The 2024 campaign was one to forget for the Chicago Bears, with the only bright spot being the potential quarterback Caleb Williams can bring to the table...when he isn't taking sacks.
Williams' 20 touchdowns to six interceptions in 2024 showed fans that there is some good with him. The tricky part was that he took 68 sacks (an NFL-high) and didn't get enough consistency in the running game or from his receivers. It didn't help matters with the coaching carousel he was dealing with.
Chicago has Ben Johnson as its head coach and a completely new, stacked offensive line that is almost guaranteed to perform better than in 2024. Williams appears to be well-positioned for success, but how does he compare to the rest of the NFL quarterbacks?
Williams takes a hit in the quarterback rankings going into 2025
FOX Sports NFL reporter and columnist Henry McKenna ranked all 32 of the NFL starting quarterbacks. Williams was ranked 23rd by McKenna after the 2024 season, and the good news is that Williams moves up. It's not much, though, as he goes up to 21.
"Williams remains one of the best young QB prospects in the NFL. Now, he has one of the best situations in the NFL. Let's see some results."
Not the worst comments to make about a quarterback who is on the back half of the rankings, but still some cautious remarks at the end. The "results" McKenna wants to see may have more to do with the supporting cast versus Williams.
It's fair to discuss the struggles of Williams when it came down to the inner time clock he had in his brain that made him hold on to the ball longer. Williams needs to learn to get rid of the ball quicker and avoid taking a sack.
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What will help Williams, though, is an offensive line he can trust. The Bears acquired veterans Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson to help improve the interior line's performance.
This is a work in progress with Johnson as he tries to help Williams meet the standards expected of a first overall pick. Many already believe Williams is in for a huge bounce back season and there's a lot to be excited about with the young quarterback.