Just In: Bears TE Cole Kmet Gets Brutally Honest On What Makes Caleb Williams ‘Different’

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet was among those who felt “really upset” when the team traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers before eventually selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams as the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Kmet made these comments before witnessing Williams’ preseason performance in last Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

“His demeanor on the sideline and in the huddle was noticeably different,” Kmet said on Thursday, reflecting on Williams’ presence at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium, according to Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated. “He had that gameday energy. You could sense his confidence when calling plays and at the line of scrimmage. His cadence was excellent, and everything seemed to click. He was clearly adapting and improving with each play. His confidence is unwavering, and that’s impressive after just a few drives.”

Although Williams completed only 4-of-7 passes for 95 yards and added 13 rushing yards against the Bills, it seems Kmet acknowledges that the Bears’ decision this offseason may have been the right one.

Fields, who had a 10-28 record as a starter with Chicago, was statistically one of the NFL’s least effective fourth-quarter quarterbacks over the past two seasons. His recent performances have shown he still has not fully addressed the issues that led the Bears to seek a new long-term starter.

Kmet emphasized on Thursday that Williams is “different” from any quarterback he’s seen at the highest level.

“We have a couple of weeks before the first game,” Kmet said. “I think we’re in a good position now, but we have an opportunity to elevate our game in the next few weeks and be where we want to be by Week 1.”

As of late Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Williams as the frontrunner at +135 odds for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, while the Bears had -110 odds to make the playoffs.

The initial disappointment within the Chicago locker room over the Fields trade is likely behind them.