The 2024 NFL Draft presented the Chicago Bears with a chance to make a quarterback change and they seized the opportunity to land Caleb Williams.
The decision to trade down from the number one pick in 2023 paid dividends for the Chicago Bears.
Still backing Justin Fields and with no plans to take Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud in the 2023 draft, the Bears traded the pick to the Carolina Panthers.
That gave the Bears a huge draft haul and even the first overall pick in 2024 draft as the Panthers continued to struggle.
This time, the Bears were ready to take a chance on a new quarterback and selected Caleb Williams out of USC.
Fields was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Williams era started in Chicago – and the early signs have been encouraging.
Caleb Williams statistic blows Justin Fields away
Williams has immediately started as a rookie, as most first-round quarterbacks do in the modern NFL.
The Bears enjoyed a blowout win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, demolishing them 36-10 with Williams certainly impressive.
Williams completed 20 of his 29 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
This performance produced a remarkable statistic and one which will leave the Bears confident that they made the right decision.
This was the second time in three weeks that Williams threw for at least 300 yards.
Williams put up 363 yards on 33 completions in the Week 3 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts.
As noted by Erik Lambert on X, Williams has already had more 300+ yard passing games than Fields did in his three years with the Bears.
Fields managed that feat just once in his time with the Bears, meaning Williams has already eclipsed him in that regard.
It would be remiss of us to not point out that the Bears were able to draft a top receiver in Rome Odunze and invested in D’Andre Swift at running back.
A new offensive co-ordinator also arrived in Shane Waldron, with Williams now able to benefit from these big offensive changes.
Williams needs time to find consistency and really grow into an NFL star, but he’s off to a promising start.
Justin Fields starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Bears are happy with Williams and it turns out the Steelers haven’t been left too disappointed with their trade for Fields.
Fields has started all five games for the Steelers this season and they currently have a 3-2 record to their name.
Fields was far from perfect against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football but still put up two passing touchdowns in a narrow defeat.
The Steelers don’t quite have the protection, running game and receiving options to support Fields – especially with George Pickens not exactly offering much help on Sunday.
Fields wasn’t able to beat the Cowboys and had his lowest completion percentage of the season at 55.6% on 27 attempts.
There are still question marks around Fields but he has shown flashes of his potential this season and the Steelers may be minded to continue with him over Kyle Allen and Russell Wilson moving forward.
