'Hard Knocks': Caleb Williams' QB1 evolution, Bears nearly trade for Matt Judon

The evolution of Caleb Williams as much-hyped generational phenom tabbed as the "chosen one" for a floundering Chicago Bears franchise into a bona fide NFL quarterback continues on "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears."

After NFL Films cameras captured Williams going through some early training camp growing pains in the season's opening episode, Williams seems to be settling in quite nicely in his role as QB1 for one of the NFL's flagship franchises.

The good vibes from Williams' impressive preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills continued through the next week as the Bears welcomed the Cincinnati Bengals to town for a joint practice and then an exhibition game on Saturday.

This week's "Hard Knocks" episode opened with Bears head coach Matt Eberflus going over the tape from the Bills game with Williams. It was Williams' first real taste of live-action NFL play, and Eberflus wanted to know why Williams thought he had success in his preseason debut. Williams cited three reasons: Preparation, confidence in the preparation, and playing within the game. Eberflus then asked Williams what he learned. Williams responded: "Practice is harder than the game."

Williams' ease in his new professional role was apparent in the team's next preseason game against the Bengals. He overcame a slow start – potentially hampered by a communication breakdown as the mic from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron kept going out. Williams was steady in a potentially nerve-racking situation, simply saying after hearing a jumbled play call that he was "piecing it together." This is a rookie quarterback in his second preseason game ... and in very limited playing time, mind you. He's just out there deciphering play calls that sounded to the "Hard Knocks" viewer like it was coming from a Star Wars gonk droid.

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Williams saved the best for last against the Bengals. He connected with rookie receiver Rome Odunze for a spectacular 45-yard completion – "That's what the people wanted to see," Williams said to Odunze in the huddle – and then followed that up by escaping the Bengals' pressure in a collapsed pocket and scrambling for a touchdown on a third-and-goal play. Williams' Soldier Field debut was over after what was an electric eight-play, 90-yard touchdown drive.

Williams' progression will only fan the flames of football optimism in Chicago with a little more than two weeks until the Bears play for real in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans.

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Here is more of what we learned from the third episode of "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears":

Bears kick tires on Matthew Judon trade

Pairing Matthew Judon in a pass-rushing tandem with Pro Bowl defensive end Montez Sweat seemed enticing to Bears general manager Ryan Poles.

Yet, not while mortgaging the Bears' very promising future.

We now know that Judon was traded by the New England Patriots to the Atlanta Falcons last week in exchange for a third-round draft pick. What was revealed on "Hard Knocks" was how close the Bears came to acquiring the four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher.

Judon and the Falcons did not agree to a contract extension before the team agreed to the trade. That was the sticking point with the Bears.

"We believe he would help us get better, just his style," Poles told team president Kevin Warren in a meeting while discussing the potential trade. "We think having the bicep (injury), rather than a lower body injury, he still would play with the same intensity and explosion as he did before. It does come with risk though at 32 (years old)."

Judon is coming off a 2023 season in which he played just four games after suffered a season-ending bicep tear. The Bears wanted a contract extension in place in order for the trade to be consummated – "Our language is basically saying if the contract is not signed then he reverts back to New England," Poles told Bears special advisor Ted Crews.

The trade fell through for the Bears. Poles was left with some introspection – "We try to do a really good job creating parameters that make sense for our club to be successful now, but also down the road" – while his confidants looked at the situation with a glass half full.

In meeting with team director of football administration Matt Feinstein, Poles continued to validate his position on the Judon situation.

"I'm tormenting myself, but if you have your own guardrails that we put up to help us stay in the lane … we surely pressed up against them to acquire the player," Poles said. "But when it comes to losing all flexibility, I don't think that would be smart, even if he has success. Now, if he has 20 sacks or something, it'll make me sick."

The Bears registered just 30 sacks last season, the second-lowest total in the league.

Feinstein looked ahead, with the thought that rookie Austin Booker might one day fill the pass-rushing spot opposite Sweat.

"It's Judon for a (third-round pick) and some significant financial needs," Feinstein said. "We traded a (fourth-round pick) for four years of Austin Booker."

MATTHEW JUDON TRADE WINNERS, LOSERS: How did Patriots, Falcons fare in deal?

Inside draft war room for Austin Booker pick

"Hard Knocks" followed up the inside access of the Bears' efforts to trade for Judon by showing the team's war room during the 2024 NFL draft when the team was working the phones hard to trade back into the fifth round to select Kansas defensive end Austin Booker.

The Bears had to get creative to make the selection, given the team was out of picks after taking Iowa punter Tory Taylor in the fourth round. "Hard Knocks" cameras showed the Bears' war room making calls to try to get a player they thought very highly of. They made calls for pick Nos. 137, 139 and 142 before senior director of player personnel Jeff King gets the Bears in at pick No. 144. The Bears sent a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in order to be able to select Booker.

Booker was a star in the team's preseason game against the Bills, and relishes his late-round draft status.

"I'm a sleeper. Not many people know about me," Booker said. "I'm going to continue getting better in the shadows, and they're not going to know what's coming."

Matt Eberflus and nicknames

The Bears head coach apparently enjoys giving people nicknames.

There's "Big Dog," "Governor, "Spidey," "Young Jedi," "The Canadian Eagle" and "Herbie the Love Bug."

One player who doesn't have a nickname yet is rookie punter Tory Taylor, who is from Australia.

"What do you think of 'Crocodile Punter'?" a reporter asks Taylor.

"I definitely don't want that one. I don't want any Australian attachments or anything like that," Taylor responded. "In fact, if no one knows who I am that usually means I'm doing a pretty good job."

It will be hard to avoid anonymity when you're a punter and you're drafted in the fourth round. That is a lofty draft spot for a punter.

Poles defended the pick.

"He had a unique ability and skillset to have a powerful leg and flip the field," Poles said. "The biggest thing is we want to make our opponent as uncomfortable as possible. He's so good at pinning the ball inside the 10-yard line. People joked that he's like (golfer) Scottie Scheffler in terms of his ability to place the ball. And he has different techniques to do it, so he takes (punting) to a whole different level."

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