One of the most predictable parts of the 2024 NFL Draft finally came to fruition on Thursday night. The Chicago Bears decided to saddle their wagon to the right arm of former USC quarterback Caleb Williams. He was expected to be the No. 1 overall pick for the past year, but he still got his NFL dreams realized. Shortly after he was selected, his Trojan teammates reacted to Williams being the top choice overall.
Per Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti, the 2024 No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick is expected to sign a four-year, fully guaranteed $39.4M contract with the Chicago Bears, including a $25.5M signing bonus and a fifth-year option in 2028.
Williams put together an impressive college career, starting at Oklahoma in 2021 and finishing with two years at USC. His biggest season came as a sophomore in 2022 when he threw for 4,537 yards, ran for 382 yards and totaled 50 touchdowns – 40 in the air and 10 on the ground. That helped him bring home the Heisman Trophy.
Williams didn’t see the same type of success in 2023, but his numbers were still impressive. He threw for 3,633 passing yards and 30 touchdowns to go with 11 rushing scores. USC had an up-and-down year en route to a 7-5 record as the defense struggled, but Williams’ draft stock didn’t change. He’ll now try to be the franchise quarterback Bears fans have been waiting to see.
Williams was a five-star recruit and the No. 7 overall player from the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3 was higher on Williams, ranking him as the No. 1 recruit in the On300 Rankings.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Caleb Williams
NFL insiders don’t expect Caleb Williams’ momentum to slow down at the next level. Ahead of the draft, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein raved about Williams’ NFL potential.
“Williams’ play is highlighted by rare escapability paired with the talent to exploit defenses once the play breaks down,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s not tall, but he is well-built, with an arm to challenge defenses across the field. He can be a high-impact playmaker on the go or an effective pocket passer when he allows himself to trust his eyes on second and third reads. He can improve his accuracy and placement on intermediate and deep throws, but he’s unlikely to be known for pinpoint accuracy. It is admirable that he looks to keep his eyes up and make throws outside the pocket, but he’ll make things easier on himself early in his pro career by becoming a more decisive scrambler to move the sticks and carry on to the next set of downs.
“Williams is tremendously talented but often bites off too much responsibility and plays off-schedule. He has a good chance to hit new heights with a surrounding cast he trusts, but greater self-discipline and a well-structured offense might be needed to help him become a quarterback who can elevate a franchise to championship contention.”
On3’s Grant Grubbs also contributed to this article.
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