Caleb Williams is less than two weeks from becoming the Chicago Bears’ next starting quarterback. Justin Fields is gone. Nobody is left on the roster to challenge him. The organization seems fully committed to helping him transition to the pros immediately. As a result, fans have discussed what a successful first year would look like. Even though Williams will be a #1 overall pick, it is important to keep from getting carried away. Even quarterbacks drafted that high have struggled as rookies. If the Bears can repeat their record from last year, and he puts up solid numbers, that can be called a success.
Well, maybe those thoughts are for the cautious crowd. Don’t count Emmanuel Acho among them. The former defensive end wasn’t shy about setting his level of expectations for Williams this season. He thinks the Bears are going to the playoffs. Williams’ talent, combined with the strong supporting cast GM Ryan Poles has put in place, gives the team everything it needs to make a run in the NFC. It is okay to think big with this quarterback on this roster. It is leagues better than the one he carried to 8-5 at USC.
Caleb Williams controls his own destiny.
Nobody can blame the Bears for whatever happens this season. They’ve done everything in their power to pave the way for a young quarterback. Two excellent wide receivers. Two dependable tight ends. A deep and versatile backfield. An athletic and stable offensive line. On top of that, they added an offensive coordinator with a proven track record for elevating his quarterbacks. If Williams is as good as the experts say, what Acho has predicted is far from impossible. If the Bears can stay healthy, this team is good enough to challenge for a playoff spot.
The biggest obstacle is the division. The NFC North has suddenly become hyper-competitive over the past year. Jordan Love has emerged as another one in Green Bay’s lineup of franchise quarterbacks. Detroit went to the NFC championship game. Minnesota still has a talented roster and could be QB away from immediately re-entering the playoff picture. This is precisely why the Bears want to draft Caleb Williams. If they’re ever going to get past these gatekeepers, they need a field general to lead them. The search might finally be over.
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