Bears First-Round Picks Both Agree to Rookie Contracts

By: Zach Jonkman

7/17/24

The NFL season is underway as a few teams around the league have started reporting to training camp. The Chicago Bears and their rookies had their first official day on Tuesday, July 16, headlined by the two first-round selections Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze.

Rome Odunze signed his rookie deal before he left the facility on Tuesday. He signed a four-year deal including a fifth-year option that all first-round picks have available to them. It was worth $22.7 million fully guaranteed and a $13.3 million signing bonus.

There were initial reports of Caleb signing his deal as well, but neither Caleb's team or the Bears made no official statement. Those doubtful whispers were put to rest as Williams signed his deal the next day. This contract was worth $39 million fully guaranteed with a $25.5 million signing bonus.

According to sources close to the situation, Caleb and his team were supposedly asking for a "no-tag" clause in the contract. This would prevent the Bears from using their franchise tag on Williams after his rookie contract expires. There is no confirmation on whether that clause was included in the final draft of the contract, but that was rumored to be the holdup.

Luckily for Chicago, they got their two stud rookies locked into the team for the next half decade right before training camp starts. Caleb and Rome will get to build chemistry with the rest of the Bears throughout the summer until they kick off the regular season against the Titans on September 8th.