Bears coach provides massive update on QB Caleb Williams' progress

It sounds like Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is ahead of schedule.

Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago reported the Bears gave Williams' personal quarterback coach, Will Hewlett, footwork and cadences to work on before selecting him with the first overall pick of the draft. 

It appears the rookie was diligent with the assignment.

"Will did a great job with him of prepping him for what we're about to do now," Bears QB coach Kerry Joseph said on Saturday, via Schrock. "Coming into this mini-camp, he was light years ahead of the information that he already had."

The Bears named Williams their starting QB ahead of rookie mini-camp. It's good for Chicago that the 22-year-old is already showcasing an excellent work ethic.

According to Schrock, Williams looked solid on the first day of mini-camp, aside from missing a couple of throws. However, that won't determine whether he excels in the league. New Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron acknowledged he and the coaching staff must create an ideal environment.

"I think for me, the things we're pouring into him right now is just the understanding of the big picture of the game," Waldron said Saturday, per Schrock. "For me, also being able to lean on Kerry Joseph and the rest of the offensive staff, to me, this is always a collaborative effort, and it's going to take all of us to help him along the way, and everyone has great individual strengths that they can bring to the table."

Although the Bears have never had a QB throw for 4,000 or more passing yards in a season, Chicago is avoiding its past mistakes and putting Williams in an excellent position. This offseason, it acquired six-time Pro Bowl WR Keenan Allen and drafted Washington's Rome Odunze (pick No. 9). 

As of Monday, FanDuel gives Williams — the 2022 Heisman winner — the best Offensive Rookie of the Year odds (+170).