Bears News: Caleb Williams reflects on historic 2024 QB class

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 4 hours ago

CHICAGO - It is a little early to call right now, but it looks like the 2024 draft class may prove to be one of the best quarterback classes in NFL history between Caleb Williams with the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels with the Washington Commanders, Drake Maye with the New England Patriots, Michael Penix Jr. with the Atlanta Falcons, J.J. McCarthy with the Minnesota Vikings and Bo Nix with the Denver Broncos.

“Six QBs going within (the) first round and first 12 (picks). So, it’s a pretty good draft class. Obviously, guys are playing well, just about all the guys. So, I think it’s going to turn out like a good class. Obviously, be competing versus these guys for a long time and (I am) excited about it,” Williams said. “It’s pretty unique to get one - six different quarterbacks in one draft class that early and then obviously to have guys that are so different but also very similar in a lot of ways and I think it’s awesome for those guys to be able to go out there and compete the way they’ve been competing from last year to this year and excited to see where they go next.”

These quarterbacks will be tied together forever, and that is part of why it makes headlines when any of these quarterbacks play against each other, especially the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks. Last time they faced each other, the game ended with a play no Chicago Bears fan will ever forget - for all the wrong reasons.

Now, with the Bears coming off a bye week, they have a chance to atone for what happened on the final play last season.

Having the bye week to sit back and reflect on how the first four games had gone was beneficial for Williams, as it gave him a chance to identify areas where he could improve going forward.

“There’s not necessarily one area that I can say that I’m mastered at. There’s not one area that I can stay that I’m necessarily bad at or anything like that. I think it’s just being able to look at it and figure out, and it goes back to always the basics for us as a group and offense and defense and all of that. But also, myself, it goes back to the basics of being able to look at what I need to look at. It always starts (from the) ground up,” Williams said. “So, looking at my base and looking at my footwork and the confidence of being able to get the calls out and long calls, short calls, whatever. Being able to get the guys up to the line and make the checks and things like that. So, it always starts with those base things and then from there, you grow and you figure out you need to be set here to get back to here and all of those different things. So, it always starts with the basics and then you can take steps from there.”

One thing that should certainly be different about this game compared to last year is the number of sacks Williams took. He was only sacked three times in this matchup last season. However, that should not even happen this time as Williams has only been sacked once in the previous two games.

The offensive line has greatly improved from last year as Williams’ sack percentage was 10.79 percent last season and is now only 5.11 percent.

“It starts with those guys upfront. Those guys have been awesome (this) year and so, I think being able to get in rhythm with those guys, not having many guys down in a sense, being able to get multiple reps and … being able to figure out maybe where their weakness is because every player has weaknesses or anything like that. So, being able to figure out where their weakness is and playing off that in the pocket and be able to feel that and kind of know where I need to set up or roll out or get out the pocket at certain times and things like that. So, it’s being able to have those guys, but (also) have those guys’ back when things don’t go right. But, these (guys) are beasts up front. So, it’s been fun being with them and working with them and having these past four games with them.”