Although he’s yet to officially sign, Caleb Williams has reportedly agreed to a rookie contract with the Chicago Bears. The No. 1 pick didn’t receive one request in negotiations.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Williams wanted a clause prohibiting the Bears from using the franchise tag on him. The Bears declined to set a new precedent by making Williams the first rookie to land such an assurance.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Williams has agreed to a four-year, fully guaranteed $39 million contract that includes a $25.5 million player bonus. As a first-round pick, the Bears can use a fifth-year player option to secure an extra season of his services.
If Williams plays up to the hype and gives Chicago a long-awaited franchise quarterback, the organization will likely extend him before worrying before his rookie contract expires. Yet a franchise tag could ensure a sixth season if they don’t agree to a long-term arrangement.
The Baltimore Ravens used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson after completing his fifth season in 2022. That gave Baltimore the opportunity to either match any offer Jackson signed with another team or receive two compensatory first-round picks if he left.
However, the more commonly deployed exclusive tag blocks a player from going anywhere.
As one of the most celebrated prospects in recent memory, Williams arguably had more sway to press the issue. Yet any drafted rookie doesn’t hold too much leverage in the current collective bargaining agreement.
Related: Report: Caleb Williams Has Signed His Rookie Contract