears selected Williams with the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. It was a foregone conclusion Williams would be a Bear at the end of the 2023 regular season and confirmed once GM Ryan Poles traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers. There was never a doubt that the former Heisman Trophy winner would be Poles’ hand-picked QB-next, and the third-year general manager went to work to ensure he surrounded his guy with all the weapons he’d need to succeed.

It began with the signing of running back D’Andre Swift and continued with the trade for receiver Keenan Allen. Gerald Everett, a quality pass-catching tight end, and Rome Odunze, an elite receiver prospect whom Poles selected with Chicago’s second first-round pick, were added too.

Even the interior of the offensive line received some experienced veteran reinforcements.

As a result, ESPN ranked Caleb Williams’ situation with the Chicago Bears as the best for any quarterback who was selected with the first overall pick in the last 30 years.

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“Yes, Williams easily has the best situation of any quarterback chosen No. 1, at least since 1980,” ESPN’s Aaron Schatz wrote. “In my value estimates, the difference between the Bears” skill players and the 2009 Lions is roughly the same as the gap between the Lions and the No. 12 team (Jeff George and the 1990 Colts).”

The NFL expectations for Caleb Williams have been high ever since he exploded onto the college football scene with Oklahoma in 2021. Now that he’s landed on a Bears team with an offense ready to launch, those expectations have leveled up quite a bit.

Call it a hunch, but I think Williams will meet them. I think he’ll throw for 4,000 yards, setting a new Bears” single-season passing yardage record. He’ll toss 25 or more touchdowns. And he’ll help this Chicago Bears team reach 10 wins.

Let’s face it: with the supporting cast he has, Williams must succeed. Bears fans aren’t patient with their quarterbacks, and the Chicago media can be relentless in their effort to bring down whoever is under center.

Caleb Williams must have a hot start to his rookie year. He must have a strong finish, too. There’s simply no other option.