As the Bears look to wake up a hibernating offense this week, some are second-guessing Ryan Poles for not signing a veteran to start while rookie Caleb Williams could’ve benefitted from learning while watching.
Not Carson Palmer. Like Williams, Palmer is a former No. 1 overall selection out of Southern California. And Palmer, a three-time Pro Bowler, loves seeing the NFL fire baptizing Williams.
“I think the best thing for Caleb to do is play,” said Palmer on the Wednesday edition of Best of The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “He needs the experience; he needs these reps. And, unfortunately, to be a good quarterback, you really need to go through some adversity. You need to come in and have struggles. To really appreciate the peaks you get to.”
Peaks have been limited for Williams and the Bears (1-2), who rank last in the NFL in yards per play (3.68) as they prepare for Sunday’s home game against the Rams (1-2).
“You’ve got to understand those valleys and those lows; they’ll make him a better quarterback,” said Palmer, who led the Bengals to their first playoff game in 15 years during his third NFL season, 2005. “They’ll make him work harder; they’ll make him want it more. A lot of times when you see young guys come into the league and have a ton of success, they have fizzled out in the past. I think Caleb coming into this situation where he’s really got to work at it and he really has to play his absolute best football in order for them to win a game, I think that’s a good situation for him to build his foundation for the future, and the Bears’ future on, right now.”
Palmer, who played for three teams and nearly led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl in 2015, also discussed former USC quarterback Sam Darnold, who has the Vikings in first place entering their Week 4 clash at Green Bay (2-1). Like Palmer, changes in scenery have done wonders for Darnold. Asked by Cowherd how Kevin O’Connell coached the “reckless” out of Darnold, Palmer actually pointed to Kyle Shanahan.
“As great as O’Connell has been for him, I think you need to give a little bit of love to Shanahan and his experience being in San Francisco, and being in that culture and that situation,” Palmer said. “I think this maturation of Sam started when he was in San Francisco and in that room, wanting and champing at the bit, waiting for his opportunity. Now, he’s finally got it.”
Palmer also said Joe Burrow, another No. 1 overall Bengals selection, didn’t win the Super Bowl in 2021 because Burrow lacked protection. Now that Cincinnati has upgraded its offensive line in recent years, Palmer said he’ll be closely observing how his former team addresses the contract situations of Burrow’s top targets, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.