The 2024 NFL Draft has officially started and the Chicago Bears do what everyone expected, making Caleb Williams the top pick.
It is finally officially official. The Chicago Bears kicked off the 2024 NFL Draft by doing what everyone expected them to do. They selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick.
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner will now take his talents to the Windy City. It was the worst-kept secret in the draft. Many consider Williams to be a dynamic, generational talent. He draws comparisons to Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes.
Williams has plenty of talent. He has a strong arm and can make any throw from any angle. When a play breaks down, he is at his best. He can scramble and extend a play. As he does so, he keeps his eyes downfield. He can carve the secondary like a surgeon.
Williams can also use his legs to make a play. He may not run the ball as great as Justin Fields but he can take off and extend the chains.
In anticipation of having Williams, General Manager Ryan Poles revamped the offense. After firing offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, he hired Shane Waldron, a coach who has had success working with quarterbacks.
After that, Poles added firepower. He signed running back D’Andre Swift, offensive linemen Matt Pryor and Coleman Shelton, and tight end Gerald Everett. He also traded for offensive lineman Ryan Bates and six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen.
Those players come in and complement wide receiver D.J. Moore, tight end Cole Kmet, and running backs Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson. After years of ranking at or near the bottom of nearly every offensive category, the Chicago Bears now have a high-octane offense.
Now Williams enters the best situation any quarterback selected at number one has ever had. After years of having a Yugo, Poles hands over the keys to a Porsche to Williams.
This was just the first of two first-round picks tonight for the Chicago Bears. They also have the ninth overall pick. While everyone knew what they would do with the top pick, what happens at nine is still a mystery.
Poles has a lot of options. He could move up to pick the best wide receiver in the draft, Marvin Harrison Jr. On the other hand, he could move down to acquire more picks. With just four picks, Poles may want to get a few more.
Of course, Poles could decide to stand pat and use the pick. He could pick up wide receiver Rome Odunze or offensive tackle Joe Alt, among others.
Whatever happens, the Chicago Bears and their fans feel confident that they finally got their franchise quarterback.
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