The second-overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, agreed to his rookie contract with the Washington Commanders on Friday. With Daniels agreeing to his rookie contract, it was a reminder that Caleb Williams has yet to sign his rookie deal with the Chicago Bears yet.
Williams has previously stated that he is not involved in the contract negotiation process as his focus is on getting acclimated with his Bears' teammates and coaches as he prepares for his rookie season in the NFL. There isn't too much of a negotiation needed, considering most of the contract is already determined by the agreed-upon amounts based on when the rookie is drafted.
Williams, who was selected first overall, is expected to sign a four-year deal worth just over $39MM with a fifth-year option worth north of $25MM. Given these amounts are already slotted, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune expects Williams to sign his deal before the Bears return for training camp next month.
"At this juncture, there’s no reason for concern that the Bears won’t sign Williams before training camp opens, which will be a week earlier than usual because the team is playing in the Hall of Fame Game against the Houston Texans on Aug. 1 in Canton, Ohio."
- Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune
Rookies report to training camp on July 16 for the Bears, so there is about a month before there is any real reason to be concerned about Williams not signing his deal. For what it's worth, Rome Odunze hasn't signed his rookie deal with the Bears yet either.
This seems to be a case of both Williams and Odunze prioritizing the Bears' offseason program before signing their rookie deals. This is common practice across the NFL, and the two will likely take this downtime to finalize their respective deals.
