Caleb Williams Called 'Wildly Erratic' and 'Most Dynamic' QB as NFL GM, DC Evaluate Bears Star

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams drew a wide variety of opinions when ESPN's Jeremy Fowler canvassed the NFL for his annual positional rankings.

One defensive coach called Williams "wildly erratic" while acknowledging his obvious talent.

"Doesn't always take the layups and still needs to mature into the position," the coach said. "[He] has some of those 'what is he doing?' plays. But he also makes plays only he and Mahomes can make. [He] can throw from any angle, deceptively fast when forced to scramble and he's got the 'it' factor in crunch time."

Williams narrowly made the cut at No. 10, beating out the Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold, Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love and Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels.

Of those four, one general manager singled out Williams as the "most dynamic."

"He's got the arm talent and overall athleticism suited for today's game," the GM said.

Here's a look at the full top 10 list of quarterbacks ranked ahead of the 2026 season:

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
6. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
8. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
9. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
10. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Williams' numbers weren't dramatically different from his rookie year. He threw for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and his completion rate dipped below 60 percent (58.1).

But the progress was evident from the 2024 No. 1 overall pick. He showed more poise in the pocket, which resulted in him taking 44 fewer sacks compared to his first year, and he was never rattled by late-game situations.

Williams led the Bears on six game-winning drives, and their NFC Wild Card Round win over the Green Bay Packers was his signature moment. He had 361 passing yards and two touchdowns, and he made fans drop their jaws with some of his creativity.

 ▶️Full Packers-Bears Recap

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The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner drew the Patrick Mahomes comparisons coming out of college because he had a tendency to extend plays and improvise, often to great effect.

That was simultaneously a strength and a weakness for Williams. Sure, he can do things that few other quarterbacks can, but holding onto the ball for too long is a recipe for racking up sacks.

Williams seemed to experience that learning curve in 2024 and then adjusted in Year 2. Now, the question is how much higher his ceiling is as a passer. Should he take another step forward, he could easily crack the top five in Fowler's 2027 rankings.