Caleb Williams is seeking assurance from the Bears that they will not use the franchise tag on him.
National media reported on Tuesday that wide receiver Rome Odunze had reached an agreement with the Chicago Bears on his rookie contract. The Bears subsequently confirmed the signing, issued a press release detailing the contract terms, and shared photos of Odunze signing the deal on social media. Following this, Adam Schefter reported that Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, had also agreed to a rookie contract with the Bears.
Schefter tweeted, “One is done: Chicago’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is signing a four-year, fully-guaranteed contract worth $39 million that includes a $25.5 million signing bonus and a fifth-year team option, per sources.”
However, there was no official press release from the Bears and no updates on social media regarding Williams’ contract signing.
So what happened?
According to a report, Williams and his representatives have requested that the Bears commit to not using the franchise tag on Williams after his rookie contract expires. This has become a sticking point in finalizing the agreement. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explained that while Schefter believed the deal was done, there is disagreement over this specific contract language. The Bears have declined Williams’ request not to be tagged.
Florio suggests that the Bears are unlikely to concede to this demand, which is currently delaying the official announcement of Williams’ contract signing.
If the Bears were to agree to this demand, it would be unprecedented for a rookie contract and could potentially set a new standard for future high-profile rookies and their negotiations with NFL teams. Williams, being the top pick, holds considerable leverage in this situation. The resolution of this negotiation will shed light on how the Bears plan to handle this unique request in the days or even hours ahead.
