Bears sign receiver, Caleb Williams' best friend |
Knowing the importance of the No. 1 pick this season, the Chicago Bears couldn't afford to trade that pick away and thus made Caleb Williams their new QB. Regarded as the most talented QB prospect since Andrew Luck, Williams has all to become the franchise QB the Bears have been lacking and could become the best QB in Bears history.
That isn't that tall of a task when you look at the history surrounding the Bears' quarterback position, but Ryan Poles has done a phenomenal job assembling talent to help Williams. It all started last season when they traded for DJ Moore, which also resulted in the Bears getting the No. 1 pick this season. You then saw the Poles sign D'Andre Swift in free agency while also trading for Keenan Allen to give Williams another weapon to throw to. Chicago then went on to draft Rome Odunze No. 9 overall in this year's draft, as the Chicago offense has the playmakers to be scary and could become one of the best offenses in the game this season. Ambitious about the future of this team, Poles isn't going to stop adding to it, as he will do whatever it takes to put the best surrounding cast around Williams, even if that means making under-the-radar pickups. Signing WR John Jackson could be one of those under-the-radar moves, as he is one of Williams's best friends and has previous experience playing alongside him. Jackson spent his final season at the University of Nevada, but prior to that, he was a part of the USC Trojans offense, where he saw significant playing time. That includes one season of catching passes from Williams, so Jackson knows what Williams is about and could have some intel as to what his tendencies are and what he likes to do offensively. Jackson may be Williams best friend, which is great when it comes to the bond these players have, but it is the chemistry that stands out as he could be a player that connects better with Williams than others do. Having that previous experience with Williams is huge as he could prove invaluable as the young quarterback navigates the pressures of leading an NFL team. At 6-1 and 215 pounds, Jackson has good size, but his spot on this roster is still in question as he could be more of a camp body. When you look at his college career, you will notice that Jackson had just over 300 receiving yards, and he finished with 40 receptions for 309 yards. 267 of those yards came with Nevada and 35 receptions as both those totals led the Wolfpack. He failed to record a TD in college, but he at least showed more in his final season than in other seasons. Given the performance he showed with Nevada, the Bears may feel his potential hasn't been fully tapped and they may want to see what type of bond he has with Williams. Not only is he a physical WR, which you need in the NFL, but he is also a terrific route runner. Throw in his excellent Special Teams skills and experience, and Jackson has a solid foundation in place where he could battle it out for a roster spot, even if it is just Special Teams. For the first time in recent memory, the Bears are investing in a QB and you have seen that since day one. When you look at the tools put in place, the way the Bears went about the draft, and now surrounding Williams with players he has a connection with, you can see Chicago doing everything they can to make this work. By surrounding Williams with familiar faces and proven talent, the Bears aim to foster an environment where their young quarterback can thrive, which is something this team has lacked in the quarterback position for years.
