FOX analyst shares uninspiring take on Caleb Williams’ future with Bears

Will “generational talent” equal “generational quarterback” for Bears phenom Caleb Williams? One analyst still isn’t sold.

Apparently, not all of the pre-draft handwringing over Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has dissipated.

In particular, one analyst who stands a good chance of watching the dynamic young quarterback up close has a much less rosy view of Williams’ future than us Bears fans might.

While digging into the NFC North’s outlook for the 2024 NFL season on his “Stinkin Truth” podcast, FOX color analyst and former Pro Bowl center Mark Schlereth, who has called a number of Bears games over the years, discussed Williams’ and the Bears’ prospects for the upcoming season with, shall we say, less than rabid enthusiasm.

For one, he has the Bears slated to finish third in the North behind the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, both of which he believes will make the playoffs. Meanwhile, he expects Chicago to miss the playoffs and win either six or seven games.

Not exactly the hottest of takes, perhaps, but not an optimistic one given what the Bears have put together offensively around their extremely talented rookie quarterback this year.

Speaking of whom…

Schlereth, a three-time Super Bowl champion, does know a thing or two about playing with great quarterbacks, having snapped the ball to John Elway as a member of the Broncos’ title-winning teams in 1997 and 1998.

So it’s perhaps not entirely unfair for him to want to tamp down some of the hype around Williams heading into his first NFL season.

“There’s no question about the talent, but generational talent doesn’t mean generational quarterback,” Schlereth said. “Joe Montana didn’t have “generational talent.” He’s one of the best quarterbacks you’ve ever seen. Tom Brady didn’t have “generational talent,” but he is the GOAT of all quarterbacks. Peyton Manning didn’t have “generational talent,” but he (was) great. Drew Brees didn’t have “generational talent,” [and] he’s going to the Hall of Fame. There’s a big difference between generational talent and being an All-Pro great quarterback.”

Before digressing into the rant I’m building up, let’s also present why exactly Schlereth isn’t as bullish on Williams as, say, current Broncos coach Sean Payton is.

“[Williams is] one of the slowest guys getting the ball out of his hands in college football,” Schlereth added “There’s a lot of ‘if that No. 1 dude ain’t open, just go scramble around and make a play.’ That’s not how the NFL works. You can’t be a 50-50 on-schedule, off-schedule quarterback and survive in the NFL.”

Okay. Now let’s do this.

On one hand…yes. To two things.

Being an exceptionally talented player in terms of arm talent and athleticism is no guarantee of being a great NFL quarterback. Plenty of guys who can throw the ball over Mount Everest or throw the ball through a teacup in a t-shirt and shorts can’t hack in the NFL for 15 years at an elite level.

Also, it is true that Williams had some of the worst time-to-throw metrics of this year’s quarterback class — not wholly unlike now-former Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

However, unlike Fields, Williams had a far-from-stellar supporting cast in college that required him to create more often. Though there are many instances of him needing to play more on schedule, there are also more than enough signs that he’s capable of consistently playing on time.

So let’s give Williams a bit of time to work through things in the NFL before assuming he’ll be a 3.44 TTT guy for his career.

Now, here’s another thing I’m going to respectfully ask people to do: stop making silly statements about who has “generational talent” and who doesn’t.

I get what you mean: the Joe Montanas, Tom Bradys and Peyton Mannings didn’t have great arms, mobility or other majestic physical characteristics. But having elite accuracy, pocket presence and mental acuity are generational skills not everyone has.

Those things, more so than arm angles and RPMs, separate the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and today’s top-notch passers from everyone else. It’s not as if either of them are the biggest, fastest guys in the league, and they’re also not identical skill sets themselves.

Williams has shown flashes of those abilities as well in addition to the eye-popping stuff he can do that few others can. So how about we wait until before implying (as Schlereth seemingly is) that the rookie doesn’t have true substance in his game?

Just another person the No. 1 overall pick has to prove wrong, I guess.