As Caleb Williams completes a remarkable season with the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Rome Odunze asserts that Williams surpasses Patrick Mahomes in escapability. The Bears stunned the NFL by transforming from the NFC North’s worst team to division champions in 2025, largely fueled by Williams’ breakout performance. Odunze, closely observing his teammate, believes Williams’ mobility gives him an edge over the Chiefs quarterback in critical moments.
Williams spearheaded Chicago’s first playoff appearance since 2020, setting a new franchise record for passing yards with 3,942, narrowly missing the 4,000-yard milestone. Despite a moderate 58.1% completion rate, he proved efficient and decisive, throwing only seven interceptions against 27 touchdowns. Williams excelled at making impactful plays under duress by scrambling out of the pocket and launching deep throws, with only one other NFL quarterback registering more completions over 20 yards.
Odunze emphasized Williams’ quickness and agility on the field during an interview on the Downs 2 Business podcast, saying,
“I think he definitely got more escapability than him,”
and added,
“I think he’s faster, too. He picked a good amount of yards on his scrambles. And his arm talent is crazy too. He’s up there with the best when it comes to that. Absolutely.”
Statistical measures support Odunze’s observation: Williams ranks among the fastest quarterbacks, even outpacing Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Mahomes in speed metrics. Though his accuracy continues to develop, he maintains one of the lowest interception rates in the league, outperforming these top-tier quarterbacks as well as Joe Burrow since his debut.
Comparing Williams’ Impact and Future Potential in the NFL
While Williams’ escapability and physical traits are promising, his overall influence on games has yet to reach elite levels. According to the Pro Football Statistics Network (PFSN) QB Impact metric, Williams placed 20th with a score of 76.1 for the season. Mahomes stood slightly higher at 17th, and Lamar Jackson ranked 12th despite experiencing one of his least effective years. This suggests Williams is still refining the full scope of his game performance.
Despite this, Williams’ potential has caught the attention of notable analysts. Veteran NFL commentator Colin Cowherd has indicated that Williams’ skills and upside are significant enough to draw parallels with the league’s best players. Chicago’s appearance in the Divisional Round—following their first playoff victory in 15 years—signals the team may be entering a prime stage of competitiveness.
With Williams signed to his rookie contract, the Bears retain flexibility to enhance their roster strategically. This positions Chicago favorably as they aim to become one of the NFL’s most well-rounded franchises, potentially contending seriously for a Super Bowl title in the near future.
“He definitely has more escapability than Patrick Mahomes.” 👀🔥
Bears WR Rome Odunze isn’t holding back when it comes to Caleb Williams. 🐻 pic.twitter.com/BTdR9g2X1z
— Downs 2 Business (@downs2business) February 18, 2026
