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Ex-Cowboys QB Ryan Leaf claims Bears might set Caleb Williams up for ‘failure’, wants him to sit out for a year

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Joseph Varghese | Last updated 4/21/24

Caleb Williams is almost surely going to be donning a Chicago Bears uniform next season. With expectations high, the former Heisman Trophy winner is touted to be the next best quarterback to come through. However, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Ryan Leaf wants Williams to sit out for a year.

The former No. 2 overall draft pick was a guest on the Rich Eisen Show. While talking about the draft, host Rich Eisen asked Leaf about his opinion on Williams.

I mean he is incredibly talented. But I just don't think he can be the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears this year. I think he has to sit a year. I think what he has done in college doesn't necessarily translate very well to the NFL right away. It's the worst possible scenario for him. So, they don't make the playoffs this year, Matt Eberflus is gone. You've just set him up for absolute failure. Ryan Leaf said

Leaf suggested that if Williams does not play well or they miss the playoffs, there is a chance the Bears will fire head coach Matt Eberflus. This means, the former USC superstar will lose a year and will have to restart again next season.

Ryan Leaf talked about the Chicago Bears situation. He said that last year if not for two close losses, the Bears could have been in the playoffs. Naturally, as expectations are to improve, the pressure will be on their rookie quarterback to make it to the playoffs.

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If not, there is a chance that the lost season will backfire on the coaching staff. And in the scenario that Eberflus is fired, Caleb Williams will have to learn a completely new coaching philosophy under whoever is hired as the new head coach. Instead, Leaf believes that Williams should sit out and learn and then start next season.

High expectations are on Caleb Williams going into the NFL Draft

Leaf is not the only one who has high expectations from Caleb Williams. In a long time, a quarterback with this much hype has come into the draft. Many consider Williams to be successful right away, considering what how the Chicago Bears have worked around adding personnel in the off-season.

The Bears’ offensive line was one of the most improved throughout last season. In addition to that, they have signed Pro-Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen to flank opposite DJ Moore. Not to keep the backfield short of options, former Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift joined as well. It makes up for a tantalizing outlook for the team that has been long-running on empty promises.

The expectations are that Caleb Williams will have a C. J. Stroud season in his first year. That is the target with which he and Matt Eberflus will be compared when the regular season ends in January.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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