That was clearly to be anticipated provided that not solely was Williams the highest decide within the draft and likewise one of the vital anticipated quarterbacks in years, however as a result of the staff additionally traded former starter Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier within the offseason.
Now that the Bears offense is formally within the arms of Williams, the following query turns into how shortly he could make an impression.
If current prime total picks are any barometer, there are most likely going to be some rising pains. Going again to the 2016 draft, there have been seven quarterbacks earlier than Williams to go No. 1 total.
Here’s a fast rundown of what they did as starters of their rookie season:
2023: Bryce Younger, Carolina Panthers: accomplished 59.8 % of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in a 2-15 season.
2021: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: accomplished 59.6 % of his passes with 12 touchdowns and a league-leading 17 interceptions in a 3-14 season.
2020: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: accomplished 65.3 % of his passes with 13 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, however suffered a season-ending harm after 10 begins.
2019: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: accomplished 64.4 % of his passes with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in a 5-10-1 season.
2018: Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns: accomplished 63.8 % of his passes with 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a 7-7 report.
2016: Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams: accomplished 54.6 % of his passes with 5 touchdowns and 7 interceptions whereas dropping his first seven begins.
2015: Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: accomplished 58.3 % of his passes with 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in a 6-10 season.
Williams is coming into a fairly good state of affairs in Chicago because the Bears weren’t a typical staff choosing No. 1. They received seven video games a 12 months in the past, have an already sturdy protection and have labored onerous to encompass their QB with potential impression gamers.
They added veteran broad receiver Keenan Allen to affix DJ Moore, whereas additionally drafting Washington’s Rome Odunze with the No. 9 decide within the draft to provide him what may be one of many NFL’s finest broad receiver teams.
Additionally they signed working again D’Andre Swift and are bringing again tight finish Cole Kmet.
Williams has playmakers at his disposal and is in a significantly better state of affairs from the beginning than nearly each quarterback on the above record.
The Bears have been looking for a franchise quarterback for many of their existence as a franchise. They might have lastly discovered one with Williams. He’ll now get to show that he’s the man from the very begin of his rookie season with none competitors.
