People are always reluctant to buy into any rumors around the NFL unless one of the big insider names has something to say about it. Adam Schefter of ESPN has long been arguably the biggest name out there. When he reveals something, his information is about as good as it gets. So Chicago Bears fans were waiting to hear what he had to say regarding Caleb Williams and the #1 pick. Will the Bears take him? Are they trading out of the spot? There are plenty of camps thinking it will be one or the other.
Schefter appeared on the Pat McAfee Show this week to discuss the Williams situation. Based on everything he’s heard to this point, the overwhelming belief is the Bears will stay put and take the USC quarterback.
Much of this has to do with Justin Fields’ contract situation and their opinions of the other options, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, aren’t nearly as high. Or at least Schefter has heard anything to suggest the Bears like either player a lot. Maybe that will change over the next month, but as things stand, it sure sounds like Williams is Chicago-bound.
The bigger story is what Caleb Williams will or won’t try.
Some out there believe the young quarterback doesn’t want to join the Bears. Considering its long, tortured history, he views the organization as ill-equipped to handle his development. This is why there is an outside chance he may try to dissuade Poles from drafting him. Hence the growing trade rumors with the Washington Commanders. They represent his native city and just hired Kliff Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator. Kingsbury was USC’s quarterbacks coach last season.
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There have been no indications that Caleb Williams will try such a tactic. While he may have reservations about playing for the Bears, he is prepared to accept the challenge if they do draft him. Rest assured, he would be far from the first quarterback taken #1 overall unhappy with the team picking him. If guys like Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, Cam Newton, and Matthew Stafford could survive the difficulties, he should also be able to.
Besides, it’s not like the Bears were the worst team in the league last year. Far from it. They actually have a quality roster coming together. He should be thrilled about this opportunity since his other options, like Washington, feature rough roster situations and new coaching staffs. Most in his position don’t get this lucky.
People forget that Washington doesn’t have ALL the control. The Bears can draft Williams and prevent him from playing, or trade #1 to someone else and force Washington to deal with someone else. Maybe Williams would like to play in Las Vegas with Luke Getsy and see Mark Morris become the “generational franchise quarterback” going to Washington. Keep in mind, Washington can also sign Baker Mayfield or trade for Kyler Murray now that they have Kingsbury. Swap their number 2 to Arizona for Murray and Arizona can draft Drake Maye (they’ve been contemplating going in a non-Air Raid direction for… Read more »
Remember that Ryan Poles fired one of Lambert’s “Bear insiders.” Because of leaking? I’d set a Bear trap for Lambert in Halas Hall.
With the way Poles keeps things quiet, no one knows but a few people, Eberflus, Waldron, Poles, Cunningham, that’s about it. We will know soon enough, If Fields is still on the team March 14 when QB hungry teams start signing Cousins, Mayfield or Flacco you know the Bears will keep Fields. I think they trade him, I haven’t a clue who they draft tho.
Break the mold and surround Fields with more talent. Draft Marvin Harrison Jr. and center Jackson Powers-Johnson and Justin Fields will instantly become much better. I’m tired of watching the Bear’s organization ruin young quarterbacks by putting them behind poor offensive lines with mediocre receiving corps. Fields has gotten better despite the coaching he received from now fired offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy. Caleb Williams doesn’t want to play here because he knows this organization has ruined every quarterback in the last 50 years except Jim McMahon.
Finks, who built the legendary ‘85 Champs with Tobin, would trade Fields for conditional 2nd, with 3rd and 5th round picks, select either Williams or Daniels at 1, then take LT Alt at 9 or trade down for more picks to 20 to get future Pro Bowl Center Powers-Johnson. He wouldn’t just waive EJackson and Whitehair but package them in a deal with a draft pick to fill a need. And he would sign a FA DE or WR if the draft didn’t produce a starter. He focused on the lines 1st then added playmakers like championship teams do.