It’s no secret Caleb Williams has been struggling for the Chicago Bears this season. Turns out, the latest NFL analysis have shown that he and other quarterbacks selected using the top pick aren’t doing so well this early into the campaign.
Williams faced significant challenges in his second NFL start for the Bears, as the team suffered a 19-13 defeat against the Houston Texans. While he managed to throw for more yards than in his debut, his performance was marred by two turnovers and seven sacks, leaving him feeling “a little bruised up” after the game.
The Bears’ offensive line struggled mightily, allowing six different players to sack Williams, which hindered his ability to establish any rhythm. He completed 62.2% of his passes for 174 yards but also threw two interceptions, highlighting the need for improvement in both protection and communication with his receivers. DJ Moore led the team with six receptions for 53 yards, while Rome Odunze had only two catches for 33 yards.
In contrast, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud played a cleaner game, throwing for 260 yards and a touchdown without any turnovers. This difference in execution ultimately proved crucial in a tightly contested match.
Despite the setbacks, Williams shows promise and potential for growth, but the Bears must address their offensive line issues to give him a fair chance to develop. As the season progresses, the team needs to enhance its offensive cohesion and ensure Williams has the support necessary to thrive in the league. With time and adjustments, there’s hope that both Williams and the Bears can turn their fortunes around.
Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams and other Top Picks Achieve Shocking NFL Record
Along with Williams, there are other quarterbacks selected using the number one pick that are struggling this year. According to Brad Gagnon for Bleacher Report, these are Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young and Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence.
Three qualified quarterbacks have bad throw rates above this mark: Bryce Young (28.3%), Caleb Williams (27.9%) and Trevor Lawrence (27.1%)
That’s right, the three most recent No. 1 overall picks at that position.
Pro Football Reference defines bad throws as those “that weren’t catchable with normal effort,” and these young dudes have been tossing a lot of them thus far.
At least Young is only 23 while Williams is just two starts into his career. There’s still hope for all three, but it’s a gotta be quite discouraging for the 0-2 Jags that the soon-to-be 25-year-old Lawrence has been this sloppy soon after signing a five-year, $275 million contract.
The Panthers have benched Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton after a dismal start to the 2024 season, where the team scored just 13 points across two games. Young, the top overall pick last year, struggled with only 245 passing yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. Meanwhile, Lawrence is also facing scrutiny, with his performance underwhelming as the team remains winless.
These three quarterbacks must address their respective challenges to regain confidence and support from fans and coaches as the season progresses. If they don’t expect them to lose their minutes on the field to veteran quarterbacks.
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