The Bears’ pitch-perfect offseason now runs the risk of getting a little complicated.
Bears rookies are set to report to Halas Hall for orientation Tuesday. Their top two draft picks, however, still haven’t signed their contracts.
Quarterback Caleb Williams, the first overall pick, and receiver Rome Odunze, the ninth selection, overall, are among the five first-round picks — all among the top 18 choices — yet to sign their deals. They are the two highest selections among the five, which also includes two Vikings — one of them quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The collective bargaining agreement makes rookie contracts fairly standard, with salaries set in advance. Williams is expected to make $39.4 million over four seasons, and Odunze is expected to earn $22.7 million. Both will have a fifth-year team option that the Bears must decide on after their third seasons.
What’s left to negotiate typically revolves around language surrounding bonuses, guarantees and offsets.
Williams doesn’t have an agent certified by the NFL Players Association and has to negotiate for himself, by league rules. He’s using legal advisers and made reference to them Saturday when distancing himself from the contract talks.
‘‘My lawyer and attorney and everybody, the head of the Bears, everybody up there at the top is handling that,’’ he said after handing out Caleb Cares Hero awards on the South Side. ‘‘That’s not my position that I’m handling.’’
Williams has taken a similar stance throughout negotiations. In June, he said that allowing lawyers to try to work on his contract allows him to ‘‘be free-minded on the field.’’ The Bears have known since long before the draft that Williams would operate without a certified agent. Odunze has one.
The two practiced this offseason — at rookie minicamp, organized team activities and mandatory minicamp — despite not signing their deals. Per league rules, though, they cannot report to training camp without a contract.
There are five more days before their absence would become a true distraction. The Bears won’t practice in full until Saturday.
Williams had the full support of the franchise Saturday. Coach Matt Eberflus, general manager Ryan Poles and receiver DJ Moore were among the Bears’ representatives who drove to Pullman for his charity event. Afterward, Williams said he was ready to get on the field.
‘‘I’m excited to be able to get back,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve been training. We had a little break. Training, getting ready.’’
Neither the team nor the rookies would benefit from a hiccup at the start of camp. The Bears are trying to learn coordinator Shane Waldron’s offensive system and need all the practice time they can get. They already are reporting early, though: They’re one of eight NFL teams who have rookies due Tuesday. Four others — including the Texans, their opponent in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 1 — do so Wednesday.
The Texans’ veterans also report Wednesday, the earliest of any NFL team. Bears veterans report Friday, the second-earliest date in the league.
The rest of the Bears’ rookie class has been under contract for two months. Defensive end Austin Booker was the last among the rest to sign, doing so May 16.
Bears rookies and injured players are set to report to Halas Hall on Tuesday, with veterans arriving Friday.
By Patrick Finley
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
It takes a village to develop a quarterback. The Bears spent the last seven weeks trying to ensure Williams didn’t feel he was getting advice from every single villager.
By Patrick Finley
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
The rookie quarterback and his teammates — both offensive and defensive — plan to meet up again during the team’s break between now and mid-July
By Patrick Finley
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
Williams already sees plenty of options in the passing game after working with Keenan Allen, DJ Moore and others in the revamped Bears offense.
By Jason Lieser
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
As was particularly evident in one two-play sequence Wednesday — an interception followed by a long touchdown pass — the Bears’ rookie quarterback has had ups and downs in practice. Despite the obsession with his progress, it’s still June.
By Mark Potash
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
The rookie is being asked to do what the 1985 team did to Chicago: Captivate.
By Rick Morrissey
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
Progress remains the watchword as Williams prepares for his first mandatory minicamp next week.
By Patrick Finley
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
The Bears’ defense seems far ahead of the offense — and with good reason. The Bears are installing new coordinator Shane Waldron’s offensive scheme with a rookie quarterback under center.
By Patrick Finley
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
The ballyhooed No. 1 overall draft pick and wide receiver Rome Odunze (the No. 9 overall pick) give this rookie camp more spark than usual — a passing combination that should become a reality in the 2024 regular season.
By Mark Potash
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
Everyone’s got their origin story. This is Caleb Williams’.
By Patrick Finley
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
In every possible way, Williams feels like a breath of fresh air for a franchise that desperately needs it. This is a different type of quarterback and a compelling personality.
By Jason Lieser
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
“What’s there to duck?” he responded when asked about the pressure he’ll be under in Chicago.
By Jason Lieser
[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]
Related Posts:
- Red Sox Place 2 Prospects Among Top 10 of ESPN’s Midseason Top 100 Sports The Boston Red Sox are plenty occupied right now as they make an unexpected run at a 2024 American League Wild Card bid. Their future, however, may be even brighter. ESPN published its midseason top 100 prospect rankings on Wednesday, August 14, and Boston has two players among the 10…
- Del Mar horse racing consensus picks for Thursday, August 15, 2024 News The consensus box of Del Mar horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Terry Turrell, Eddie Wilson and Kevin Modesti. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Trouble viewing on mobile device? See consensus picks Enjoy the consensus horse racing picks online? Subscribe Sign…
- Del Mar horse racing consensus picks for Friday, August 16, 2024 News The consensus box of Del Mar horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Terry Turrell, Eddie Wilson and Kevin Modesti. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Friday, August 16, 2024. Trouble viewing on mobile device? See consensus picks Enjoy the consensus horse racing picks online? Subscribe Sign…
- From Christopher Nkunku to Joao Pedro – The best FPL budget picks to look out for ahead of the 2024/25 season Sports It’s time to get your Fantasy Premier League teams sorted for the new season (Picture: Shutterstock/Getty) The new Fantasy Premier League season kicks off tonight as managers scramble to assemble their teams ahead of the FPL transfer deadline. Managers have until 6:30pm tonight to get their teams in ahead of…
- Denver Civil Service Commission picks a new leader after firing executive director in May News The city agency tasked with vetting people applying to be Denver police officers and firefighters has named a new executive director after the agency’s appointed board fired the previous director in May for undisclosed reasons. The Denver Civil Service Commission will welcome Gracie Perez on Aug. 26, according to an…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)