Insider notes from Bears training camp: Bill Belichick disciple taking Caleb Williams under his wing but is Matt Eberflus' future secure?
Fresh off of two top-10 picks in April’s draft after trading their one-time quarterback of the future, the Chicago Bears are steamrolling towards the 2024 season. And by all accounts the team, specifically the offense, is headed in the right direction.
After a monster trade with the Carolina Panthers in 2023, which netted them what turned out to be the first pick in the 2024 draft, the Bears looked to reset at the quarterback position and add some dynamic pieces around their signal caller.
Selecting Caleb Williams out of USC was a surprise to no one. The former Heisman Trophy winner was long anointed a future No. 1 pick in the draft, and after 2021 first-round pick Justn Fields failed to live up to expectations, the decision was easy for Chicago.
Inside Chicago Bears training camp
Williams has lived up to expectations since the opening of camp, as has been widely reported. He’s been a leader on the field and has backed up being the first pick of the draft with outstanding play in the early going. There have been rookie mistakes by Williams, yet overall, the Bears have been ecstatic with their future franchise quarterback.
Insiders who attended practice on Wednesday reiterated how good Williams has looked in camp. He made several nice deep throws and a terrific pass on a 25-yard crossing pattern, as Williams was able to thread the ball through traffic.
For his part, family members told sources that Williams is very happy in the Windy City playing for the Bears.
Designing an offense to fit Williams’ style, which will include a lot of plays outside the pocket, falls on the shoulders of first-year coordinator Shane Waldron. Waldron’s resume is impressive, as he earned his stripes in New England under Bill Belichick and Los Angeles under Sean McVay, and thus far the team is happy with Waldron and his handling of Williams.
Another draft pick the Bears are thrilled with is receiver Rome Odunze, whom they snagged with the draft’s ninth selection. The former Washington Huskies wideout was the player the Bears targeted all along with that second pick, as I reported in the lead-up to the draft, though the team was concerned Odunze would not make it to them. The big wideout has been as good as advertised and has built an instant rapport with Williams.
Veteran Keenan Allen was acquired by the team in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers and the 32-year-old has had a rebirth of sorts playing with the youth in Chicago. Sources at Bears camp tell me no one has been able to cover Allen in practice the past few weeks. The 2013 third-round pick will be leaned upon heavily this season to guide the team’s dynamic rookies.
Insiders tell me the Bears are stacked at the skill positions, as DJ Moore, who was part of the trade with Carolina in 2023, is another explosive receiver who just adds to the stable of weapons Williams will have at his disposal.
There is some uncertainty, if not uneasiness, about the offensive line, specifically the center position.
Ryan Bates, who started just one full season at guard for the Buffalo Bills in 2022, was acquired in a trade this past March, and Chicago is relying on him to take over the blocking duties on the pivot. The cupboard is pretty bare after Bates for a franchise that has historically fielded tremendous talent at the center position.
There are some who believe the Bears could make a run at the playoffs this season despite playing in a division that includes the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. Much of it depends on the play of Williams. This much is certain; if the team is not competitive, third-year head coach Matt Eberflus will be shown the door.