It is the most under reported story of the NFL offseason.
Caleb Williams is supposed to become the next franchise quarterback for the QB-needy Chicago Bears.
But Williams can’t start leading Chicago to the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl until he signs his rookie contract.
With the start of training camp barely three weeks away, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft remains unsigned.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison played with Williams at USC in 2022.
Addison spoke highly of his former Trojans teammate and praised Williams as being a “good one.”
“I think he is ready, he has that dog mentality, he is a competitor and he will do whatever it takes to win,” Addison exclusively told talkSPORT.
Williams also loves to do things his own way and go against the norm, which includes painting his fingernails and blasting critics.
“Lips are pink,” Williams said. “Your girl love ’em.”
Bears fans are starting to worry about what exactly is preventing Williams from locking in with the Bears, especially since NFL contracts are set by a league-wide rookie scale.
Williams already knows that he will receive a fully-guaranteed four-year deal, and the financial amount is based on his draft selection number.
“Here we go,” one fan tweeted.
“Not sure why?” a second fan posted. “It’s cookie cutter.”
“Still wants team ownership?” a third fan wrote.
“First rookie QB to play for free,” a fourth fan said.
Addison called Williams “the day he got drafted” but hasn’t spoken with the new Bears QB since.
“When you play with someone like that, you go into games and you are never worried about anything because you know who you have taking the snaps every play,” Addison said.
The Trojans went 11-3 in 2022, finishing 11-3 and 12th in the final Associated Press poll.
Williams completed 66.6 percent of his passes for 4,537 yards and 42 touchdowns while winning the Heisman Trophy.
Addison caught 59 balls for 875 yards and eight TDs during his lone season with the Trojans.
The Vikings receiver was drafted at No. 23 overall last season.
Despite dealing with the midseason loss of starting QB Kirk Cousins, Addison caught 70 balls for 911 yards and 10 TDs.
Chicago previously traded Justin Fields to make room for Williams.
While his signing could still be a formality and come down to contract language, the fact that it’s dragged out this long is starting to concern passionate Bears fans desperate for a long-term answer at the most important position in sports.
“He is this modern quarterback who’s not afraid to (show emotion),” Matt Miller, NFL Draft analyst for ESPN, exclusively told talkSPORT. “It’s not like he’s slamming his helmet down on the sideline in frustration. He’s emotional.”
Chicago — with or without Williams — opens its 2024 season on Sept. 9 against the Tennessee Titans.
The Bears are set to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 13 in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Wid receiver Rome Odunze (No. 9), Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy (No. 10) and edge rusher Dallas Turner (No. 17) are also unsigned from the draft’s first round.
News Summary:
- Chicago Bears fans are worried about Caleb Williams as No 1 pick remains unsigned but USC teammate says QB is ‘good one’ to count on
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.