While recent reports indicated that Caleb Williams isn’t the unanimous QB1 prospect across the NFL, the Bears are leaving no doubt about their trust in the projected top-overall pick. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes, the Bears believe there is a “pretty wide gap” between the USC product and the rest of the quarterback class.
The 2022 Heisman winner has long been regarded as the top passer in the 2024 class. After the Bears secured the first-overall selection, the team quickly ripped off the band-aid and avoided a QB controversy by dealing Justin Fields. That trade all but confirmed that the organization was going to select a rookie QB.
However, the team has yet to reveal which QB they’ll select. There’s little incentive to reveal their choice early, but as Biggs notes, that’s led to some speculation that the team could pursue a move down the draft board.
Before the Bears settled their QB depth chart, the Commanders looked like they could be a landing spot for Williams. That move would have sent Williams back to the area in which he went to high school at Gonzaga College HS, and it would have reunited him with college coach Kliff Kingsbury.
If the Bears wanted to pick up even more assets and still snag a top quarterback prospect, a trade with the Commanders could have made sense. However, if the Bears believe there’s a significant drop in talent at the position after Williams, there isn’t any amount of trade assets that would make up that gap.
There seemed to be some cracks in Williams’ consensus number-one ranking earlier this week. There were some rumblings that teams have graded LSU’s Jayden Daniels over the USC QB, with some organizations believing the prospect had an underwhelming pre-draft process. While most teams seemed to understand that this was a “byproduct of being a player who knows he’s going No. 1,” Williams didn’t look as invincible atop the draft board as he once did.
Fake news. The bears have brought in no other QB except for Williams. And Williams hasn’t visited anyone but the bears
Keenan Allen even went to his pro day.
I realize they have to find something to write about, but this is a complete reach.
Not fake news, like fox,oan and Newsmax, but news to take ip time and space on the rumor board.
Learn the difference between fake news and the news you want to hear.
It’s not even “rumor”. It’s contrived click bait.
Let the kid enjoy the process of being picked #1. There’s nothing going in. The Bears are old school. No sense jumping the gun ahead of the draft.
According to the player linked, the Bears are drafting a redshirt freshman LB from Tennessee. Interesting choice at #1 for sure.
lol thanks for the heads up
Sounds very Bears-ish. Let’s see how it works out for them, Cotton.
I’ve never seen a single QB prospect that os this talented receive so much dis like by the media, fans, and team sources. Williams is clearly the most talented of the bunch and it’s not even close.
Looking at the NFL draft since 2018, it’s amazing to me how many highly drafted QBs turned out to be pedestrian or worse. The number 1 pick is overrated. Why not trade down and select J. J. McCarthy?
Um because the games are televised. If you put the USC games and Michigan games next to each other and can’t see the difference between Williams and McCarthy I don’t know what to tell you to be honest.
That’s silly. Just because one was better in college doesn’t mean that will be the case in the NFL. That’s proven every single year at every position. That’s why these teams spend so much time breaking down more than just college film and stats.
Teams spend 3x as much time breaking down the tape from players as they do everything else combined. This is exactly what I am talking about in the original comment. Williams is the best prospect coming out since Luck and is getting criticism unlike any prospect of that level ever.
Michigan thought so much of JJ McCarthy that when they played penn state they let him throw the ball 8 times total and ran the ball on 33 consecutive offensive plays.
There is a good chance McCarthy doesn’t even start this coming year depending on where he goes but sure let’s trade down and take him over Williams.
Looking at the NFL draft since 2018, it’s amazing to me how many highly drafted QBs turned out to be pedestrian or worse.
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More importantly, how often does the second QB drafted out-perform the 1st QB drafted? The bust rate at QB is substantial, but it is also the most important position.
And how many number one overall picks go into a good situation? They’re usually 2-15 teams, not 7-10 the previous year with DJ Moore, K. Allen, Swift, Kmet, and a top 5-10 defense. Very few if any have been thrown into a great situation like this as the top pick. A lot fail because they’re thrown into the fire without any help. (Look at the team Bryce Young had last year) The point is that it’s all subjective, you have to look at the whole team.
Just the usual crap right before draft day where the so called “Experts” Decide to trash picks by throwing crap at the wall just to see if they get lucky. I think Williams could show up to the Green Room on Draft day with 12 strippers and put on a show and the Bears would still pick him. They’ve already committed to the guy hook, line and sinker. For better or worse
“the Bears believe there is a “pretty wide gap” between the USC product and the rest of the quarterback class”.
It’s amazing what a head X-ray can reveal these days.
Williams has bust written all over him. No chance I’d draft that guy. A smarter franchise would trade down and enjoy the hull they get. Roll the dice with a different guy
I agree 100%. I’m a USC fan and got to watch him pretty closely the last few years. Talented, yes. Will he be as great as they’re claiming him to be, not a chance. I’ll be rooting for him but he’ll be a backup somewhere in 3 years.
Actually, this isn’t the latest news. This is the same news that existed since the Bears wrapped up the #1.