The Chicago Bears may have notched a semi-respectable 4-3 record on the year, but their highly-touted second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick out of USC in 2024, has been going through some growing pains in the pros.
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The 6-foot-1, 226-pound pro, still just 23, has passed for 1,636 yards (good for 12th in the NFL), nine touchdowns (19th) against four interceptions, and a 52.9 quarterback rating (18th).
Ben Solak of ESPN submits that, although he has been lapped performatively by the two now-Pro Bowl signal callers selected behind him — Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (the No. 2 pick) and New England Patriots standout Drake Maye (No. 3) — and has had some shaky moments for Chicago, Williams has shown enough positively developmental signs that the Windy City faithful should still be encouraged.
A history of disappointing players under center
Historically, the Bears have generally been a defense-first team with occasional superstar running backs. Whereas their most loathed NFC North division rival, the Green Bay Packers, have had three franchise quarterbacks since Brett Favre (Favre, Aaron Rodgers and now Jordan Love), Chicago has struggled to find much consistency at the game's most important position beyond some appetizing-if-disappointing years with one-time Pro Bowler Jay Cutler.
Do you remember who the Bears were trotting out as their starting quarterback during their 2007 Super Bowl appearance, against the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts?
Let's just say he wasn't quite as good as Peyton Manning.
So, understandably, the fact that the Bears may have once again whiffed on a potential superstar is grating on the nerves of Chicagoans.
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Solak cautions that, though Williams could be the sort of talented, mid-tier first-round selection worthy of a bloated next contract who won't quite become good enough to justify the money (a la fellow former No. 1 picks Kyler Murray and Trevor Lawrence — thus far, anyway), he possesses more physical gifts. That's why Solak wonders if Williams isn't more destined for a Josh Allen-type trajectory.
After a shaky first two pro seasons, Allen blossomed into a superstar during his third year, thanks to the tutelage of then-Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and some improvements to his mechanics.
Now, the 29-year-old Allen has three Pro Bowls, two All-Pro Second Teams, and one MVP award on his CV. One of the Bears' recent great quarterback hopes, 2017 No. 2 draft pick Mitchell Trubisky (who was selected ahead of Patrick Mahomes), is Allen's backup.
Allen's 5-2 Bills are currently the second-best team by record in the AFC, behind only Maye's 6-2 Patriots.
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