For the last year, NFL Draft evaluators raved about what Caleb Williams would bring to the NFL. The USC quarterback became the top prospect on this year’s board the moment he lifted the Heisman Trophy over his head in 2022, and the Chicago Bears officially selected him No. 1 overall Thursday night.
Chicago received the pick from the Carolina Panthers in last year’s trade for No. 1, which they used to select Bryce Young. A 3-14 record meant the Bears – who went 7-10 – had the chance to select Williams atop the draft.
Trading Justin Fields opened the door. Now, it’s official. Williams is off to the Windy City.
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
Caleb Williams’ skillset generated plenty of debate around draft circles about how it would translate to the next level. His ability to improvise and extend plays even drew comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said that’s part of what makes Williams such an exciting prospect, and he still has plenty of room to grow.
The right supporting cast could make a difference in Williams’ development, Zierlein said. Chicago put a strong one together this offseason with Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift coming in to join D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet. That’s quite an environment for a rookie quarterback.
“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.”
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