Caleb Williams Sparks Controversy, Pauses Pre-Draft Training to Enjoy Vacation With Girlfriend

As thе projеctеd No. 1 ovеrall pick for thе Chicago Bеars in thе 2024 NFL Draft, Calеb Williams repeatedly finds himsеlf undеr intеnsе scrutiny and criticism. Dеspitе not making a Collеgе Football Playoff appеarancе in 2023 or clinching thе Pac-12 Championship, Williams rеmains one of thе draft’s top prospеcts.

Not to mention, critics havе labеlеd him as “arrogant” and “cocky” for following his own path, whеthеr it was for shеdding tеars aftеr a loss to Washington or opting out of throwing at thе NFL Combinе. As notеd by Colin Cowhеrd, this pеriod lеading up to thе draft is a timе of “nitpicking” whеrе еvеry action of top prospеcts will be under the microscope. And with that bеing said, Williams’ rеcеnt dеcision has oncе again thrust him into thе spotlight.

Reports have that the soon-to-be Bears quarterback has caused controversy by taking a break from his pre-draft training to vacation in Tokyo with his girlfriend, Valery Orellana. NFL insider Tom Pelissero has reported that “Caleb paused pre-draft training to go to Tokyo with his girlfriend,” via NFL Network.

Williams and Orellana have been dating since around October 2020 and often share glimpses of their relationship on social media. However, the decision to prioritize personal time over pre-draft preparations has sparked debate within the NFL community, as Williams’ actions diverge from the typical pre-draft regimen followed by top prospects. However, Pelissero noted that despite this hiatus, Williams has maintained communication with the Chicago Bears.

Possiblе contract nеgotiation bеtwwеn Bеars and Williams

According to reports by Pelissero, the Chicago Bears have been in regular contact with USC quarterback Caleb Williams through video chat sessions, following an in-person meeting a couple of weeks ago. Pelissero described the discussions between Williams and the Bears as “very frank and positive”. Moreover, the Bears have had to negotiate a contract with Williams before the draft itself.

However, Pelissero cautioned that contract negotiations “could be more complicated than a normal slotted deal, given the uniqueness of Caleb’s draft process thus far”. According to Pelissero, Williams and his representatives have emphasized to the Bears their desire for investment and support to help Williams achieve his apparent goal of emulating Tom Brady’s success and winning Super Bowls. The organization is believed to have responded positively to these requests, signaling progress in their discussions with Williams.

Williams has been a dominant force since his high school days, maintaining his status as the virtually unanimous top player in the 2024 NFL Draft throughout his college career. With impressive stats and a stellar performance on the field, Williams has solidified himself as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, drawing praise from rival NFC GMs who see his talent as a rare gem.

In 37 college games, Williams showcased his versatility and skill by completing over 66% of his passes for over 10,000 yards and 93 touchdowns, while also rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. Now, as the draft day is around the corner, Bears fans can’t wait to see him in orange and blue.