The Chicago Bears have done what everyone expected they would: drafted Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams will now take over a team that is desperate for any semblance of success of the field after its previous two first round quarterbacks failed to take them to the next level.
Of course, this is a very different Bears organization than the one that traded up to take Mitch Trubisky with the second overall pick (over Patrick Mahomes) in the 2017 NFL Draft. Nor is it the same organization that drafted Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Since that time, former general manager Ryan Pace was fired and replaced by Ryan Poles. Pace had two chances to hit on a first round quarterback, but missed both times. Now Poles has taken his first shot with Williams, who many consider to be a generational talent at the quarterback position.
The question, though, is whether or not Williams will truly be embraced by a Bears fanbase that is starving for immediate success and has shown hesitation in regards to how Williams chooses to express himself.
New Chicago Bears Quarterback Caleb Williams and His Painted Nails
One of the things that many fans have been outspoken out in regards to Williams is the fact that he paints his nails. For some traditional football fans that are stuck in the 1890’s, this personal decision of Williams’ (that does not affect their lives in any way) has been enough to criticize and attack him on social media.
While there may be a small portion of Bears fans who hold this view, a great deal of them posted photos of themselves with painted nails even before the draft began to show their support for Williams:
all of this talk about Caleb Williams painting his nails… had to try it for myself. I’ve never felt prettier. 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/8S6B1a9ZjD
— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) April 25, 2024
Tonight is the night Caleb Williams changes the fortune for Bears fans.
*nail credit to my seven year old, Magnolia!#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/pPthn3O160
— Jim Rutledge (@JimRutledge) April 25, 2024
I can’t wait to see Caleb Williams’ nail color tonight. I can’t wait even more for the dumb men who cry about Caleb Williams’ nail color to have a meltdown over it.
— Kayce Smith (@KayceSmith) April 25, 2024
The first time Caleb Williams rolls out and throws a 50 yard tuddy across his body, there’s going to be thousands of Mike Ditka lookin-ass mfs walking around Chicago with pink shirts and painted nails. It’ll be amazing.#NFLDraft #Bears
— Tyler Liberatore🤌🏻 (@LiberatoreT15) April 25, 2024
So, as it turns out, painted nails will not keep Bears fans from accepting and supporting their new quarterback. Of course, his play on the field will be the real test.
Will Caleb Williams Be Successful with the Chicago Bears?
Historically speaking, Williams does not have a high bar to reach in order to be one of the most successful quarterbacks in Bears franchise history. Chicago has never had a quarterback throw for 30 or more touchdown passes in a single season, nor have they had a single 4,000 yard passer.
That being said, no quarterback has gone into Chicago with as much hype as Williams (though many fans believed Justin Fields would run the NFC North for years). With wide receiver DJ Moore and tight end Cole Kmet as two of his top receiving options, Chicago already has a solid base for a good offense.
The biggest question mark, though, is whether or not the Bears’ offensive line will be able to improve enough to protect Williams, something they could not do for fields. Last year, Fields was sacked 44 times, the fifth most of any quarterback in the NFL. In 2022, Fields was taken down 55 times, tied for the most in the NFL.
If the Bears are going to have the kind of success they envision having with Williams, they need to prioritize protecting him. If they cannot do so, they will have another Fields situation on their hands in a few years.
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