How the latest QB extensions could impact Bears' Caleb Williams

Over the past week, there have been a slew of young quarterbacks in the NFL getting a big pay day. This comes just a few weeks after the Jacksonville Jaguars extended Trevor Lawrence, which made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL on a per-year basis ($55 million).

The week started with the Miami Dolphins signing Tua Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4 million extension, which breaks down to $53.1 million per year. Not long after, the Green Bay Packers made a huge move signing one-year starter Jordan Love to a four-year, $220 million extension, which comes out to $55 million per year.

Overall, that’s a lot of money for quarterbacks who have only shown flashes of brilliance. Each of them has been to the playoffs and had great stretches, but they've also shown some room for growth, as well.

The Chicago Bears have to be paying attention to this stretch of quarterback news. They just selected Caleb Williams first overall in the 2024 NFL draft with the hopes that he'll develop into their long-term starter. Lawrence was also a first overall pick, while Tagovailoa and Love were also first-round picks.

It's clear that coming to the NFL as a quarterback and showing flashes early can get you paid well. Neither Mitchell Trubisky nor Justin Fields earned that next big contract, but Chicago is hoping that the third time is the charm with Williams.

If Williams comes in and dominates the way that most think he can, he could be a guy who sets the market again. There is also C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans to focus on. If he continues to build off his impressive rookie season, he may raise the bar again for the next round of quarterbacks.

There's no issue with quarterbacks making the big money. They impact the game the most. It also means they are good when they get paid, which is something the Bears have been sorely lacking for a long time.

Williams has to see all of this money floating around and use that as motivation to be the best. He will be a very wealthy man if he hits the ground running in the NFL.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: How the latest QB extensions could impact Bears' Caleb Williams