No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract with a $25.5 million signing bonus as the Chicago Bears welcomed their star-studded rookie class to training camp on Tuesday.
Williams was the top selection in the 2024 draft, one year after the Bears traded away the No. 1 pick to the Carolina Panthers.
In addition to Williams, the Bears selected Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze in the first round. The No. 9 pick also signed his four-year rookie contract with the Bears on Tuesday.
Bears training camp officially begins on Friday, when veterans are due to report with the first practice scheduled for Saturday.
Williams, 22, was the first of six quarterbacks drafted during the opening round in April. He replaces Justin Fields as the top quarterback on the Bears’ depth chart and head coach Matt Eberflus already declared the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner as the team’s starter.
Odunze receives approximately $22.7 million fully guaranteed on a four-year deal and a $13.3 million signing bonus, per Spotrac.
All contracts involving first-round selections include a fifth-year team option.
Odunze will join Keenan Allen, acquired via trade from the Chargers, and D.J. Moore atop Chicago’s wide receiver ranks. The Bears received Moore and the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick that became Williams, in the deal with Carolina for the 2023 first overall pick.
Odunze, 22, recorded 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season with the Huskies. His yardage total led all FBS receivers and were the most in school history as Washington finished runner-up in the College Football Playoff after losing to Michigan in the national title game.
In four seasons at Washington, Odunze had 214 receptions for 3,272 yards and 24 touchdowns.
–Field Level Media
