Caleb Williams remains unsigned as lawyers negotiate final contract text: Report Originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
UPDATE: Caleb Williams has fully agreed to the terms of his rookie contract, according to a new report.
The city of Chicago rejoiced at the completion of Caleb Williams‘ signed a four-year rookie contract, cementing himself as the franchise’s quarterback and ushering in a new era.
Until Wednesday morning, when Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that Williams remained unsigned.
“I understand that the contract is not signed.” Florio told 670 The Score“They’re hoping that’s the case. They’re haggling over the language. And what I think they’re getting into is a situation where the attorney who’s handling this is not as well versed in the nuances of the contract as an experienced and competent agent would be. I think there are some issues that they’re trying to work out.”
“One thing I’ve been told is that there was an effort to get the Bears to agree not to use the franchise tag on Caleb Williams after the fifth year of his contract was up, assuming they would exercise the option. But that didn’t go anywhere.”
According to Florio, the Williams team went to the Bearsasking them to postpone using the franchise tag after the fifth year of his contract, assuming the Bears would exercise their option. The Bears refused, according to Florio.
That clause would have been a historic move, considering no rookie has ever been able to get such a clause included in his first NFL contract, even though nothing in the CBA prevents rookies from getting the clause. Veteran quarterbacks, such as Dak Prescott, have earned the clause, in part, to allow the market to dictate their value during free agency periods.
If Williams could include that clause in his contract, it would set a new precedent for future first-round quarterbacks.
Multiple outputs, including NBC Sports Chicagoreported that Williams signed his four-year, $39 million contract with a $25 million signing bonus on Tuesday. Florio represents the only report that Williams remains unsigned. But it is telling that the Bears have not made the signing official themselves, as they did Tuesday with rookie Rome Odunze.
“The contract is not signed. The agreement is basically in hand, the text is being negotiated. The contract is not signed so far. That was my last information,” Florio said.
According to Florio, there is not much concern that the deal will not happen. The deal is in progress. The Bears and Williams’ team are haggling over the final text.
Williams’ lack of representation by an NFLPA-certified agent is apparently contributing to the delay. As Florio mentioned, “The attorney handling this is not as well versed in the nuances of the contract as an experienced and competent agent would be.”
Florio told 670 The Score that Williams’ team should have gone to the Bears before the draft if they were motivated enough to keep the possibility of the franchise tag out of his contract. So far, Williams has shown his commitment to the Bears and the community. And there are no expectations that the situation will escalate.
But if Williams doesn’t sign his rookie contract, he won’t be able to practice with the team during training camp. Rookies reported to Halas Hall on Tuesday. Veterans will report Friday. The first full practice is scheduled for Saturday.
As of this writing, the Bears’ rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick is still unsigned.
“I could be signing the agreement right now,” Florio said. “The fact is that it wasn’t signed when people said it was signed. And they were still haggling over some final issues.”
