The Caleb Williams era in Chicago is officially underway.
The former USC Trojans quarterback was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and is already getting to work as the new face of the Bears franchise.
On the latest episode of their New Heights podcast, brothers Travis and Jason Kelce discussed the pick and what they expect from Williams in the short term.
“It’s been a complete remodel this year for the Bears and I think Caleb goes in there and makes them a better football team. I really do, man,” Travis said.
“Watching him play in college over the past couple of years at Oklahoma and USC, I thought he was an absolute stud.”
The Chiefs tight end also said that Williams reminds him a little of teammate Patrick Mahomes.
The Bears QB has drawn comparisons to three-time Super Bowl winner Mahomes because of his ability to throw on the run and make off schedule throws.
Kelce agrees that he sees a lot of similarities in their games, particularly with how Mahomes played in college at Texas Tech.
“[He’s] similar to how Patty Mahomes plays the game, or at least how he played in college where it was a lot of feel and a lot of trust in throwing that thing downfield and letting guys go make plays,” Kelce added.
“He has that game-changer mentality where at any moment he can kill you with his arm.
“And he can do some things with his legs and run the ball that a lot of QBs can’t that also throw it that well.
“So I think Caleb kills it.”
Like Mahomes, Williams likes to improvise on the fly and make plays with both his arm and his legs.
During USC’s Pro Day in March, the 22-year-old spoke about the comparisons and insisted there’s nothing Mahomes does physically that he can’t.
“Everybody gets crazy when I say that…” Williams said.
“There’s things that he does, physically — obviously, I’m not Patrick Mahomes and I’m not in his brain — but things that he does physically that I don’t think that I can’t do.
“So, I just call it respect, and hopefully soon I’ll be able to see him and have a good battle.”
Mahomes is undeniably one of the all-time greats, but Williams is ahead of him entering the NFL.
Williams was the consensus No. 1 overall pick in a class loaded with premier quarterback talent.
Mahomes was the No. 10 overall pick in 2017 and was selected behind a wide receiver who’s been washed out of the league.
At the time, some draft experts graded Mahomes’ selection as a C-.
Most experts in 2024 rate the Williams pick as an A+.
With that said, Williams has a lot to do to reach Mahomes’ levels of dominance.
Quarterbacks like Mahomes and Tom Brady have raised expectations and ‘drastically altered how QBs are viewed’, after all.
There are also some concerns over Williams emotional disposition.
He cried in his mother’s arms after a loss in college and broke down watching his mom’s emotional post-draft message.
“He is this modern quarterback who’s not afraid to (show emotion),” ESPN draft expert Matt Miller exclusively told talkSPORT.
“It’s not like he’s slamming his helmet down on the sideline in frustration. He’s emotional.
“I would take that 10 times out of 10 over a guy who’s bumping into his coach on the sideline or slamming his helmet down.”
Williams is expected to be a Week 1 starter for the Bears, who are set to play in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the 2024 season.
He’s joined in Chicago by wide receiver Rome Odunze, who was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft.
They were drafted after the franchise had already acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen, former Eagles running back D’Andre Swift and ex Chargers TE Gerald Everett this offseason.
Williams will wear No. 18 for Chicago next season in what promises to be an exciting new chapter for the success-starved organization.
News Summary:
- Travis Kelce reacts to ‘absolute stud’ Caleb Williams going to Bears and compares Chicago quarterback to Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.