Is Caleb Williams Good Or What? Week 3 Meter Update
Michael Hickey. Getty Images.For my money Caleb Williams remains the most interesting story to watch unfold this season. Daniel Jones is clearly the most surprising, and on pace to hoist the fabled Sam Darnold trophy for the "revived from the abyss" award. But trying to figure out if Caleb Williams is the generational prospect most thought he would be is the most interesting. And after three weeks we find ourselves right where we started the 2025 season.
We really have no clue.
I know I mentioned this before, but what we have here is a perfect scientific experiment. Make the best quarterback prospect in years start his career with the shittiest coaching staff possible and see what happens. Then, replace those bums of coaches with the best coaching prospect in years and see what happens next.
As a Bears fan, I'm coming into this with as much neutrality as I can. When the Bears ended the 2023 season losing to the Packers I couldn't help but think had Tevin Jenkins not been a complete bag of worthless crap in that game the Bears would have won and potentially led GM Ryan Poles to keeping Fields and trading the pick for a kings ransom. And Bears fans will recall the week before when Fields torched the Falcons at home in the snow leaving Poles hearing cheers for Fields on the sideline.
Knowing very little about Caleb, I was into trading the picks and keeping Fields after the season. Then I went into film breakdowns as any responsible, conscientious fan does - I found one on YouTube and let the algo do it's thing from there. The city was split on which way to go during the early offseason, but everyone kind of knew Caleb was the decision so I had to see why. And I sure saw. This left me thinking having a franchise QB not only fills one hole, but partially fills other holes in other positions given the magnitude of that position and how it could mask weaknesses.
All this to say - I wasn't really a Caleb stan. But was ready to be wowed. And… well… I still am ready.
Now, here's the thing. Caleb just posted a four touchdown performance with zero interceptions. Now everyone seems to have swayed right back into "he's the guy" territory. Afterall, no one in Bears history has ever passed for 4 touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Actually, that's not true. But if you know anything about Bears quarterbacking, you're forgiven for believing it without a second thought. But it's actually happened 12 other times in franchise history. And the last one to do it was… checks code… Justin Fields vs the Commanders in Week 5, 2023. You know who else is on that list? Mitch Trubisky and Jay Cutler (X3). So let's not get carried away with this bumslaying Caleb put on vs a Cowboys team that gave up 37 to the now benched Russell Wilson.
So that's where I am on the Caleb Williams meter as of this morning before Week 4. Bumslayer.
Beating the most pathetic looking defense leaving receivers open by 10 yards doesn't mean you're all the sudden the guy, or even a guy. He still had missed on several balls that had no excuse for not being on target. Hell, even Colston Loveland's catch was just barely in his enormous catch radius.
This stat breakdown really summarizes what I've been seeing when my eyes extremely well. You'll have to click in to see it all, but it's worth it
To Caleb's credit - the offseason work he's put into playing in-structure is clear as day. He's made incredible strides there. But the pure accuracy hasn't improved at all. Even if the numbers say otherwise. But I guess if Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen can improve on it, why can't he?
Today he faces another bum team in the Raiders. At least he has to chance to bumslay on the road, but even if we get another 4/0 I'm not promoting him to "The Guy". Maybe "A guy", but we'll see.
I'm all for it though. Were stuck with a piss poor general manager who can't draft to save his life outside of (maybe) the first round so we may as well hope his layup #1 overall pick turns out liger we all dreamed.
Back next week for the official meter update.