The Bears have finally squared away No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Caleb Williams ' rookie contract after a protracted negotiation that bled into the opening day of Chicago's training camp this week.
According to reporting from ProFootballTalk , multiple sources revealed that the final sticking point before Wednesday's official contract announcement was Williams' unprecedented request that Chicago waive its right to a franchise tag. No NFL rookie has ever secured such an agreement and the Bears ultimately declined Williams' request, signing a four-year rookie deal that made him eligible to begin training camp.
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After securing the Panthers ' 2024 draft rights during a blockbuster trade last offseason, Chicago rejoiced as Carolina limped to a lowly 1-12 start and secured the NFL's worst record by December 31, bringing the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick to the Windy City. The Bears were in apparent need of a franchise quarterback and Williams stood out as the consensus best quarterback in his class, giving him the latitude for several unorthodox contract requests.
Williams was reportedly pursuing a minority ownership stake from his future NFL Draft destination during his final season at USC , where he totaled 3,633 passing yards and 33 touchdowns but fell far short of his lofty Heisman-winning marks the year before.
The former five-star prospect later declined to complete the medical exams at the NFL Combine, instead completing these tests during individual team visits, and opted for a reprieve from his NFL Draft preparations in Tokyo just a week before the event.
Williams and the Bears consistently maintained productive communication, however, and agreed on a four-year, $39.49 million contract with a $25.5 million signing bonus. The quarterback, who operates without an agent, balked at the customary "franchise tag," which allows teams to extend the contract of a player set to enter free agency by one year at a pre-set price.
More experienced quarterbacks, most notably Dak Prescott , have been able to successfully negotiate "no-tag" clauses, which allow free agents to enter the market unrestricted. However, while this early eye toward free agency might be unsettling for some Bears fans, Williams has also spoken about his goal of following Tom Brady's path and remaining committed to one team for much of his career.
"I want to play at one place for 20 years, and chase one guy, No. 12," Williams said on the Pivot Podcast in April, referencing Brady's iconic jersey number. "I want a place that loves ball. That's all I've heard about Chicago so far."
The July 16 deadline for rookies to report for training camp also saw fellow rookie Rome Odunze ink his rookie contract. Veterans will report to Halas Hall on Friday, the early start date caused by the Bears' role in the Hall of Fame game on August 1.
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