NFL analyst takes direct shot at Panthers owner David Tepper as Bears prepare for Caleb Williams' impact
Caleb Williams got to relax through most of the buildup to the 2024 NFL draft this year, but he now enters the era with higher expectations than perhaps any first-round pick this decade. Panthers owner David Tepper, meanwhile, took a lot of heat for the selection and treatment of 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, and people are noting the differences between both situations.
Noting that relationship, NFL analyst Mike Florio took a shot at Tepper on Friday's edition of "Pro Football Talk":
"But there's a different way about [Matt Eberflus] because he's got a guy that everybody else wanted and he's got him, and it's a direct byproduct of a great trade they made last year.
"Sorry, David Tepper, don't throw a drink on anybody about that one. It's your own damn fault. If you're gonna throw a drink, throw it on yourself." [00:03:58]
Some may point at Tepper's general manager as the true person to blame for the trade. However, in most situations, any trade surrounding a quarterback or a top overall pick usually prompts a conversation with the owner. As such, when such a conversation takes place, it falls on the owner to use his power to squash any radical ideas.
Instead, Carolina traded away their pick and after a poor 2023 season, it hasn't aged well this far. Panthers fans are well aware of the story of Tepper's drink-throwing incident, where he allegedly threw a drink at Jaguars fans. There was a video of the incident and aside from Bryce Young's rookie struggle, this moment summed up the franchise's season.
How much did the Bears trade for Caleb Williams?
At face value, the Chicago Bears paid a first-round pick for Caleb Williams. However, the team obtained the pick through a trade long before the 2024 NFL draft.
In March 2023, the Bears sent the Carolina Panthers the first overall pick, and in exchange, the Panthers handed over D.J. Moore, the No. 61 pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick.
It was a gamble for the Chicago Bears as no one knew where the Panthers would be picking one year later. As it turns out, the Bears won the lottery, getting the first overall pick and a bevy of additional picks due to the trade. The next two years will determine how well the Bears' selections paid off and above all, Caleb Williams stands front and center in that evaluation.