It's Only the Preseason, But Caleb Williams Is Already Making Magic for the Bears

The big question that always faces every quarterback prospect who enters the professional football ranks after being dominant at the college level is, "Yeah, but can they do it against NFL defenses?"

From the moment he snatched the starting job away from Spencer Rattler as a freshman at Oklahoma, Caleb Williams has been a constant highlight reel, showing off arm talent and playmaking instincts that have drawn deserved comparisons to Patrick Mahomes.

That knack for making incredible plays made Williams the easy pick for the Chicago Bears at the No. 1 overall spot in the 2024 NFL Draft, despite Williams' lack of ideal size for the position.

It hasn't taken long for Williams to deliver some eye-popping plays against pro defenses in the preseason, as his performance this weekend against the Bills featured multiple plays that looked like they were pulled straight from last year's USC film:

This one didn't count, but...whew:

Yes, it's only the preseason.

Yes, it's just a few plays.

But if we're looking for an answer to that big question above, Williams is giving us a clear answer just two exhibition games into his NFL career.

There's plenty more that goes into being a successful NFL quarterback than talent, even otherworldly talent. But by all accounts, Williams is already proving himself to be an effective leader in the locker room, and his ability to create something out of nothing on the field is the kind of thing that inspires rare confidence in the rest of the team. When you have a guy like Williams behind center, you know you always have a chance.

That's why the Bears had no problem trading away Justin Fields this offseason once they had secured the No. 1 overall pick thanks to last year's pre-draft trade with the Carolina Panthers. Fields had shown flashes of potential over the previous three seasons, but even when considering the lackluster supporting cast he had to work with, nothing was going to keep the Bears from spending that pick on Williams.

Can Williams make these kinds of plays consistently during the regular season? Will he be able to lead the Bears to the playoffs, and keep delivering in clutch moments deep into the postseason on the way to a potential championship?

Those questions are yet before him, but the answer to the first one is a resounding yes.

Related: Caleb Williams' Secret to Success Outside of Structure is His Mechanical Consistency