After the 2025 schedule was released in the spring, I had the Ravens game penciled in as a loss for the Bears.
After training camp, it hadn’t changed.
After a recent four-game win streak, I still didn’t need an eraser.
And despite Ravens All-World quarterback Lamar Jackson being declared out for the game on Sunday, I still expected a loss.
So, why was I unhappy and downright dejected following the Bears’ 30-16 loss to the Ravens this week?
Because Caleb Williams — the most important player in the organization and around whom this entire season revolves — still does not look like a No. 1 overall pick should 24 games into his career.
In fairness, he was “done dirty” by the organization as a rookie. A terrible offensive line nearly caused him to set a sack record. A horrible coaching staff might have set his development back a ways.
And I get it: Ben Johnson — among others — has stated that progress is not linear. We shouldn’t expect a straight line pointing upward each week.
But if that’s the case, why was Jayden Daniels — taken one pick after Williams in the 2024 Draft — the offensive rookie of the year last season? And why is Drake Maye — taken two picks after Williams — currently considered an MVP candidate?
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Bo Nix — the sixth quarterback taken in the first round — has been thriving in Denver under Sean Payton.
With J.J. McCarthy constantly hurt — and bad, when he does play — and Michael Penix floating along in obscurity, Williams is currently on pace to be the 4th-best quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Does that taste as bad to anyone else as it does to me?
Is anyone else experiencing déjà vu, with shades of the 2017 Draft, when the Bears passed up on two better quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson to take Mitch Trubisky?
This just sucks, to put it bluntly and without due decorum.
Why can’t the Bears get it right?
Either Williams’ talent can’t translate to the NFL, or Ben Johnson needs a certain type of quarterback and Caleb isn’t him, or general manager Ryan Poles still hasn’t supplied this team with enough talent yet.
Although everyone loves to hate on Poles, there are plenty of offensive skill weapons here. The offensive line could still use upgrades, yes. I’m not denying that. But there’s enough time in the pocket for a rhythm-based passer — a la Jared Goff, whom Johnson had at his disposal in Detroit — and Caleb just isn’t that type of quarterback.
At least, he isn’t yet. He’s a “grip it and rip it” kind of player who can play schoolyard ball and he just isn’t seeing things the way Johnson does.
Now, does this mean I’m “out” on Caleb Williams?
No, of course not. I’m sometimes loyal to a fault. I was on the Justin Fields train all the way up until it became abundantly clear the Bears were out on him. I’m loyal to the organization, to put it another way.
However, this is the first time I’ve reached a point where I don’t think he’s going to be a “star.”
I don’t think he’s bad. I don’t think he’ll be considered a bust, even for being selected first overall in the draft. My belief is that he still has the skills and the overall arm talent to be a “very good” quarterback who will win this team some games.
Whether or not he’ll ever be “great” is another story. That’s going to take some time to manifest itself. And I will say this much: if Caleb does not begin to see things Ben Johnson’s way, by the end of the season at the very least, it’s quite possible that Caleb’s best days will be with a different organization.
Because of the two men, Johnson has the longer leash. And if Caleb doesn’t do him any favors or start seeing and playing the game he wants his quarterback to see, he’ll cut Caleb free and hitch his wagon to someone who will.
