Speculation circulated at the beginning of the offseason about whether USC quarterback Caleb Williams was interested in playing for the Chicago Bears and if he would try to avoid that outcome if the team selected him with the first overall pick.
It seems the talented prospect has clearly answered that question as of Wednesday, April 3.
“Potential No. 1 overall pick #USC QB Caleb Williams had his Top 30 facility visit to the #Bears today, sources say,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported X. “He was in town for dinner last night as well. Likely his only visit. As Chicago focuses on…”
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk interpreted Williams’ confirmed meeting in Chicago and Rapoport’s report that it will likely be the quarterback’s only one as a joint indicator that Williams will not try to force the franchise into drafting a different player or trading him after making him the No. 1 overall pick.
“This suggests that Williams apparently won’t be attempting to avoid the Bears and play for another team,” Florio wrote on Wednesday. “Even though the Bears have a defensive head coach and an offensive coordinator who would use Williams’ success to become a head coach— making Williams get used to a new offensive coordinator. And so on as Williams excels and offensive coordinators say, ‘See ya!'”
Caleb Williams May Prefer to Play for Different Team Than Bears, But Unlikely To Express That or Push for That Result
GettyFormer USC quarterback and top NFL draft prospect Caleb Williams.
Florio refrained from claiming that recent events guarantee that Williams wants to play for Chicago more than any other team vying for his services, such as his hometown Washington Commanders. However, Florio strongly suggested that the highly-regarded prospect’s decisions indicate that he will not publicly acknowledge such a fact.
“Williams is in a tough position. Even if he prefers to play for another team, how can he do it without becoming an outcast?” Florio continued. “The media and fans would criticize him if he dared to say he would rather play for another team. If he plays for the Bears, he will need to hope it works out better for him than it did for their first-round pick from 2021, who [the team] traded to the Steelers last month for a future sixth-round pick.”
Florio was referring to Justin Fields. The previous management and coaching regime in Chicago drafted Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in 2021, where he started for three seasons before general manager Ryan Poles dealt him to Pittsburgh in March.
Caleb Williams Joining Much Better Bears Team This Season Than QB Justin Fields Did in 2021
GettyUSC quarterback and presumed No. 1 pick of the Chicago Bears Caleb Williams.
One difference between Fields’ and Williams’ situations is clear, however. The latter is entering a far better situation than the one Fields entered three years ago.
Poles engineered a trade of the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft with the Carolina Panthers that got Chicago wide receiver DJ Moore and the draft selection the team will use to pick Williams first overall. Poles also traded a fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in March for wide receiver Keenan Allen, a player chosen for the Pro Bowl in six of his last seven seasons.
Furthermore, the Bears recruited Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift in free agency and secured tight end Cole Kmet until 2027. Additionally, Chicago also possesses the rights to the 9th overall pick this year, where a player like Rome Odunze could potentially be available based on the outcome of the draft prior to that position.
