Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams dealt biggest obstacle for breakout campaign

On most offseason breakout lists, you’ll see Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ name on there. However, Williams still has a lot to prove as he attempts to live up to his No. 1 pick billing.

The Bears have spent all offseason putting the pieces in place for Williams to succeed. They hired a new offensive-minded head coach while bolstering both their offensive line and pass catching options. Overall, there are no more excuses for Williams to struggle.

As head coach Ben Johnson works on elevating Williams, there are plenty of aspects he’ll be looking to improve. But king amongst them all is the quarterback’s deep ball game, argues Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report.

“On throws located 15-plus yards downfield in 2024, the rookie No. 1 overall pick posted a 63.6 passer rating,” Gagnon wrote. “[Jayden] Daniels’ rating under the same circumstances? 109.5.

Caleb Williams entering crucial season 

The comparisons between Williams and Jayden Daniels will be made throughout their entire careers after going No. 1 and No. 2 in the draft respectively. After Daniels completely overshadowed Williams during their rookie year, the latter must now prove why he was selected one pick before the former.

One of Williams’ biggest problems as a rookie was holding onto the ball too long. He would wait for the play to develop downfield, and when it didn’t, the defense would have enough time to get into the backfield. The quarterback was able to limit his interceptions to just six and didn’t force too much, but he didn’t make enough explosive plays down field.

With Johnson now in place, Williams will have solid footing and an actual offensive gameplan in place. While the head coach is still building his foundation, he’ll certainly want to see his quarterback develop as a playmaker. If Chicago molds a consistent offense, they’ll have more opportunities to take chances down field.

And if Williams cashes in, the Bears will look a lot different on offense in 2025 for all the right reasons.

Chicago Bears give Williams versatile playmakers 

As Williams looks downfield to pass, he will have a bevvy of strong pass catching options to target. Rookie Luther Burden joined DJ Moore and Rome Odunze to form what could be one of the scarier wide receiver trios in the league.

Burden himself was considered one of the best after-the-catch specialists in the 2025 class. Operating mostly from the slot, he’ll be a big play waiting to happen whenever he is in space. Moore is the leader of the wide receiver room and will likely lead the team in targets. His growing connection with Williams will only get scarier for opposing defenses. As will the growth of Odunze. While his rookie year was a bit rough, the receiver went in the top 10 for a reason. The Bears remain confident he’ll be a crucial part of the offense.

But Johnson and company didn’t stop there, selecting tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick. Considering the best pass catching tight end in the 2025 class, he gives Chicago a completely different dynamic on offense. Coupled with fellow tight end Cole Kmet, the Bears will present a dangerous threat whenever their operate in 12 personnel.

Still, none of the pass catchers can shine if Williams struggles again. The Bears will go as far as their quarterback does, and Johnson is aiming to help him reach heights never seen before in the Windy City.