Caleb Williams would be best served pulling an Eli Manning and refusing to be drafted by the Chicago Bears in April’s NFL draft. Those are the impactful words of former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III in a video offering the blue chip quarterback prospect from USC some career advice.
Chicago Not the Right Team For Caleb?
Per Twitter/X video, Griffin had this to say:
“Caleb Williams should pull an Eli Manning and demand that the Chicago Bears do not draft him no. 1 overall.
After everything that’s happened with just Justin Fields, can Caleb Williams really look at that and say, ‘You know what? This is the organization that has my best interests at heart and they’s going to develop me into the play I want to become.’
Williams is on record saying that he wants to be legendary. He wants to re-write history and he wants to be the best that he can possibly be and win the most games he can possibly win. After the Bears took Justin Fields, the eleventh pick in the draft and turned him into a sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft by trading him to the Pittsburgh Steelers, can Caleb Williams really look at that and say, ‘You know what…this organization is going to get me where I want to go?’ I don’t think it’s saying that.”
Strong words indeed.
Griffin would go on to talk about Williams’ roots in the DC area and how, possibly, the Washington Commanders would be the best fit for him.
How to Get Caleb Williams to the Washington Commanders?
To get Williams to the Commanders, though, would require a deal between Chicago and Washington that swaps the Bears overall no. 1 pick for the Commanders no. 2 pick and a haul of other talent.
Two previous trade proposals from members of the media outline what it may take for the Commanders to get no. 1 (and Williams):
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, in a mock draft scenario, opined that Chicago’s no. 1 would cost Washington their no. 2, a second-round pick this year, and a 2025 first-round pick.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report wrote that the Bears could get Washington’s no. 2 pick, their second-round pick this year, and a third-round pick in 2025 for the top draft spot.
Either deal would represent a gutsy move from both teams and, at least right now, seem unlikely.
Is this thought of Williams rejecting the Bears’ draft selection something swirling inside the minds of Team Williams? Will it take root now that it’s been put out there by a high-profile NFL insider? Time will tell.