Former Bears Scout Admits Tanking For Caleb Williams Is Worth It

In 99% of situations, there is no way somebody who works or has worked in the NFL would condone losing. These people are competitors. It’s always about winning. Yet, there are exceptions to everything. Sometimes, a prospect comes out of college that looks like he can transform a franchise. Most of the time, it’s a quarterback. It was John Elway in 1983, Peyton Manning in 1998, Andrew Luck in 2012, and Trevor Lawrence in 2021. Some think there is another on the way: USC’s Caleb Williams.

He has ripped apart college defenses for three years now. He’s been projected as the #1 pick in the 2024 draft since the previous one ended. That is where the Chicago Bears come in. With their 0-3 start and abysmal performance, many consider them the favorite to land Williams. A former Bears scout, Greg Gabriel, decided to dig into the tape to see if the quarterback was legitimate or another hype job. In his column for Windy City Gridiron, the normally cantankerous Gabriel couldn’t help but gush about how good the kid is and could be.

Caleb Williams may very well be a “generational” talent. He is the best quarterback prospect I have seen since probably Andrew Luck. His “game” reminds us of Mahomes, but Mahomes wasn’t nearly as successful in college as Willaims has been. He will easily be the first player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Because of the scheme he plays in at USC (NFL-type concepts), he may be more ready to be very productive as a rookie than most quarterbacks.

Caleb Williams is a premature dream.

The fact is there are 14 games left in 2023. A lot can happen in that time. The Bears have had opportunities to land a generational quarterback in the past and flubbed it in a myriad of ways. They lost a coin flip for Terry Bradshaw. They won two meaningless games at the end of 1997 to lose out on Manning. Last but not least, they passed on Aaron Rodgers in 2005 because they were still committed to Rex Grossman. This team hasn’t given fans any trust to get things right when it comes to the quarterback position.

There is no doubt Caleb Williams has the accuracy, poise, swagger, and arm strength of a franchise quarterback. He moves well and is equally dangerous inside and outside the pocket. If a team can put a solid coaching staff in place with credible protection, he will be an immediate hit. Of course, that is asking a lot from this team. Chicago has two 1st round picks in 2024. Their own and one from the Carolina Panthers. Both teams are currently winless. That gives the Bears great odds to secure the top pick.

This weekend will determine a lot in that regard as all four remaining winless teams play each other.