Chicago, you officially have a new franchise quarterback.
About 19 minutes into the highly anticipated 2024 NFL Draft night, the Bears used their No. 1 pick to secure USC quarterback and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. And while this pick may have been the NFL’s worst-kept secret, the move was still met with great fanfare.
“Learn the names of all my teammates, their families, learn the playbook and get ready to win games,” he said.
In a stacked quarterback class that includes Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and JJ McCarty, Williams stood head and shoulders above the rest facing the decision-makers inside Halas Hall.
For the Bears, Williams represents their last, best chance to break an 80-year-old quarterback curse.
“He played at Oklahoma and USC,” former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who coached Williams as interim head coach in 2021, told NBC Sports Chicago. That’s what I’m going to say about it. There’s not much more pressure than in those two programs. I don’t think there’s anything that’s too big for him to handle.”
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. And when you’re the quarterback of the Chicago Bears, the weight on your shoulders is heavier than most people in this city have been able to handle.
When asked by ESPN’s Molly McGrath what his first step as a member of the Bears would be, this is what Williams said:
“Learn the names of all my teammates, their families, learn the playbook and get ready to win games.”
MORE: Caleb Williams Dons Luxury Made-in-USA Suit and Painted Nails at NFL Draft
But Williams’ addition to the team wasn’t the only thing that happened on the first night of the draft. And the Bears still have other choices to make.
As day two begins, here are the key takeaways from Thursday.
1. Williams is among the most highly touted quarterback prospects in recent memory
Caleb Williams was the consensus No. 1 pick in this year’s draft – think Joe Burrow and Andrew Luck, that type of hype.
Williams began his college career in 2021, at Oklahoma as a backup to Spencer Rattler. It didn’t take long, however, for him to land the starting job as a freshman. On Oct. 9, midway through Oklahoma’s rivalry game against Texas, Williams got his chance and never looked back. Rattler struggled early and the Sooners fell to a 28-7 deficit in the first quarter. So head coach Lincoln Riley called on Williams, and Williams took off – literally. He had a 66-yard touchdown run on a 4th-and-1 play to cut the lead in half. From there, he threw two more touchdowns and led the Sooners to an incredible 55-48 victory.
Including the wild comeback, the Sooners went 6-2 with Williams leading the offense for the rest of the season.
When Riley left Oklahoma for USC, Williams followed him. Both thrived in Los Angeles, and Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022. Williams and the Trojans had championship aspirations last season, but they were largely held back by one of the worst defenses in the country. Still, Williams led USC to 41.8 points per game, which ranks third in the country.
If there’s one criticism of Williams, it’s that he’s missed the ball at a higher rate in 2023 than at any other time in his career. However, at Oklahoma and USC, Williams threw very few interceptions.
2. Williams will wear No. 18
It was obvious for months that the Bears would draft Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, and Fanatics – the official licensed provider of NFLShop.com – acted accordingly.
Less than an hour after the USC quarterback’s name was called by Roger Goodell in Detroit, Fanatics had five different variations of Caleb Williams’ No. 18 jersey ready for pre-order.
If you want to enter this new era of Chicago Bears football in style, jerseys are available at NFLShop.com and Fanatics. Prices start at $129.
3. Bears select Rome Odunze with pick No. 9
Despite rumors that the Bears would trade their No. 9 pick, the team opted for Rom Odunze, a wide receiver from Washington.
While most of the hubbub surrounding the Bears’ first round of the 2024 NFL Draft centered on Williams, the Bears might have found another offensive cornerstone in Odunze.
“I don’t know where to start with this guy,” Bears general manager Ryan Poles said. “First of all, a human being, what a great guy. Work ethic, just blue collar in the way he does things. But as a receiver, he can line up anywhere: inside, outside. You like his ability to finish in contested situations. Play hard, play big, run after catch is very good. He is also a punt returner.
Odunze burst onto the scene in 2023 after opting out of the draft following the 2022 season. It was a great decision. After being projected as a day two pick last year, he rose all the way to the top 10 thanks to those incredible numbers. All rankings in parentheses are for wide receivers with at least 100 targets in 2023.
1,639 yards (1st), 74 first downs (1st), 21 contested catches (1st), 75% contested catch rate (1st), average depth of target of 15.5 yards (2nd), 13 touchdowns (t -4th), 3.2% drop rate (6th).
Just as important: Odunze was a key part of the Washington Huskies’ run to the national title game.
“I mean, the kid just put in the time and he’s gotten better every year and he’s a winner,” Poles said. “He can impact the game at any time. If you’re a quarterback and you have doubts, you just want to give a guy an opportunity to finish, he’s your guy. He did it consistently.
4. ‘We got our guy’: Williams reacts to Bears’ selection of Odunze
Caleb Williams reacted with great energy when he saw the Bears signing Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.
And he kept the energy with him when the Bears’ new quarterback finally got to greet his new receiver.
“Rome Odunze! It’s time, baby! Let’s go, baby! We’re about to come, man,” Williams cheered.
The pairing of Williams and Odunze in the draft was the most anticipated outcome for the Bears. In fact, Williams, Odunze, Moore and Allen recently met in Los Angeles for a throwing session.
Odunze also predicted the prowess a Bears offense featuring him and Williams could have on the Under Center podcast.
“I think it would be explosive, honestly,” Odunze said of teaming up with Williams in Chicago. There are a lot of weapons on this field, and it would be difficult for any defense to stop that honestly with any sort of double coverage or focusing on one defender, much like what I had at Washington, I know how to fit into something like this.
5. How much will Williams and Odunze make in their rookie year?
All contracts for players drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft must be for four years with an option for a fifth year to be taken up or declined after their third season.
Williams is expected to make nearly $40 million on his first contract. As one of the highest-paid NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) athletes in the history of college athletics, he already has money in the bank. He also already has sponsors under his belt.
For Odunze, he is expected to make almost $23 million over the first four years of his career. Like Williams, he comes with a fifth-year option. Since rookie contracts are ranked in a tier system, Odunze earns less because he was drafted eight picks after Williams.
6. Bears earn A+ grade on first night of 2024 NFL Draft
No surprises here.
The Bears saw both of their first-round picks fall right into their laps, and they didn’t waste it. Williams has been the obvious choice at No. 1 overall since Justin Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then came Washington player Rome Odunze at No. 9 overall.
Field must be somewhere angry given that Williams is coming into a much better situation than him, especially since star DJ Moore is already on the roster.
It may take Williams a while to lead Chicago to the title (or, at least, away from mediocrity), but there’s no doubt the foundation has been laid for his next era.
7. How many picks do the Bears have left?
After spending two picks in the first round of Thursday’s portion of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bears are left with two picks. They have the No. 75 and No. 122 picks in the draft. Here’s when they’ll draft those picks.
As for who they’ll draft, here’s Bears insider Josh Schrock’s final, simple plan for the Poles and Bears to pull off a rare opportunity.
Click here to follow the Under Center podcast.
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