'Hard Knocks' preview: Key storylines to follow at Bears training camp

In what was one of the worst-kept secrets of the offseason, the Chicago Bears were officially selected to be featured as this year's training camp "Hard Knocks" team. They were eligible due to not making the playoffs last year, not having a first-year head coach and having plenty of storylines to watch for.

Chicago had the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and with it, took USC quarterback Caleb Williams after previously trading away former first-round pick Justin Fields. It was a drama-filled offseason in Chicago as a result. With "Hard Knocks," we'll now get to go behind the scenes to see how this rebuild is starting to work.

Here are some of the best storylines we're looking forward to seeing on "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" (premieres Tuesday, August 6 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO):

1. Caleb Williams ' ascension to leader — is he the prince who was promised?

Being the first overall pick already comes with a baseline of pressure. A team has to have enough belief to select you with the most valuable pick a franchise can have. Add in the fact that this is a quarterback in Chicago and… well, that's a whole different kind of microscope Williams will be under.

The good news is that this isn't new for Williams, either. Playing college ball in the second-largest media market in the country at USC will desensitize you to the limelight. What matters is what happens in the building and behind closed doors, where only the "Hard Knocks" cameras can take us. Williams is a rookie, but he's also the quarterback. How quickly can he win over the locker room? How fast can he gain the trust of the coaches? When will all that manifest on the field?

From observing Bears camp last week, it seems like the defense