As the 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and the 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams prepare for primetime games this week, the blockbuster March 2023 trade that linked their careers remains a defining moment for both franchises.
The Panthers sent a massive package to Chicago to move from No. 9 to No. 1 in the 2023 draft: the Bears received the 2023 No. 9 pick (later turned into OT Darnell Wright and P Tory Taylor), a 2024 first-round pick that became Caleb Williams, a 2023 second-round pick used to trade up for CB Tyrique Stevenson, a 2025 second-round pick that became WR Luther Burden III, and wide receiver DJ Moore.
Carolina's disastrous 2023 season — a 2–15 record that earned them the No. 1 pick again — handed Chicago the top selection in 2024. The Bears used it on Williams and added WR Rome Odunze with their own No. 9 pick. Meanwhile, Young struggled behind a porous line, taking 62 sacks and posting the worst net yards per attempt since 2010.
Williams endured a similarly rough rookie year, absorbing 68 sacks under coach Matt Eberflus, who was fired midseason. The hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach in 2025 sparked a dramatic turnaround for Williams, while Young has shown steady improvement under new offensive coordinator Brad Idzik after a benching in 2024.
Through the current season, Williams ranks 4th in EPA per dropback, 2nd in completion percentage, 7th in net yards per attempt, and 5th in touchdown-to-interception ratio. Young sits 16th, 29th, 12th, and 12th in those same categories, respectively.
The trade continues to yield assets for Chicago: Wright has become a premier tackle, Stevenson a key contributor, Taylor a top-10 punter, and Burden leads the Bears in receptions and yards. The Bears also flipped Moore to the Bills for a second-round pick that netted TE Sam Roush, LB Keyshaun Elliott, and a 2026 fourth-rounder.
While Young's recent progress offers Carolina some solace, the deal stands as a landslide victory for the Bears, reshaping their franchise trajectory for years to come.
