The Chicago Bears have flirted with the idea of drafting quarterback Caleb Williams for months. Williams is one of the top prospect to emerge out of college in years and experts around the country consider him the unanimous first pick at this year’s draft. He was a Heisman Trophy winner at USC and was named the AP College Football player of the Year in 2022. Over two seasons with the Trojans, he has thrown for over 8,000 yards, 72 touchdowns and recorded just 10 interceptions over 26 games.
The Bear have known for a while that they would retain the first overall pick for a second year in a row due to Carolina’s abysmal 2-15 finish. Last season, the Bears traded the no.1 pick to Carolina for receiver DJ Moore and a handful of draft picks. It turned out to be a historic trade for the organization that seems to have transformed their fortunes. Ryan Poles is one of the most savvy general managers in the league and has a history of extracting maximum value in trades. As we get closer to draft night, teams tend to move up and down the order and force trades through. Williams is a generational talent, but nothing is set in stone until his name is called out at the 2024 NFL Draft.
The question we have to ask: Is Caleb Williams guaranteed to go to Chicago?
Caleb Williams Comments on the Bears
The Bears, an organization known for their resilient defenses over the year, have historically struggled with the quarterback position, but Williams could change all that.
In a recent episode of The Pivot podcast, the 22-year-old hinted he wanted to go to a city where he could build a legacy, and maybe even catch seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady.
“I want to play at one place for 20 years, and chase one guy, No. 12. I want a place that loves ball. That’s all I’ve heard about Chicago so far,” said Williams.
According to a recent piece in the Chicago Tribune, Williams has already expressed his desire to take the field for the Bears.
“Chicago, if that’s the place for me tomorrow, I can’t wait,” Williams said. “All I’ve heard is great things about you all. I’m ready to go,” said Williams.
Bears Players Stance on Caleb Williams
Moving on from quarterback Justin Fields was a tough decision and not everyone was happy about it. DJ Moore had openly expressed his desire for Fields to return in 2024. Bears players, however, seem open to the idea of the exciting young quarterback joining the roster.
The Bears have apparently been in contact with Williams’ team for a while now and even arranged for him to visit the facility in Chicago prior to the draft. Instead of sticking him with the coaching staff, Williams went to dinner with some of the team’s star players including T.J. Edwards, DJ Moore and Cole Kmet.
The Caleb Williams – DJ Moore/Cole Kmet Dinner narrative pic.twitter.com/PYXJoKwqKq
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) April 22, 2024
Veteran tight end Cole Kmet had nothing but complimentary things to say about Williams after the dinner.
“Super down to earth kid, normal, all the things you see on social media might not be true. I’ll say that,” said Kmet.
“Whoever comes in and whoever’s under center—whether it’s someone who’s here already or a new guy, we’re excited. We’ll embrace them and they’ll fit into our culture,” said linebacker T.J. Edwards.
Williams seems to be saying and doing all the right things to adjust to his teammates and prepare for life in Windy City.
What the Experts/Insiders are Reporting
For most analysts and insiders, the will-they-won’t-they saga between Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears has been over for a while. The odds of the Bears not selecting Williams with the first pick are slim.
Most mock drafts, including those of Mel Kiper, Albert Breer, Peter Schrager and Bucky Brooks all have the USC gunslinger cemented as the first pick, and the Bears not trading their pick.
“The Bears were smart about how they attacked this pick, getting way ahead on Williams. They had scouts ask USC, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., guys about him at all-star games,” said Breer in a recent piece for Sports Illustrated. “They had dinner with Williams’ team at the NFL scouting combine, spent extra time with him at his pro day, and separated him from the pack during his 30 visit. This pick has been determined for a while now.”
NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper went on to say this is a “no-brainer pick.”
With all the evidence we have to date, it would take a brave man to pick Caleb Williams going anywhere other than Chicago.
