Caleb Williams is entering his third NFL season and the pressure to perform is nothing but immense. The Chicago Bears revamped their offense this offseason, losing some key weapons and adding some new ones.

ESPN expert Courtney Cronin discussed how the new offense could benefit the Bears' QB. He also discussed how the tight end duo of Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland would be Williams' top targets.

"The Bears immediately traded for Garrett Bradbury, after Drew Dalman's surprise retirement, to help maintain continuity along the offensive line and establish the quarterback-center exchange for Caleb Williams with an experienced veteran," Cronin wrote." They then drafted Logan Jones, who will take over at center when ready, and added tight end Sam Roush and speedy receiver Zavion Thomas."

The roster restructure came after the surprising retirement of starting centre Drew Dalman at the age of 29.

GM Ryan Poles stated he acquired veteran centre Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots for a 2027 fifth-round pick to shore up the offensive line heading into the new season. 

The Bears also lost wide receivers D.J. Moore and Olamide Zacchaeus in the offseason. The front office replaced them with Kalif Raymond and third-round pick, Zavion Thomas.

Williams finished his second season with 11 wins, leading the Bears to the NFC North title and Chicago’s first playoff win since 2011. 

Williams spread the ball around well among receivers and tight ends last season. However, Moore and Zacchaeus’ offseason losses have created legitimate questions about whether the receiving room can sustain that production in 2026. 

Nevertheless, one game on the 2026 schedule could provide an early answer to that question. 

Williams and Allen Set For Primetime Showdown

The Chicago Bears will face the Buffalo Bills on Saturday Night in Week 15. Williams and Bills quarterback Josh Allen will face off in one of the most anticipated primetime matchups on Chicago’s 2026 schedule. 

Williams is expected to follow the same path as Allen, who took a big step in his third NFL season, before cementing his status among the league’s elite quarterbacks. 

Wide receiver D.J. Moore was Williams’ top target in his first two seasons in Chicago. However, he was traded in the offseason and would play for the Bills in the upcoming season.

One of the league’s toughest defenses will be tested by a revamped Chicago receiving corps led by Raymond and rookie Zavion Thomas in a nationally televised game. 

Williams finished the 2025 regular season with back-to-back victories to win the NFC North title. He followed it up with a Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers.

As the Bears prepare for 2026, Williams is entering his third year under his rookie contract. The Week 15 matchup against Buffalo will be one of the best indicators yet of where his development is against a legitimate Super Bowl contender. 

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Rishab Nandi