The pressure is mounting for Caleb Williams this season.
Even though it’s just his second year in the NFL, the former No. 1 overall pick has plenty to prove after a rocky start to his pro career.
Despite his struggles, Williams still holds significant value due to his immense upside — especially now under new head coach Ben Johnson. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the quarterback would still be worth “two first-round picks and more” if the Bears ever chose to move on from him, though that’s a far cry from his untouchable status heading into the 2024 draft.
“The Bears wouldn't have taken anything close to this for him a year ago, but that was then,” Barnwell wrote. “He struggled through a dismal rookie season, and while it's fair to chalk up some of his woes to an underwhelming scheme and seemingly disinterested playmakers, he deserves plenty of the blame for what went wrong. Indulging the worst elements of his game most weeks and eventually losing his confidence, Williams wasn't reliably creating within the offense, and his attempts to improvise often proved disastrous.
“And yet, he was the consensus first overall pick and a potential superstar quarterback prospect. While Williams has essentially wasted a year of a bargain rookie contract, he's still on a team-friendly deal for up to four more years. If new coach Ben Johnson does everything Bears fans are expecting with Williams this season — and he is willing to rein in his hero-ball tendencies — he could be back toward the untouchables in 2026. If not, something will have gone very wrong in Chicago.”
Williams started all 17 games last season, going 5-12 while throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also took a beating behind a shaky offensive line, as the Bears led the league with 68 sacks allowed.
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So far during training camp, Williams hasn’t exactly turned heads, but Johnson said the growth is noticeable.
“I probably just see growth,” Johnson said, via Yahoo Sports. “He is so much more comfortable right now. He’s doing the work behind the scenes that no one else is seeing, and we’re starting to see the dividends being paid from it.”
The Bears’ long-standing struggles to land a true franchise quarterback have made Williams the centerpiece of their rebuild. Whether he can live up to the expectations — or live down the pressure — remains to be seen.