Caleb Williams makes his NFL Top-100 debut and the math continues to confirm what critics won’t admit about the Bears’ star QB
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams came in at No. 51 on the NFL’s Top-100 rankings, further proof that the league already views this guy as one of the top quarterbacks in the game.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams earned his first appearance on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list at No. 51, providing further validation that the league views him as one of the best quarterbacks in football heading into the 2026 season.
Williams went unranked on last year’s list and now sits just outside the Top 50, a significant jump that aligns with what executives, coaches, and scouts said about Chicago’s rising star earlier this offseason. The NFL Top 100 is voted on entirely by the players, and the positioning tells a clear story about where Williams stands among his peers at the quarterback position.
The numbers back up a Top 10 quarterback ranking for Caleb Williams
Williams landing at No. 51 might not seem like a massive statement on the surface, but a closer look at the quarterbacks still left to be revealed on the list makes the picture much clearer. There are still nine quarterbacks (Josh Allen, Drake Maye, Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Jared Goff, Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford) who logically could land above Williams in the Top 50, which means he slots in as the 10th quarterback on the entire list.
That lines up directly with ESPN’s quarterback rankings earlier this offseason. Those rankings, voted on by league executives, coaches, and scouts, placed Williams 10th heading into 2026. So whether you’re asking the players, the coaches, or the front office evaluators, the consensus is the same. Williams is a Top 10 quarterback in the NFL.
You can point to completion percentage, accuracy metrics, EPA, EPA per play, and whatever advanced stats you want to bring up to downgrade Williams. The people inside and around the league who watch the tape, game plan against Williams, and line up across from him every week have reached the same conclusion. He belongs in the Top 10 conversation.
The Bears haven’t had this kind of quarterback validation in a long time
It’s worth stepping back and appreciating how rare this is for Chicago. The Bears have not had a quarterback appear on ESPN’s Top 10 quarterback rankings in recent memory. Justin Fields made the NFL Top 100 at one point because players recognized his dynamic ability, but this feels like a different tier of respect for Williams.
The testimonials from players voting on the Top 100 speak to what makes Williams special. He’s a dynamic quarterback, a clutch performer, and a winner. Those are the qualities that stand out to the people who compete against him on Sundays.
“He has a unique level of poise,” veteran linebacker Demario Davis explained. “He does not get routed in the moment. And that’s very important for a quarterback. He’s such a special talent, you see why he was the number one overall pick.”
“One of the best quarterbacks that I’ve played with just talent-wise,” veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen explained. “Being able to do anything. Throw any pass – on platform, off platform.”
The advanced metrics crowd can debate the finer points of his game, but on the field where it counts, Williams has earned the respect of his peers across the league.
Foundation is set going into Year 3 and now Williams can really start to ascend
For the Bears, having a quarterback viewed this way changes the entire trajectory of the franchise. Williams going from unranked to No. 51 in one year shows significant growth in how the league perceives him. Going into his second season under Ben Johnson’s offensive system, the expectation is that Williams will only continue to climb.
“The offense believes in him,” Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock explained. “The city of Chicago believes in him. And he goes out there week in, and week out, prove ’em right.”
The validation from players, coaches, and executives all pointing in the same direction says a lot about where Williams is right now. Time will tell how high he can climb on next year’s list, but the Bears finally have a franchise quarterback the rest of the league already recognizes.