Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles understands full well that finally answering the generations-long quarterback conundrum comes with a double-edged sword: Eventually, the Bears will have to pay Caleb Williams.
The Bears GM said this week from the NFL Scouting Combine that he's planning for that in the coming years.
"I hope eventually to have a quarterback situation, too, where we've got to pay a young quarterback," he said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "We're getting closer and closer to clarity on that side of things."
While the past two Bears first-round quarterbacks -- Justin Fields and Mitchell Trubisky -- bottomed out before getting to that second-contract level, Williams' first season under Ben Johnson showed burgeoning promise that he won't wither like previous Chicago passers. However, Poles knows there are parts of Caleb's game he must improve, including becoming more consistent down-to-down.
"I want to be clear: Anyone that's watched the league long enough knows that for quarterback play, it's consistency," Poles said. "Can you stack years on top of each other? We still have steps to go. I don't want to make it like he's already [there]. He knows he's got work to do.
"But if all of that falls into place, we have to understand how that changes our formula as we move forward. That's a great thing to be on that path. I feel like we have a long-term quarterback solution. It makes me excited."
Since the rookie wage scale was implemented, teams have attempted to take advantage of quarterbacks on bargain deals. There is a balance between spending big in the here-and-now and saving for the future when the QB bill comes due.
Williams will make just $10.8 million this season and $12.6 million in 2027. The Bears will then have the fifth-year option and multiple franchise tags at their disposal if a long-term deal isn't done. There are currently 16 quarterbacks averaging $40-plus million, with Dak Prescott's $60 million per year sitting atop the league.
The 2024 No. 1 overall pick becomes extension-eligible next offseason, something Poles will keep in mind as he budgets his 2026 spending. The key for the GM is to capitalize on Williams' current cap number while not getting hemmed in by long-term boondoggle deals.
"Financially, you can field the best team when that quarterback isn't taking up a massive piece of the cap," Poles noted.
The dichotomy makes this offseason pivotal for Poles. He did a sensational job revamping the offensive line last year and adding playmakers to Johnson's offense through the draft. Now, he has a trove of veterans on defense hitting the market and has some glaring holes on that side of the ball. The structure of any splash spends will have to be in the context of Williams' future deal.
Capitalizing on Williams' rookie contract is key, but simply having a potential difference-making long-term playmaker at quarterback worth even having this conversation about, brings a refreshing air to Chicago.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: NFL Network and NFL+ will have live coverage of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 26.
