DETROIT, MI — With the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected quarterback Caleb Williams out of USC.
As expected, the 6’1, 215-pound Williams was pegged by many to be taken by the Bears, who traded former QB1 Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, is expected to be the new starter in Chicago, with a team, that could contend in a tough and highly competitive division.
A former Oklahoma Sooner transfer, who followed head coach Lincoln Riley west to SoCal, Williams passed for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions en route to winning the 2022 Heisman Trophy, USC’s eighth overall.
Following a thrilling 46-45 loss to Tulane in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, in which he completed 37/52 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns and one interception, Williams regressed in his second year in throwing for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Rumors of the Washington D.C. native audibling out of plays and friction with Riley, in addition to questionable off-the-field antics such as crying to his mother on TV, painting his fingernails pink, led to many questioning Williams’ dedication to football, thanks to opting out of the Trojans Holiday Bowl matchup vs. Louisville.
Now, an offical member of the Bears, Williams could be the triggerman for a potentially prolific offense that already has WR’s DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, RB D’Andre Swift and TE Gerald Everett, in addtion to selecting former Pac-12 rival in WR Rome Odunze ninth overall Thursday evening.
If Day 1 is any indication, both the selections of Williams and Odunze could be just the spark the Bears need to become both relevant and a potnetial wildcard this coming season.