Ryan Poles on Caleb Williams contract talks: 'It wasn't anything shocking'
As the Chicago Bears got ready for the start of training camp this week, they faced two pressing questions. Neither of their top draft picks – Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze – signed their rookie contracts ahead of Tuesday’s report day.
Odunze’s agreement came down that day, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Williams’ deal shortly thereafter. However, the Bears only announced Odunze’s contract that day. Although the sense was Williams would also sign his deal, rumors swirled about the potential hang-ups before Wednesday’s announcement.
According to general manager Ryan Poles, the negotiations were just that. As far as where things ended up after Williams ultimately signed, it wasn’t anything crazy.
“I’m not going to get into the negotiation and what’s asked/what’s not asked. Just for general knowledge, it’s very common for different things to be asked for in the very beginnings of negotiations,” Poles said, via NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock. “So it wasn’t anything shocking in terms of what was being asked for or anything like that. But at the end of the day I’m glad it worked out and pretty kind of standard.”
Williams’ rookie deal is for four years and $39 million, and it also includes a $25.5 million signing bonus. He will also have a fifth-year option, which Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported was among the issues in negotiations. Williams – who doesn’t have an agent – also reportedly asked to be paid as an LLC.
The former USC star, of course, signed on the dotted line just in time for training camp to begin. Rookies officially reported earlier this week and the rest of the team made its way to Halas Hall on Friday as a new era begins on Chicago’s lakefront.
Bears ‘certainly’ want Caleb Williams to get preseason reps
With the contract talks in the past, Williams and the Bears can focus on getting ready for the season. Chicago’s first open practice will be on Saturday in Lake Forest and the first preseason game will be Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame Game. As for how much Williams will play in the preseason, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said the goal will be too get him reps in those games.
“We talked about that in the spring a little bit, about looking back at what some other guys have done in the past,” Eberflus told reporters on Friday. “And yeah, we certainly want to do that. We’ll take that week-to-week. But there’s value in, really, all the reps when you think about it because he’s going to be going against the [No.] 1 defense. In preseason games, you don’t get all the looks, sometimes, that you would get during practice.
“So I think there’s equal value to going against the ones every single day and also getting some of those preseason reps as well.”