of Chicago BearsNegotiating a rookie contract with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams wasn’t as easy as it seemed. Williams didn’t have a contract until just before training camp and the team had some odd demands, like wanting to be paid as an LLC. Eventually, the two sides came to an agreement and the quarterback was ready to go for the season.
The Bears appeared on “Hard Knocks” this year, and several clips have already been released. In one clip, Williams announces the amount of his signing bonus ($25.5 million) during team introductions, and his Bears teammates celebrate with joy. You can watch the clip here.
Here’s how Bears undrafted quarterback Tyson Bagent reacted to hearing that Chicago’s No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams, received a $25.5 million signing bonus: pic.twitter.com/M4saPiAzU3
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2024
Backup QB Tyson Bagent’s reaction says it all.
Williams’ four-year rookie deal includes a fully guaranteed salary of $39.49 million and a signing bonus of $25.5 million. While his new teammates may think it’s a great deal, it actually pales in comparison to what first-overall picks were signing 15 years ago, before the NFL changed its CBA.
In 2010, No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford signed a six-year, $78 million rookie contract with $50 million guaranteed.
NFL rookie contracts may not be as big as they once were, but there are far fewer holdouts these days and players still get a respectable salary. The Williams era should be an exciting one for the Bears, and the nation will get to see those early days on “Hard Knocks.”
