On Tuesday, national media reported that wide receiver Rome Odunze had reached an agreement with the Chicago Bears on his rookie contract. The Bears quickly confirmed the news, releasing the contract details in a press release and sharing pictures of Odunze signing the deal on social media. Shortly after, Adam Schefter announced that Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, had also agreed to terms with the Bears on his rookie contract.
“One is done: Chicago’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is signing a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $39 million, including a $25.5 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option,” Schefter tweeted.
However, things took an unexpected turn. There was no official statement from the Bears or any posts on their social media about Williams’ deal.
What’s going on?
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the deal isn’t finalized yet. The holdup involves a request from Williams’ representatives that the Bears agree not to use the franchise tag on him after his rookie contract expires.
“Multiple sources indicate that Williams asked the Bears to commit to not using the franchise tag once his rookie deal ends. The Bears declined,” Florio reported.
Florio suggests that this is what’s delaying the signing, as the Bears are unlikely to honor this request.
If Williams were to succeed in getting this clause in his contract, it would be the first time a rookie had such terms, setting a new standard for future high draft picks. This would effectively limit teams to retaining top picks for five years before they could test free agency.
Given Williams’ talent and leverage, he might be in the best position to push for this precedent. How the Bears handle this situation will be interesting to watch in the coming days (or possibly even hours).
