Caleb Williams didn’t come out of nowhere. People in the NFL always knew he had talent. One doesn’t go #1 overall in the draft without being an obvious favorite among scouts and executives. Still, plenty of people were skeptical whether the young quarterback could develop into the lethal weapon he should be. After all, he’d been drafted by the Chicago Bears. This organization has never been known for good quarterback development. In fact, it was the exact opposite for most of their history.
So watching him blossom last season with 3,941 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions while leading seven 4th quarter comebacks was a cathartic moment for fans everywhere. It was also a wake-up call for the rest of the NFL. This was just another Bears quarterback. This was a legitimate player with star potential. Former Super Bowl champion defensive end Charles Omenihu confirmed as much on Speakeasy with Emmanuel Acho, calling Williams one of the five most dangerous quarterbacks in the league.
Why? It comes down to multiple factors.
- Clutch in the 4th quarter
- He can run
- His arm can make any throw
That praise for Caleb Williams is noteworthy.
Keep in mind that Omenihu has never faced the Bears quarterback. He made this assessment merely from watching him from afar over the past two seasons. He’s faced guys like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Matthew Stafford. So for him to put Williams in that same tier is the height of respect. No doubt Omenihu sees shades of his former teammate, Patrick Mahomes, in him. The two have very similar styles of play, from their scrambling prowess to their big arms to their uncanny ability to elevate their play late in games.
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This seems to be a feeling shared by many in the league. While Williams is far from a finished product, the raw potential is starting to show. If he’s this good already without being polished, there is no telling how much better he could be in his third, fourth, and fifth seasons. Having Ben Johnson, one of the NFL’s most lethal offensive minds, as his play caller makes it even more unfair. If they accomplished what they did last year in the first season of an offensive system, there is no telling what is coming this fall.
The next step for Williams is clear.
We now know he can play at a high level in this league. The next step is finding more consistency. GM Ryan Poles pointed out that his biggest issue last season was that he started pressing too much in the postseason. He didn’t trust the offense enough and too often tried making big plays when they just weren’t there. That is why he had five interceptions in his two playoff games. This isn’t anything unheard of. Young quarterbacks often encounter such problems when the stakes are raised.
The trick for him is learning to trust the system more often, letting the game come to him. Don’t try to be Superman all the time. Ten six-yard passes are just as effective as one 60-yard pass. That can be difficult to accept for somebody who pulled off magic every week in college. There were signs that Caleb Williams was starting to get it last season. Now comes the polish and refinement.
