Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams displayed notable progress in his second NFL season, confirming high expectations set by his status as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Despite some inconsistency, particularly with his passing accuracy, Williams’ connection with key wide receivers indicates a promising future for the Bears’ offense.
Insights into Caleb Williams’ passing performance and receiver connections
Throughout the regular season, Williams faced challenges with drops by his receivers, tallying the highest number of passing yards lost to drops in the league at 404 yards, according to Next Gen Stats. The Bears’ wideouts recorded 29 drops, ranking fifth-most across the NFL. However, drops are often subjective and do not fully account for imperfect throws that receivers might still be expected to catch.
Looking back on his rookie year, Williams struggled to steadily connect with several of his top targets. Factors such as injuries and his variable accuracy contributed to this inconsistency, but these issues highlight areas of focus for improvement moving forward.
Analyzing Caleb Williams’ completion rates to determine the Bears’ top wide receiver
NFL Senior Researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno examined Williams’ completion percentages when throwing to his four primary wide receivers during the 2025 season.
“Caleb Williams completion percentage in 2025: Overall: 58.1% (last) Targeting Luther Burden III: 78.0% (2nd)* Targeting Olamide Zaccheaus: 60.0 (43rd)* Targeting DJ Moore: 58.8% (47th)* Targeting Rome Odunze: 49.4% (59th)** Among 61 QB-WR duos with 50+ targets #DaBears” – Tony Holzman-Escareno, NFL Senior Researcher
Among these receivers, Zaccheaus had the most drops with six, followed by Burden with five, Odunze with four, and Moore accounting for two, per Pro Football Focus statistics. Some observers suggest Odunze may have had additional drops that should have been counted.
This data reveals that Williams developed an immediate and strong rapport with Luther Burden III, especially during the latter part of the season, when Burden became a significant component of the Bears’ offense.
Luther Burden’s emergence as the likely WR1 for the Bears
When targeting Burden, Williams posted a passer rating of 123.1, recorded zero interceptions, and averaged 10.9 yards per attempt or target during the regular season, according to Pro Football Reference and PFF. These figures establish Burden as Williams’ most reliable receiving option statistically.
Burden’s impressive finish to his rookie year positions him for continued growth. Assuming he remains healthy in the offseason, the connection between Burden and Williams is expected to strengthen, setting Burden up as a potential leader in target share for the Bears next season. While other receivers remain important to the offense, Burden’s role clearly stands out based on current trends and data.
The progression of Williams alongside Burden’s ascending performance will likely play a crucial role in shaping the Bears’ offensive dynamics. Improving communication and reducing drops will be key steps as the team looks to maximize the talents of their young quarterback and his receivers in the upcoming season.
Most pass yards lost due to drops during the 2025 season, per @NextGenStats:
1. Caleb Williams – 404
2. Matthew Stafford – 363
3. Trevor Lawrence – 320
4. Dak Prescott – 319
5. Bo Nix – 317
6. Jordan Love – 287
7. Justin Herbert – 266
8. Cam Ward – 256 https://t.co/1aifKM61T1— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) January 5, 2026
Caleb Williams completion percentage in 2025:
Overall: 58.1% (last)
Targeting Luther Burden III: 78.0% (2nd)*
Targeting Olamide Zaccheaus: 60.0 (43rd)*
Targeting DJ Moore: 58.8% (47th)*
Targeting Rome Odunze: 49.4% (59th)**Among 61 QB-WR duos with 50+ targets#DaBears
— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) February 1, 2026
