Caleb Williams swiftly walked on stage, appeared out and screamed “Woooo! Yeah!”
Lengthy-suffering Bears followers felt his pleasure.
Williams is heading to the Windy Metropolis, aiming to turn into the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for many years.
“My aim is to get into so far as February as I can,” Williams stated, referring to enjoying in a Tremendous Bowl for a workforce that hasn’t hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in practically 40 years.
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner kicked off an historic NFL draft Thursday night time that had 5 different groups choosing quarterbacks among the many prime 12 picks, setting a report with 5 within the prime 10 and tying a report for probably the most within the first spherical.
Almost your entire first half of the draft was offensive gamers.
A defensive participant wasn’t chosen till UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu went at No 15 to Indianapolis. That’s the most recent a primary defensive participant has ever gone.
The Bears opened with the simple alternative, taking Williams at No 1 after deciding weeks in the past to financial institution on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC.
“Care, love and help and need to win,” Williams stated about what he’s bringing to Chicago.
The Washington Commanders adopted up by taking 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU and the New England Patriots took North Carolina’s Drake Maye at No 3, making it the fourth draft with quarterbacks going with the primary three picks.
At No 8, the Atlanta Falcons made a surprising determination to decide on Washington QB Michael Penix Jr regardless of signing Kirk Cousins to an enormous contract in free company. The Minnesota Vikings traded up one spot and took JJ McCarthy, who led Michigan to a nationwide championship, to make it 5 QBs within the prime 10 for the primary time.
The Denver Broncos selected Oregon’s Bo Nix with the twelfth choose, tying the 1983 draft with six QBs within the first spherical. Three of these grew to become Corridor of Famers – John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly.
The Arizona Cardinals snapped the early QB development, selecting Ohio State extensive receiver Marvin Harrison Jr with the fourth choose. The Los Angeles Chargers opened the Jim Harbaugh period by taking Notre Dame offensive deal with Joe Alt as an alternative of giving Justin Herbert a No 1 extensive receiver to exchange Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
The New York Giants then snatched up LSU receiver Malik Nabers at No 6. The Tennessee Titans took Alabama offensive deal with JC Latham with the seventh choose and the Bears chosen Washington wideout Rome Odunze at No 9.
The New York Jets, who dropped to No 11, selected offensive deal with Olu Fashanu, giving Aaron Rodgers extra safety. The Las Vegas Raiders received Georgia tight finish Brock Bowers at No 13. The New Orleans Saints took Oregon State offensive deal with Taliese Fuaga with the 14th choose earlier than the Colts grabbed Latu.
Beforehand, the most recent a primary defensive participant was chosen was No 8. The Seattle Seahawks took Texas defensive deal with Byron Murphy subsequent and the Vikings made one other commerce to maneuver up and take Alabama edge Dallas Turner at No 17.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Georgia offensive deal with Amarius Mims and the Los Angeles Rams received Florida State edge Jared Verse at No 19, the workforce’s first choice within the first spherical since taking Jared Goff at No 1 in 2016.
Sporting a navy go well with with silver accents and flashing a giant smile, Williams gave Roger Goodell a bear hug, cautious to not squeeze too exhausting as a result of the NFL commissioner had again surgical procedure three weeks in the past.
Rap icon Eminem walked on stage in a Lions sweatshirt and cap shortly after Goodell to start out the festivities. The Motor Metropolis native riled up the followers earlier than turning it over to Lions stars Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, Amon-Ra St Brown and Corridor of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.
St Brown led them in chanting “Jar-ed Goff!” and Johnson stored it brief: “Whaddup doe?”
An estimated crowd of 275,000, many sporting their Honolulu blue Lions jerseys, stuffed the streets surrounding the draft theater and turned the NFL’s greatest offseason occasion into a large celebration.
They roared when the Lions moved up 5 spots in a commerce with Dallas and took Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the twenty fourth choose.
The 22-year-old Williams is the third quarterback Chicago has chosen within the first spherical prior to now eight years, becoming a member of Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. They handed up on Bryce Younger and CJ Stroud final yr and traded the No 1 choose to Carolina in a blockbuster deal solely to get the best choice this yr after the Panthers went 2-15.
Williams shouted “Da Bears!” to complete his first information convention as a professional.
A dual-threat participant with a robust arm and talent to improvise, Williams threw 93 landing passes and ran for 27 scores in three seasons at Oklahoma and USC.
The 23-year-old Daniels, who performed three seasons at Arizona State and two at LSU, led the nation in whole offense final season with 4,946 yards.
“I don’t let soccer outline me, who I’m as a human being,” Daniels stated. “That is one thing I do and I’m keen about it.”
Maye is the second QB the Patriots have chosen within the first spherical since Tom Brady left. Mac Jones didn’t work out and now it’s Maye’s flip to be the person in a brand new period that begins with out longtime coach Invoice Belichick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers chosen versatile Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu at No 20. Penn State edge Chop Robinson went subsequent to the Miami Dolphins and the Philadelphia Eagles went with Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
Huge receiver Brian Thomas Jr was chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars at No 23. After the Lions took Arnold, the Inexperienced Bay Packers chosen Arizona offensive deal with Jordan Morgan and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton.
Missouri edge Darius Robinson went to Arizona. The 2-time defending Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs made a take care of AFC rival Buffalo to maneuver up and take Texas wideout Xavier Worthy at No 28.
The Cowboys selected Oklahoma offensive deal with Tyler Guyton and the Baltimore Ravens received Clemson defensive again Nate Wiggins.
The defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers added one other playmaker, taking Florida wideout Ricky Pearsall and the Carolina Panthers made a commerce to get South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette with the final choose of the primary spherical at No 32.
