There’s plenty of hype surrounding the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2025 season, which comes with the arrival of new head coach Ben Johnson and some young players looking to take a step forward.
While Chicago’s 2024 draft class featured just five players, it includes some potential franchise cornerstones led by quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze, as well as developmental picks in offensive tackle Kira Amegadjie and edge rusher Austin Booker and a special teams ace in punter Tory Taylor.
With that in mind, our Bears Wire staff is sharing their thoughts on which second-year player is poised to have the biggest impact in 2025, and it comes down to the big two.
Alyssa Barbieri: QB Caleb Williams
You could certainly make the case for wide receiver Rome Odunze, but the obvious answer is quarterback Caleb Williams following an offseason that was geared toward ensuring his immediate and long-term success. The biggest move was hiring head coach Ben Johnson, who’s proven to be one of the league’s brightest offensive minds and reinvented Jared Goff’s career in Detroit. Chicago also overhauled the interior offensive line after Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times as a rookie, adding an All-Pro in Joe Thuney, as well as veterans Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson. It certainly doesn’t hurt to add even more weapons to the mix in rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III.
While Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix got all the attention from last year’s rookie class, Williams had a quietly impressive season despite coaching malpractice and the worst offensive line in the league (which makes his season even more impressive). Now, the stage is set for Williams to have a breakout year working with Johnson, behind an improved offensive line and an array of weapons.
Brendan Sugrue: QB Caleb Williams
There’s no reason to get cute with this answer. It’s Caleb Williams. It HAS to be Caleb Williams. That’s what this offseason has all been about. The Bears did everything they could to surround their second-year quarterback with a coaching staff that has a history of success on offense, upgraded protection on the offensive line via trades and major signings, and young playmakers at skill positions through the draft. The vast majority of the moves the Bears have made were about giving Williams the best chance to succeed.
Williams had moments during his rookie year, but his season paled in comparison to Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. Right or wrong, there’s a significant amount of pressure on the former No. 1 overall pick, and it’s not lost on him that he has everything he wanted at his disposal. Even if he doesn’t turn into a star right away, Williams should see enough improvement that makes a drastic difference for the team as a whole. It’s why Ben Johnson, Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Colston Loveland, and Luther Burden were all brought in over the last six months.
Vincent Parise: QB Caleb Williams
The Bears are in big trouble if the answer to this question doesn’t end up being Caleb Williams. They have put the entire future of their franchise in his hands and have given him everything he needs to succeed.
Caleb Williams had a promising rookie year. He threw for a lot of yards, threw for touchdowns, and didn’t turn the ball over much. Now, he needs to elevate his game even further. With an offensive guru as a head coach, tons of weapons, and a wildly improved offensive line, there is the potential for him to be the greatest quarterback in franchise history.
The NFL is a quarterback driven league. If the Bears finally got it right with the development of Williams, they can finally have some sustained success. Year two will be very telling.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Predicting Chicago Bears 2nd-year player with biggest impact in 2025