The wait is over: 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams has signed on the dotted line and is officially a player for the Chicago Bears.
According to ESPN’s NFL Live via Courtney Cronin, Williams along with No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze have officially signed their rookie contracts and have reported to training camp with the Bears today.
“From NFL Live: The wait is over. Bears top draft picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze have signed their rookie contracts upon reporting to Halas Hall today for training camp,” Cronin posted on X.
Williams was the most notable rookie to not have signed his contract prior to the start of training camp, though hardly the only one as quarterback J.J. McCarthy is reportedly waiting for his agent to negotiate some extra money up front.
As for Odunze, the Bears are eagerly anticipating that he’ll be the dynamic, playmaking wide receiver that they need to pair with Williams.
From NFL Live: The wait is over. Bears top draft picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze have signed their rookie contracts upon reporting to Halas Hall today for training camp. pic.twitter.com/MW05JIWNl2
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) July 16, 2024
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Caleb Williams was the No. 1 overlall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Bears, who acquired that pick from the Carolina Panthers in the pre-draft trade to move up to the first overall pick in 2023.
Williams won the Heisman Trophy with the USC Trojans in 2022 but decided to stay in school for one extra year. The wait was clearly worth it as it helped to solidify his status as the top NFL Draft prospect.
Now the Bears will get a chance to see just how good their top prospect is.
Related: USC QB Caleb Williams Is Declaring For The 2024 NFL Draft