Barely over a week remains before the Chicago Bears are supposed to report for training camp. Yet their two prized 1st round picks, Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze, still haven’t signed their rookie contracts. Fears are starting to rise that one or both might be headed for a holdout, which would immediately put them behind schedule on learning the new offense. Given how vital both will be to the team’s fortunes in 2024, that is not something anybody wants to hear. Adam Schefter didn’t help matters when he said Williams is looking for ways to upend the rookie contract system, trying to find more leverage.
That speaks to a player who isn’t afraid to stand his ground. Meanwhile, the Bears must be careful about how they approach the matter. They don’t want to set a precedent of caving to Williams that would force the rest of the league to follow. David Kaplan asked Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer about the situation. While he admitted there is an outside chance Williams could hold out, it is far more likely his battle will end right before training camp, as has been the case with 99% of other rookies since the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement established the rookie wage scale.
The primary things he can argue over are signing bonuses and offset language in the contract, which would protect him in case of injuries. Breer mentioned Joey Bosa in that clip. This is the reason the star pass rusher held out until right before the start of the regular season. He wanted those protections. The fact he suffered a hamstring injury almost immediately suggests it was the right call. What we don’t know is what Williams is seeking. There were rumors his camp explored receiving ownership equity in whichever franchise drafted him, which was swiftly shot down by the NFL.
Whatever the case, there are nine days left until a decision must be made. Caleb Williams can take right down to the wire if he wants. The only thing that will do is fray the nerves of Bears fans. It would still be a shock if he doesn’t report for camp. Being the competitor he is, Williams doesn’t seem like the type to purposely sacrifice crucial practice time to chase a few extra dollars. Keep an ear following this weekend. If news is going to drop, it will be around that time.
