Caleb Williams is now officially a member of the Chicago Bears.
After years of failed experiments at the position, the Bears are hoping that Williams will be Chicago’s long-awaited franchise quarterback.
For the Bears, this situation appears to be different than the previous quarterbacks they have selected at the top of the NFL Draft. Not only are they getting an extremely gifted quarterback in Williams, but they’re setting him up for early success with one of the best supporting casts in the NFL.
Sky is the Limit for the Bears and Caleb Williams
In most cases, when a rookie is taken with the first overall pick in the draft, he usually comes into a mess of a situation.
While the Bears are certainly not at the top of the league by any stretch, their dynamic is far from typical.
For starters, the Bears won seven games last season, a far cry from the usual No. 1 overall team’s win total in a given year. They had pieces in place from prior moves that had them as a competitive team even before what was an aggressive offseason.
MORE: Analysis and Grades for All 7 Rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft
The Bears’ offense already featured weapons such as WR DJ Moore and TE Cole Kmet in 2023.
The Bears have since attacked free agency and the trade market by acquiring RB D’Andre Swift and WR Keenan Allen.
Either way, the Bears have far more talent around Williams than many rookie QBs usually do who come in with the hopes of an entire franchise on his shoulders.
Bears Continue To Add With Rome Odunze Selection
After drafting their franchise QB with pick No. 1, the Bears come back around to pick No. 9 and take WR Rome Odunze out of Washington to pair with him for the next five-plus years.
The two players have struck up a friendship throughout the draft process and will now get to work together in their new city, further proving the Bears are doing everything they can for their new star QB.
Odunze is just another reminder of how much has changed in Chicago and how they fully plan to doing everything they can to add talent that can help them win now, and into the future.
Can the Bears Compete in the NFC North in 2024?
A usual doormat franchise now heads into the future as one of the most young and intriguing teams in the NFL. But is that enough to compete in their hard-nosed division?
It’s a question that may have caused a few eyes to roll in years prior, but with the new age of Bears football on the horizon, they look to be a team that no one should count out.
The Detroit Lions are the clear favorites in the NFC North, and that remains the case no matter any of the moves the Bears have made. However, to outright dismiss the Bears in 2024 seems foolish.
With Allen in the fold opposite of Moore, coupled with Swift in the backfield and Kmet in line at the end of the formation, the Bears possess an offensive skill unit that can rival almost any team in the NFC.
Add that to the fact that their defense is stacked with playmakers such as CB Jaylon Johnson, DE Montez Sweat, and S Jaquan Brisker, the Bears also roll out a well-respected group on the other side of the ball.
The Bears have all the makings of a team that is capable of exploding on the scene if Williams lives up to the hype. We may need to see it before we can believe it when it comes to Chicago taking over a division with two playoff teams from 2023, but the Bears should not be taken lightly moving forward.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Caleb Williams
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