The Chicago Bears are expected to be a lot better in 2025 than they were in 2024.
Many people are writing off the poor year by quarterback Caleb Williams, given the surrounding circumstances that are now looking much better. While the things around him have improved, he still has work to do to get better. Pro Football Focus highlighted exactly where he needs to improve.
"Williams ranked 32nd out of 41 qualified quarterbacks in passing grade when throwing in rhythm (76.6). His 56.4 deep passing grade was the lowest among all NFL starters last season"Dalton Wasserman
Williams has some work to do in training camp before the 2025 season
This is the exact issue with Williams right now, and most of this can be attributed to the supporting cast. Williams does not seem comfortable in the pocket. You can say that it is because he is often under pressure, but he is also worse when he faces pressure than his peers. His in-rhythm grade isolates just his play and shows that even in a clean pocket, he tends to get the happy feet.
Lastly, Williams has been inaccurate with his deep ball. Many will explain this away by saying that the receivers were not open, the offensive line did not give him enough time, or the play calling had routes that took too long to develop. However, the grades and accuracy numbers speak for themselves.
As much as these were issues, Williams flat-out missed more passes than others in his situation.
Some quarterbacks can thrive despite the system in which they play. If they have injuries to other players, are a bit banged up, face a tough defense, and yet still win, it's a testament to their resilience. That is what makes them great. Then, there are quarterbacks who need a line, receivers, and play calling all to go perfectly for them to thrive.
Read more: Bears' Pro Bowler will anchor the defense (and his impact must be felt in 2025)
You can win with these quarterbacks, but you rarely win because of them. The Bears drafted Williams because they feel he can overcome any circumstance, and his ability can uplift others. After one season, the team still needs to address these issues, and PFF is right to call them out specifically.